JOE DODD: 2026 Gilmer vs. Paris North Lamar — Game Info & Notes (Preview) 

2026 Gilmer Season Book Through 10 Games

2026 Gilmer vs. Paris North Lamar — Game Info & Notes (Preview)

Nov 10, 2026 · @Joe

Friday, November 13 – Class 4A Division II Bi-District Playoff Gilmer Buckeyes (8-2) vs. Paris North Lamar Panthers (4-5) 

Kickoff: TBD (not yet announced)

Stadium: E.H. Hanby Stadium, 410 E. Davis, Mesquite, Texas

Opened: 1956; renovated in 2002

Capacity: 12,000 (Home: 6,500, including 1,326 reserved chairback seats; Visitor: 5,500) Turf: FieldTurf monofilament

Owner: Mesquite ISD; home field for Mesquite, West Mesquite, Poteet, Horn and North Mesquite

Distance: Gilmer High School to Hanby Stadium is 114 miles; Paris to Hanby Stadium is 105 miles

Gilmer at Hanby Stadium: 4-0, all in the area round (2014, 2016, 2020, 2021), outscoring opponents 245-78

Paris North Lamar

Mascot: Panthers · Colors: Royal Blue & Gold · District: 7-4A DII · Enrollment: 671 Head Coach: Carlos Guevara (2nd season, 4-14 at North Lamar)

Co-Defensive Coordinators: Tyler Watts, Victor Johnson · Special Teams Coordinator: Justin Stout

Offensive Formation: Power Spread · Defensive Formation: 3-4

2025 Record: 0-9, 0-5 in district

Returning Lettermen: 18 · Returning Starters: 6 offense / 6 defense (Dave Campbell’s; Smoaky lists 4 offense / 6 defense)

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2026 Gilmer vs. Paris North Lamar — Game Info & Notes (Preview)

North Lamar Panthers 2026 Season Results

*District game

Overall Record: 4-5 (2-3 district) · Points For: 255 (28.3 PPG) · Points Against: 262 (29.1 PPG)

North Lamar Team Statistical Leaders

Through 9 games (MaxPreps, updated Nov. 10) 

PASSING 

RUSHING 

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2026 Gilmer vs. Paris North Lamar — Game Info & Notes (Preview)

RECEIVING 

TEAM OFFENSE 

TEAM DEFENSE (North Lamar scouting sheet): 137.8 rushing yards allowed per game, 100 passing yards allowed per game, 29.1 points allowed per game

INTERCEPTION LEADERS: Jayce Smith 5, Keylan Gray 2, Maxton Allison 1 North Lamar’s tackle and sack totals are not posted on MaxPreps. 

North Lamar Panthers Players to Watch

#0 WR/CB Keylan Gray, Sr., 6’0″, 190 – Team captain. 2026 stats (9 games): 60 receptions for 802 yards, 7 TD’s; 90-yard punt return TD; 2 interceptions; 9 total TD’s and 899 all purpose yards. 2025 stats: 30 receptions for 507 yards, 3 TD’s. Recruiting: not yet checked.

#3 QB Jack Rusak, Jr., 5’10”, 180 – 2026 stats (9 games): 111 of 233 passing for 1,548 yards, 14 TD’s, 7 INT’s; 67 carries for 383 yards, 4 TD’s; 1,931 total yards. 2025: 1,193 passing yards, 10 TD’s.

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2026 Gilmer vs. Paris North Lamar — Game Info & Notes (Preview)

#8 RB Connor Bateman, Sr. – 2026 stats (8 games; did not play at Quinlan Ford): 81 carries for 479 yards, 5 TD’s; long run of 80 yards; 2 100-yard games.

#4 WR/S Aiden Adamson, Sr., 6’0″, 185 – 2026 stats (8 games): 12 receptions for 234 yards (19.5 per catch), 4 TD’s.

#12 CB Jayce Smith, So., 5’10”, 175 – 2026 stats (7 games): 5 interceptions, 4 passes defended; returned a kickoff 95 yards for North Lamar’s only TD at Quinlan Ford.

#5 OLB/TE LV Williams, Jr., 6’1″, 200 – Rated all-district by North Lamar’s staff. 2025 stats: 35 tackles, 4 sacks.

#20 MLB Randon Parsons, Sr., 5’10”, 185 – Team captain.

#22 DT Jared Franklin, Jr., 6’1″, 240 and #88 DT Haydn Scott, Jr., 6’5″ – Both rated all district by North Lamar’s staff.

North Lamar Historical Stats, Records, and Program Information

BY DECADES (W-L-T) 

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2026 Gilmer vs. Paris North Lamar — Game Info & Notes (Preview)

First Season: 1970 · Undefeated Seasons: 0 · Winless Seasons: 5 (1970, 1971, 1989, 2020, 2025)

Last Winning Season: 2014 (6-4) · Last District Championship: 1979

State Championship Game Appearances: 0 · State Championships: 0

PlayoffAppearances: 12 (including 2026) · Last PlayoffAppearance before 2026: 2016 · Playoff Record: 1-11

Source: Smoaky.com program history; 2026 from Pigskin Prep. 

Gilmer

Mascot: Buckeyes · Colors: Black & Orange · District: 8-4A DII (co-champions, No. 1 seed) · Enrollment: 879

Head Coach: Alan Metzel (7th season, 72-21 at Gilmer; 72-21 overall)

Offensive Formation: Spread · Defensive Formation: 3-4

2026 Record: 8-2, 4-1 in district · 2025 Record: 4-7, lost in bi-district

Gilmer Players to Watch

Season stats through 9 games except where noted; Spring Hill game stats to be added. Page 5 of 13

2026 Gilmer vs. Paris North Lamar — Game Info & Notes (Preview)

#2 QB Zade Taylor, Sr., 5’6″, 170 – 67 of 102 passing for 988 yards, 10 TD’s; 1,209 rushing yards and 15 rushing TD’s through 10 games. Recruiting: holds 5 scholarship offers from smaller programs.

#6 RB/OLB Tayveon Horne, Jr., 6’0″, 185 – 139 carries for 926 yards (6.7 per carry), 15 rushing TD’s; a kickoff-return TD; team-high 1,143 all-purpose yards. Recruiting: offers from Texas Tech, Houston, UTEP and UTSA, plus others.

#5 WR/S Kipton Neighbors, Jr., 6’2″, 195 – 12 rushing TD’s through 10 games; 64 carries for 619 yards and 19 receptions for 311 yards through 9 games; also the team’s punter. Recruiting: offers from Baylor, Kentucky, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and SMU, plus others.

#10 WR/S Kaden Canady, Fr., 5’7″, 150 – Team-high 29 receptions for 438 yards, 8 TD’s; 10 TD’s scored 3 ways. Recruiting: holds an offer from UTSA.

#1 FB/DL Ismael Camara, Sr., 6’7″, 343 – 5-star offensive line prospect committed to Texas; chose the Longhorns over Oregon, LSU and SMU, plus others.

#44 FB/DL Davion King, Sr., 6’2″, 325 – 33 tackles, 6 QB hurries. Recruiting: offers from Air Force, Houston, North Texas, Stephen F. Austin, Texas State, UTEP and UTSA, plus others.

#9 FB/ILB Austin Blakeley, Jr., 5’10”, 180 – Team-high 74 tackles, 3 TFL, a 62-yard interception-return TD.

#80 FB/DL Aaden Borelly-Brown, Jr., 6’2″, 290 – 46 tackles, team-high 8 TFL, a sack, a forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries.

#13 WR/CB Keithan Johnson, Jr., 6’2″, 195 – Team-high 8 pass breakups, an interception. Recruiting: offer from North Texas, plus others.

#17 WR/CB Jerzyri Johnson, Jr., 5’11”, 160 – 7 kickoff returns for 376 yards (53.7 per return), 3 TD’s.

#82 K Alan Sanchez, So. – 52 extra points and 4 field goals through 10 games.

Gilmer v. North LamarAll-Time Series

Series Record: Gilmer leads 6-0 and has outscored North Lamar 307-31 First Meeting: 2020, Gilmer won 54-0 at Paris’ R.L. Maddox Stadium

Last Meeting: 2025, Gilmer won 50-7 at Jeff Traylor Stadium

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2026 Gilmer vs. Paris North Lamar — Game Info & Notes (Preview)

All 6 meetings were district games, played every year from 2020 through 2025. This is the first playoff meeting.

GILMER vs. North Lamar (6-0-0) 

Gilmer has averaged 51.2 points to North Lamar’s 5.2 and won by an average of 46.0. The closest game was 42-6 in 2022.

Streaks

Gilmer has a 6 game winning streak against North Lamar (every meeting) Gilmer has a 3 game winning streak (last loss: 56-58 to Pittsburg, 10/16) North Lamar has a 1 game losing streak (last win: 47-6 over Wills Point, 10/30) North Lamar has a 6 game losing streak in the playoffs (last win: 29-17 over Hallsville, 2006)

North Lamar has a 5 game losing streak in first round playoff games (last win: 29-17 over Hallsville, 2006)

Gilmer won 18 straight first round playoff games (2007-2024) before last season’s 49- 57 loss to Athens

Gilmer has a 112 consecutive games scoring streak (last shutout was 0-14 to Texarkana Pleasant Grove, 10/19/2018)

Gilmer has scored at least 33 points, rushed for at least 256 yards and gained at least 400 total yards in all 10 games this season

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2026 Gilmer vs. Paris North Lamar — Game Info & Notes (Preview)

Common Opponents in 2026

Game Notes

Gilmer is ranked 5th in the Class 4A-II Dave Campbell’s Texas Football rankings (Week 11; this week’s poll not yet checked), 11th in the Class 4A-II Pigskinprep.com power rankings and 5th in the MaxPreps.com 4A-II rankings

North Lamar is ranked 75th in the Class 4A-II Pigskinprep.com power rankings Gilmer is a 53 points favorite over North Lamar according to PigskinPrep.com, which predicts a 53-0 victory for the Buckeyes

Gilmer is the No. 1 seed from District 8-4A DII; North Lamar is the No. 4 seed from District 7-4A DII

PigskinPrep.com favors all 4 District 8 teams in the bi-district round: Gilmer by 53 over North Lamar, Carthage by 42 over Quinlan Ford, Texarkana Pleasant Grove by 35 over Farmersville and Sunnyvale by 9 over Pittsburg

Gilmer’s offense averages 51.5 points per game; North Lamar’s defense allows 29.1. North Lamar’s offense averages 28.3 points; Gilmer’s defense allows 38.3 Gilmer averages 337.4 rushing yards per game; North Lamar allows 137.8 Gilmer is 2-0 against current District 7-4A DII teams in first round playoff games: 38- 24 over Sunnyvale (2018) and 57-0 over Farmersville (2019)

North Lamar Season Notes

North Lamar’s schedule is the 90th toughest of 96 teams (based on opponents’ power rating) in Class 4A-II according to PigskinPrep.com

North Lamar’s 9 opponents have a combined record of 33-57 this season Only 4 of North Lamar’s opponents finished the season with a winning record, and North Lamar lost to all 4

North Lamar’s 4 wins came against teams with a combined record of 3-37; its 5 losses came against teams with a combined record of 30-20, by an average of 28.4 points North Lamar allowed at least 52 points in 3 of its 5 district games

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2026 Gilmer vs. Paris North Lamar — Game Info & Notes (Preview)

North Lamar is 3-1 at home and 1-4 on the road this season

North Lamar’s 255 points scored and 28.3 points per game are 55th in Class 4A-II North Lamar improved from 0-9 in 2025 to 4-5 in 2026; its scoring average rose from 12.7 to 28.3 points per game, and its points allowed fell from 54.3 to 29.1 per game North Lamar’s 47-24 win at Mabank on 9/4 ended an 11 game losing streak

Gilmer Season Notes

Gilmer’s schedule is the 4th toughest of 96 teams (based on opponents’ power rating) in Class 4A-II according to PigskinPrep.com

Gilmer’s non-district schedule included Longview Pine Tree, Tyler Chapel Hill, Kilgore, Sulphur Springs and Sunnyvale (9-1)

Gilmer won a share of the District 8-4A DII championship with Carthage, its 40th district title and its first since 2022

Gilmer handed No. 1 Carthage a 49-42 loss on 10/30, ending the Bulldogs’ 38-game winning streak

Gilmer’s 515 points scored and 51.5 points per game are 5th best in Class 4A-II Gilmer has rushed for 3,374 yards (337.4 per game) and gained 4,611 total yards (461.1 per game)

North Lamar Playoff Notes

North Lamar head coach Carlos Guevara is coaching his first playoff game at North Lamar

This is North Lamar’s 12th appearance in the playoffs

This is North Lamar’s 1st playoff appearance since 2016

This will be North Lamar’s 13th playoff game in school history

North Lamar is 1-11 in playoff games all-time (8%)

North Lamar is 1-10 in first round playoff games all-time (9%)

North Lamar’s only playoff win came in 2006, 29-17 over Hallsville in the bi-district round

North Lamar has never advanced past the area round

North Lamar has averaged 15.9 points scored and 37.8 points allowed in its 12 playoff games

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2026 Gilmer vs. Paris North Lamar — Game Info & Notes (Preview)

This is the first playoff meeting between Gilmer and North Lamar

Gilmer Playoff Notes

Gilmer head coach Alan Metzel is 19-5 in playoff games

Metzel is 5-1 in first round playoff games

This is Gilmer’s 47th appearance in the playoffs

This is Gilmer’s 26th consecutive year in the playoffs

This will be Gilmer’s 139th playoff game in school history

Gilmer is 102-35-1 in playoff games all time (74%)

Gilmer is 74-21 in playoff games since 2001 (78%)

Gilmer is 38-7-1 in first round playoff games all-time (83%)

Gilmer is 21-4 in first round playoff games since 2001 (84%)

Gilmer’s 102 playoff wins are the 14th most in Texas high school football history, and Gilmer is one of only 16 schools to win 100 playoff games (through 2025) Gilmer is one of only 6 schools in Texas to surpass 700 total wins and 100 playoff wins Gilmer is 4-0 in playoff games at Mesquite’s E.H. Hanby Stadium (all in the area round: 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021), and this is its first bi-district playoff game at Hanby

Gilmer is 13-4 in playoff games in Mesquite: 4-0 at Hanby Stadium and 9-4 at Mesquite Memorial Stadium

Gilmer has either won the state championship or lost in the playoffs to the eventual state champion in 14 of the past 23 years:

2003 – lost to 3A DII State Champion Atlanta in round 4

2004 – won 3A DI State Championship

2006 – lost to 3A DI State Champion Texarkana Liberty-Eylau in round 1 2007 – lost to State Champion Liberty Hill in 3A DI State Championship 2008 – lost to 3A DII State Champion Carthage in round 4

2009 – won 3A DII State Championship

2012 – lost to State Champion Navasota in 3A DII State Championship

2013 – lost to 3A DII State Champion Argyle in round 3

2014 – won 4A DII State Championship

2019 – lost to 4A DII State Champion Texarkana Pleasant Grove in round 4 2020 – lost to State Champion Carthage in 4A DII State Championship

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2026 Gilmer vs. Paris North Lamar — Game Info & Notes (Preview)

2021 – lost to State Champion China Spring in 4A DII State Championship 2022 – lost to 4A DII State Champion Carthage in round 3

2023 – won 4A DII State Championship

Gilmer’s 9 appearances in the State Championship game are the 2nd most ever in Class 4A and tied for the 17th most among all classifications in Texas high school football history (Source: University Interscholastic League)

Gilmer Record Watch

Through Game 10 (Nov. 6), from the Gilmer Team, Season and Career Records. TEAM RECORDS 

Gilmer’s 337.4 rushing yards per game are the 2nd most in team history (record: 348, 1985)

Gilmer needs 141 rushing yards to have the 10th most rushing yards in a season in team history

Gilmer’s 51.5 points per game are the 5th highest scoring average in team history Gilmer needs 93 points to have the 13th highest scoring season in team history Gilmer’s 446 rushing yards against Pittsburg are tied for the 18th most in a game in team history

SEASON RECORDS 

Senior QB Zade Taylor’s 1,209 rushing yards are the 20th most in a season in team history; he needs 54 to have the 19th most

Junior RB Tayveon Horne needs 74 rushing yards to become a 1,000-yard rusher this season

Zade Taylor and Tayveon Horne’s 15 rushing TD’s are tied for the 20th most in a season in team history; each needs 3 more to tie for the 16th most

Kipton Neighbors needs 2 rushing TD’s to tie for the 25th most in a season in team history

CAREER RECORDS 

Zade Taylor needs 206 total yards to have the 8th most total yards in team history Zade Taylor needs 51 passing yards to have the 12th most passing yards in team history

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2026 Gilmer vs. Paris North Lamar — Game Info & Notes (Preview)

Zade Taylor needs 109 rushing yards to have the 10th most rushing yards in team history

Tayveon Horne needs 65 rushing yards to become the 17th Buckeye with 2,000 career rushing yards, and 66 to have the 16th most rushing yards in team history Zade Taylor’s 31 rushing TD’s are the 11th most in team history; he needs 2 to tie for 8th Tayveon Horne’s 30 rushing TD’s are the 12th most in team history; he needs 2 to tie for 10th

Zade Taylor’s 34 total TD’s are the 15th most in team history; he needs 2 to tie for 10th Tayveon Horne’s 32 total TD’s are the 18th most in team history; he needs 2 to tie for 15th

Zade Taylor needs 4 passing TD’s to tie for the 11th most in team history

North Lamar Historical Notes

North Lamar’s first football season was in 1970, and this is its 57th season North Lamar is 199-370-7 all-time

North Lamar has had 5 winless seasons (1970, 1971, 1989, 2020, 2025)

North Lamar’s last winning season was 2014 (6-4), and its last district championship was in 1979

North Lamar’s first playoff game was a 6-44 loss to Pittsburg in the 1979 bi-district round

North Lamar’s best stretch came from 2004-2006 under Tommy Felty, when it went 8- 3, 8-3 and 8-4; Felty coached 17 seasons (1997-2013)

Gilmer Historical Notes

Gilmer’s first football season was in 1914, and this is Gilmer’s 113th consecutive season to field a team

Gilmer has never had a winless season

Gilmer is 768-411-39 all-time in 1,218 games

Gilmer’s 768 wins are tied with Cameron Yoe for the 11th most in Texas high school football history

Gilmer has won 40 district championships

Gilmer has 28 seasons with 10 wins or more; 2 playoff wins would make 2026 the 29th Page 12 of 13

2026 Gilmer vs. Paris North Lamar — Game Info & Notes (Preview)

Gilmer has recorded 16 undefeated regular seasons, tied for 7th most in Texas high school football history (Source: www.TexasHighSchoolFootballHistory.com) Gilmer is 300-64 since 2000 (82%)

Gilmer is 226-43 in regular season games since 2000 (84%)

Did You Know?

North Lamar head coach Carlos Guevara is in his 2nd season; North Lamar went 0-9 in his 1st season and is 4-5 this year

North Lamar’s 4 wins this season equal its win total from 2020, 2021 and 2024 combined

Since 2000, Gilmer is 257-17 (94%) when scoring 30 or more points in a game. When scoring less than 30 points in a game, Gilmer is 43-47 (48%)

Since 1980, the Buckeyes have lost only 20 games when scoring at least 30 points, including 2 this season (40-52 to Longview Pine Tree and 56-58 to Pittsburg) Since 2000, Gilmer has more playoff wins (74) than regular season losses (43) Gilmer head coach Alan Metzel is 72-21 (77%) at Gilmer

Sources

GilmerAll-Time Scores Master; Gilmer Team, Season and Career Records (through 11/6/2026); North Lamar MaxPreps stats (through 8 games), roster and depth charts; North Lamar 2026 roster; PigskinPrep.com rankings, schedule strength and offensive leaders; Dave Campbell’s Texas Football; MaxPreps 4A-II rankings; Smoaky.com; TexasBob.com (Hanby Stadium).