Brenham 49, Gilmer 7
By Elwyn Henderson
The Gilmer Buckeyes returned to a familiar site for playoff games over the years Friday night as they visited the friendly confines of Longview’s Lobo Stadium for a big game against the 5A DII Brenham Cubs. Although Lobo Stadium has been very friendly to the Buckeyes over the years with many memorable wins, Friday night was not one of those friendly experiences. The Buckeyes played better again in the game than they did against Lindale in the Homecoming Game a week ago, but they still have work to do as they fell to the Cubs by the score of 49-7.
Fortunately, the injury riddled Bucks will have their open week next Friday and will be able to get some of the injured players back on Friday, October 10th when they entertain the Pittsburg Pirates to open District 7-4A DII play.
Prior to kickoff Brenham won the coin toss and elected to defer to start the game.
Bleu Cienega’s kick went to the Gilmer 2 and it was returned to the 14 where Zade Taylor brought the Buckeye offense to the field for the first time.
After picking up one first down Celson James came in to punt the ball away on fourth down on the next series. The ball traveled 29 yards to the Brenham 41where Xyran Upshaw brought the Cubs out for their first possession of the game. The Black Flag Defense gave up one first down and then stuffed the Cubs for a 6-yard loss on fourth down and Gilmer set up on their 48 in great field position.
The Bucks held the ball for 9 plays and 3:22 but the offense ran out of gas at the Brenham 28 where Upshaw brought his troops back out. It took just 5 plays and 1:32 for the Cubs move the 72 into the end zone for the first time. The score came on an 18-yard TD run by CJ Glover with 1:40 left in the opening quarter.
The Buckeyes went three-and-out on their next possession and after the James punt Brenham set up on their 44. The Black Flag forced a three-and-out and after a Cienega punt Gilmer set up at their 19.
Taylor led the offense down the field, hoping desperately to get the team into the end zone and on the board. They moved the ball down to the Cub 28 where they faced a 4th and 1. After calling a time out to discuss what play to run. They went with the Philadelphia Eagles “tush push” and Taylor broke through the defense and didn’t stop until he found the end zone with 7:23 left in the half. Miguel Castaneda added the PAT and the game was tied 7-7.
The ensuing kickoff was returned to the Brenham 38 where Upshaw and his friend came out on the field once again. The Black Flag gave up one first down and forced a punt on the next series. The kick went into the end zone and the Bucks began their next possession at their 25.
The offense moved down to the 20 but after 3 incomplete passes Taylor was intercepted in the the end zone ending the threat.
Upshaw made Gilmer pay for the turnover as they moved the 80 yards into the end zone for their second touchdown of the game with 27.3 seconds left in the half. The extra point was good and Brenham took a 14-7 lead.
Castaneda kicked off to begin the second half and the kick was returned down to the Gilmer 45. It took the Cubs just 5 plays and 1:33 for the Cubs to find the end zone again. The score came on a 7-yard TD pass from Upshaw to Chris Guidry with 10:27 left in the third quarter. The extra point was blocked but Brenham went ahead 20-6.
Gilmer came back was as moving again but on the third play of the possession after a beautiful 62-yard pass from Taylor to Taveon Horne a bad snap from center was recovered by J’Rius Booker at the Cub 21 and the visitors were back in business again.
It took just 56 seconds for Brenham to get into the end zone again, capping a 3-play drive with a 28-yard TD run by Upshaw with 8:36 left in the quarter. A try for 2 was good with a run by Upshaw and Gilmer was down 28-7.
It was a quick three-and-out again by the offense and after a punt Brenham had the ball on their 38. It took just one play for them to get into the end zone again. Upshaw hit Guidry on a 62-yard scoring pass. The extra point was good and the Bucks found themselves down 35-7.
After another quick three-and-out and a short 13-yard punt Brenham began at the Gilmer 37. After picking up one first down an offensive personal foul forced a punt that was downed on the Gilmer 7.
The Bux moved the ball up to the 39 before they were forced to punt on the third series of the possession. The punt went down to the Cubs 19 where Upshaw brought his unit out again.
On the first play Cartelle Brown ran 81 yards for yet another Brenham TD with 10:35 left in the game. The point after was good and the Buckeyes were in a 42-7 hole.
The next possession began on the Gilmer 23 and Carter Johnston came in to relieve Taylor at quarterback. On the third play of the possession Johnston was intercepted by Ledrick Walker, Jr and the Cubs went back on the offensive at their 47 where Hudson Hartstack entered the game at quarterback.
Hartstack led the team on a 9-play, 53-yard scoring drive that took 5:57 off the fourth quarter clock. The score came on a 2-yard TD run by Tre Taylor with 3:38 left in the game.
The kickoff after the score was returned up to the Gilmer 46 and the Buckeye offense hit the field for their final possession of the night.
Gilmer ran out the clock and when the final second ticked off the ball was on the Brenham 41 and the final score was 49-7 in favor of the Cubs.
When we talked with Coach Alan Metzel after the disappointing outcome we pointed out that his team played a great first half.
“We did and had opportunities to cash in and didn’t make the play when we had to make a play to capitalize and maybe go in (up) 14-7 or (tied) 14-14. Right now we’re at that place where we’re good enough to put ourselves in position and then not be consistent right now in making the play you have to make. That’s the threshold we’ve got to break through.”
We asked coach if he agreed although the team never quit in the game with Brenham scoring just before the half ended and then scoring quickly to open the third quarter those two things pretty much broke the team’s neck.
“It was. Their speed hurt us; they got in space some. On the first drive we got them in third and long and they converted. The guy made a great play even though we were contesting it and from there they got guys in space and we had a little trouble with them. It was kind of the old deflating blow again. I thought we had a lull and then I thought guys kind of pushed back and we moved the ball down the field and then we’d make a mistake and you feel that ‘uh’ again, you know. Right now we’ve got to learn to get out of our own way, quite frankly. When we do that then you’re going to start to see where we finish some drives which then gives your defense hope. We’ve got to give them that opportunity a little bit more.”
Then we asked Coach Metzel how hard it is for a young team to overcome not getting drives that resulted in touchdowns in the game.
Well, within the game it’s very hard. Week to week you can watch it on film and go ‘ok, here are the things we’ve got to do to improve’ and you work on it. Again, that’s that threshold I’m talking about where inside you’re not waiting on the opponent to mess up, you’re seizing the moment and making the play. That’s where we’ve got to bust through. Right now it’s a mentality, it’s a mindset. The only way you can do it is just to keep grinding until you begin to see a little success and then that starts feeding success.”
Next we brought up the fact that Phase 1 of the season is now over and it is time to look forward and remind everyone that every team starts at 0-0 again when district play begins in 2 weeks after next week’s open week.
“That’s correct and even if you were 5-0 its still 0-0 and we need to wash the bad taste out of our mouth. We’ve got to allow this to motivate us to high levels. We are having a break and I’m hoping there’s two or three guys that we can gain back in the next two weeks which could really help us in some spots. We are where we are and we want to make the best of it and try and improve going into district in the game against Pittsburg.”
We also mentioned that with opening district play at home in two weeks that a win in that game could the momentum going heading to Van the following week and he responded, “Correct, and that’s how you have to look at it. I love the mindset that you’re talking about. You have two choices: you can be negative and that really doesn’t get you anywhere or you can be positive and say ‘ok, what will we do to improve’ and that’s what we’re going to do. We’ll fix our eyes on taking the next step and not make it more complicated than that.”
We finished by asking Coach Metzel for anything else he would like to say.
“I would just say fans, keeping encouraging the kids. Keep encouraging them. They feed off our town. Our town has really been great to be honest and I felt like after our Lindale game it boosted our guys. We played a really good team and exposed some weaknesses again. Just hang in there with them. We’re going to come back and get after Pittsburg in a couple of weeks.”
The Buckeyes will have a much needed open week next Friday night before heading back to Jeff Traylor Stadium in Gilmer on Friday night October 10th when the Pittsburg Pirates come to town.
Enjoy next Friday night’s open week but please be sure to come out on October 10th and support the Buckeyes as they aim to get off to a good start in district play.
