By JOE DODD
The Gilmer Buckeyes lost senior receivers Curtis Brown and Jake Ashley to early injuries before dominating the Atlanta Rabbits 49-12 Friday night in Atlanta.
“I couldn’t have drawn it up any better; other than Curtis and Jake getting hurt,” said Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor, when asked to summarize the game. “It was our most complete game. Our kids were really ready to play.”
The Buckeyes (5-0) took the opening kickoff to the 15-yard line and proceeded on their longest possession of the season; a 14-play drive that consumed 6:01 on the clock. The opening drive included two fourth down conversions, before G.J. Kinne connected with Curtis Brown from 8-yards out for the game’s first touchdown. Matt Burgin kicked the first of his seven straight extra-point attempts, giving Gilmer a 7-0 lead.
Gilmer’s Black Flag defense responded to Traylor’s pregame challenge for 3-and-out series, on the Rabbits’ (0-6) first play when Wes Wynne sacked Atlanta quarterback Donta McNeely for a 9-yard loss. Two more Rabbit plays gained only a yard, so the Rabbits were forced to punt on fourth down.
The Buckeyes started their second possession at the Rabbits 47-yard line. Kinne hooked up with Brown on the first play for a gain of 32 yards. After a 10-yard completion to Brennan Thompson, Kinne connected with Brown again, but Brown would stay down on the ground, unable to get up. “My foot was sliding and somebody landed on the very back of it, and it went straight down,” said Brown, who had to be carried off the field, ending his night with 84 total yards on eight touches.
On the next play, Kinne would run it in from two yards out, giving the Buckeyes a 14-0 lead with 2:32 left to play in the first quarter.
The Buckeyes’ defense answered the challenge again on Atlanta ’s second possession, forcing another 3-and-out by the Rabbits. But with Brown being attended to by medical personnel, Gilmer’s offense managed only nine yards before punting for only the third time this season.
Atlanta took advantage of the Buckeyes’ woes three plays later when Roosevelt Falls scampered 65 yards for a touchdown. The Rabbits’ extra-point snap was bad, and the Buckeyes’ Arsenial Richardson intercepted the errant throw, but the damage was done, as the Rabbits had closed the score to just 14-6 with 9:39 left in the first half.
Traylor and the offense had to re-group. “We had a huge emphasis on Curtis,” Traylor stated. “We were going to try and get the ball to him 20 times in this game. So that eliminated about one-half the game plan. We had to really start focusing on what plays went to the other kids.”
Facing a critical 3rd-and-13 from his own 19-yard line, Kinne hit Ashley for a 49-yard gain down to the Atlanta 32-yard line. As the team celebrated, Ashley clutched his arm and went to the sideline, where doctors determined he had a broken collarbone. Traylor listened to the news in disbelief. “To lose two players at the same position, in about a 7-play span on offense; that was really tough.”
Just two plays after Ashley’s injury, Lamar Harris took a short pass from Kinne and turned it into a 31-yard touchdown, leaving Rabbits defenders grasping at air. That gave Gilmer a 21-6 advantage with 7:29 to play in the half and gave Brown a comforting feeling as he watched his teammates. “When I got hurt, the ball started to get spread around, and they did their job and made big plays,” said Brown. “We’ve got enough players to make big plays without me in there.”
If big plays determine the outcome of a game, then none were bigger than the play that stopped Atlanta ’s next drive. Facing 4th-and-2 from the Gilmer 29-yard line, the Rabbits’ Falls seemed to pick up enough yardage for the first down, but the ball squirted loose and the Buckeyes’ Zach Jones scooped it up and returned it to the Atlanta 48-yard line. On the very next play, Kinne connected with Jamell Kennedy for 41 yards, and two plays later, Justin Johnson scored on a 9-yard run, giving Gilmer a 28-6 lead with 3:08 remaining in the half.
“That was the biggest play in the game,” said Traylor of Jones’ fumble recovery. “Instead of Atlanta scoring and making the score 21-14, just three plays later we were up 28-6. That was huge.”
The Buckeyes’ defense continued their impressive play on the Rabbits next possession, holding Atlanta to another 3-and-out, and giving the offense the football at the Gilmer 22-yard line. 27 seconds later, the Buckeyes were celebrating in the end zone following a 17-yard run by Justin Johnson and a 56-yard touchdown pass from Kinne to Kennedy, giving Gilmer a commanding 35-6 halftime lead.
The Rabbits came out in the third quarter and made one last attempt to get back in the game, driving 60 yards in eight plays, finishing with Falls’ 1-yard touchdown run, cutting the Buckeyes’ lead to 35-12 just 4:09 into the second half.
Gilmer’s offense responded with two more touchdowns in the second half. Kinne fired a missile to Harris for a 44-yard touchdown, making the score 42-12 with 2:14 left in the thirrd quarter; and sophomore running back Josh Thompson scored his first varsity touchdown with 8:42 remaining in the game on a 15-yard run.
Kinne finished with 338 yards passing and four touchdowns, prompting Traylor to say, “He had his best game. At halftime he was 17 out of 18, and we had a busted route on the one play he had to throw away. He has gotten better every single week.It’s just scary to think how good he is going to be, because he’s just humble, he goes to work every day, he wants to be the best quarterback in the state of Texas; and he’s working towards it.”
While Traylor expected Kinne to perform at a high level, he was pleased to see several other players match Kinne’s effort. “I was extremely proud of how we had so many kids step up and start making plays,” stated Traylor. Harris and Kennedy more than made up for Brown’s absence, combining for 181 yards and 3 touchdowns receiving. “I thought both those kids were due a break-out game. Those two kids really stepped up,” Traylor said.
“I guess it was my time to step up when Curtis got hurt and take some leadership and go make some plays,” said Kennedy, whose sentiments were echoed by Harris. “I knew he would want me to play hard, and I didn’t want to let him down. I knew he would play hard if he were in the game, so I said I might as well step up and play hard for him.”
Despite playing with a severely bruised ankle, Justin Johnson’s rushing was a big factor for the Buckeyes’ offense, as the junior back totaled 144 yards rushing on only 12 carries, including a spectacular 56-yard run that set up the Buckeyes’ final score. “I was frustrated because I could see the hole where I needed to go, but I didn’t have the speed and the quickness to get there,” said Johnson. “It bothered me, but I knew I would get there sooner or later.”
Traylor said that most of the credit for the Buckeyes’ 529 yards of total offense should go to the men in the trenches. “The offensive line played their best game this year,” said Traylor. “David Snow played really well. Garrett Atkins played good again, and Cody Lee responded with a good game. Those three offensive linemen played really well.”
In addition to praising the offense, Traylor gave his defense high marks, calling the defensive performance the best of the season after holding the Rabbits to only 188 yards of total offense; all of it on the ground. “Arsenial Richardson really played well,” said Traylor. “His grade was high, and he had 13 tackles. Keezie Camp graded out 85 percent at the safety position, he had four tackles and an assist; and the defensive tackles; Donte Harris and Wes Wynne played well down in there.”
Traylor had special praise for Jules Johnson, who was forced to change positions for the second straight game due to starting tackle Jeremy Reeves, and starting linebacker Dominique Buchanan, missing the game due to illness. Jules Johnson moved last week to outside linebacker from safety, and this week moved to inside linebacker. “Jules Johnson might be the smartest player we’ve ever coached on defense,” Traylor stated. “He never skipped a beat at all three positions.”
“A lot of people stepped up tonight that usually don’t get to play,” said Wynne. “They did a great job stepping up and taking a leadership role.”
Brown finished the game watching his teammates from the bench and said, “They made me proud. Now it’s their turn.”
STATISTICS
Gilmer Atlanta
18 First downs 5
27-191 Rushes-yds 33-188
20-24-0 Passing 0-8-1
338 Passing-yds 0
529 Total yds 188
2-20 Penalties-yds 4-35
0 Fumbles lost 1
2-36 Punts-avg 6-33.7
25:53 Time of possession 22:07
SCORE BY QUARTERS
1 2 3 4 T
Gilmer 14 21 7 7 49
Atlanta 0 6 6 0 12
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
MATT BURGIN kicks one of his seven PATs against Atlanta.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
JOSH THOMPSON clears the corner as he heads for his first varsity toucdown. Scoring the final tally in the fourth quarter, the running back raised Gilmer’s score to 49-12 over Atlanta.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
JUSTIN JOHNSON follows the blocks of Garrett Adkins (73), Daniel Jenkins (71) and Cody Lee (72) the strong offensive line for the Buckeyes. Gilmer defeated Atlanta, 49-12, Friday in the last game before District 15-3A play begins Friday night here against Sabine.
The Gilmer Buckeyes lost senior receivers Curtis Brown and Jake Ashley to early injuries before dominating the Atlanta Rabbits 49-12 Friday night in Atlanta.
“I couldn’t have drawn it up any better; other than Curtis and Jake getting hurt,” said Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor, when asked to summarize the game. “It was our most complete game. Our kids were really ready to play.”
The Buckeyes (5-0) took the opening kickoff to the 15-yard line and proceeded on their longest possession of the season; a 14-play drive that consumed 6:01 on the clock. The opening drive included two fourth down conversions, before G.J. Kinne connected with Curtis Brown from 8-yards out for the game’s first touchdown. Matt Burgin kicked the first of his seven straight extra-point attempts, giving Gilmer a 7-0 lead.
Gilmer’s Black Flag defense responded to Traylor’s pregame challenge for 3-and-out series, on the Rabbits’ (0-6) first play when Wes Wynne sacked Atlanta quarterback Donta McNeely for a 9-yard loss. Two more Rabbit plays gained only a yard, so the Rabbits were forced to punt on fourth down.
The Buckeyes started their second possession at the Rabbits 47-yard line. Kinne hooked up with Brown on the first play for a gain of 32 yards. After a 10-yard completion to Brennan Thompson, Kinne connected with Brown again, but Brown would stay down on the ground, unable to get up. “My foot was sliding and somebody landed on the very back of it, and it went straight down,” said Brown, who had to be carried off the field, ending his night with 84 total yards on eight touches.
On the next play, Kinne would run it in from two yards out, giving the Buckeyes a 14-0 lead with 2:32 left to play in the first quarter.
The Buckeyes’ defense answered the challenge again on Atlanta ’s second possession, forcing another 3-and-out by the Rabbits. But with Brown being attended to by medical personnel, Gilmer’s offense managed only nine yards before punting for only the third time this season.
Atlanta took advantage of the Buckeyes’ woes three plays later when Roosevelt Falls scampered 65 yards for a touchdown. The Rabbits’ extra-point snap was bad, and the Buckeyes’ Arsenial Richardson intercepted the errant throw, but the damage was done, as the Rabbits had closed the score to just 14-6 with 9:39 left in the first half.
Traylor and the offense had to re-group. “We had a huge emphasis on Curtis,” Traylor stated. “We were going to try and get the ball to him 20 times in this game. So that eliminated about one-half the game plan. We had to really start focusing on what plays went to the other kids.”
Facing a critical 3rd-and-13 from his own 19-yard line, Kinne hit Ashley for a 49-yard gain down to the Atlanta 32-yard line. As the team celebrated, Ashley clutched his arm and went to the sideline, where doctors determined he had a broken collarbone. Traylor listened to the news in disbelief. “To lose two players at the same position, in about a 7-play span on offense; that was really tough.”
Just two plays after Ashley’s injury, Lamar Harris took a short pass from Kinne and turned it into a 31-yard touchdown, leaving Rabbits defenders grasping at air. That gave Gilmer a 21-6 advantage with 7:29 to play in the half and gave Brown a comforting feeling as he watched his teammates. “When I got hurt, the ball started to get spread around, and they did their job and made big plays,” said Brown. “We’ve got enough players to make big plays without me in there.”
If big plays determine the outcome of a game, then none were bigger than the play that stopped Atlanta ’s next drive. Facing 4th-and-2 from the Gilmer 29-yard line, the Rabbits’ Falls seemed to pick up enough yardage for the first down, but the ball squirted loose and the Buckeyes’ Zach Jones scooped it up and returned it to the Atlanta 48-yard line. On the very next play, Kinne connected with Jamell Kennedy for 41 yards, and two plays later, Justin Johnson scored on a 9-yard run, giving Gilmer a 28-6 lead with 3:08 remaining in the half.
“That was the biggest play in the game,” said Traylor of Jones’ fumble recovery. “Instead of Atlanta scoring and making the score 21-14, just three plays later we were up 28-6. That was huge.”
The Buckeyes’ defense continued their impressive play on the Rabbits next possession, holding Atlanta to another 3-and-out, and giving the offense the football at the Gilmer 22-yard line. 27 seconds later, the Buckeyes were celebrating in the end zone following a 17-yard run by Justin Johnson and a 56-yard touchdown pass from Kinne to Kennedy, giving Gilmer a commanding 35-6 halftime lead.
The Rabbits came out in the third quarter and made one last attempt to get back in the game, driving 60 yards in eight plays, finishing with Falls’ 1-yard touchdown run, cutting the Buckeyes’ lead to 35-12 just 4:09 into the second half.
Gilmer’s offense responded with two more touchdowns in the second half. Kinne fired a missile to Harris for a 44-yard touchdown, making the score 42-12 with 2:14 left in the thirrd quarter; and sophomore running back Josh Thompson scored his first varsity touchdown with 8:42 remaining in the game on a 15-yard run.
Kinne finished with 338 yards passing and four touchdowns, prompting Traylor to say, “He had his best game. At halftime he was 17 out of 18, and we had a busted route on the one play he had to throw away. He has gotten better every single week.It’s just scary to think how good he is going to be, because he’s just humble, he goes to work every day, he wants to be the best quarterback in the state of Texas; and he’s working towards it.”
While Traylor expected Kinne to perform at a high level, he was pleased to see several other players match Kinne’s effort. “I was extremely proud of how we had so many kids step up and start making plays,” stated Traylor. Harris and Kennedy more than made up for Brown’s absence, combining for 181 yards and 3 touchdowns receiving. “I thought both those kids were due a break-out game. Those two kids really stepped up,” Traylor said.
“I guess it was my time to step up when Curtis got hurt and take some leadership and go make some plays,” said Kennedy, whose sentiments were echoed by Harris. “I knew he would want me to play hard, and I didn’t want to let him down. I knew he would play hard if he were in the game, so I said I might as well step up and play hard for him.”
Despite playing with a severely bruised ankle, Justin Johnson’s rushing was a big factor for the Buckeyes’ offense, as the junior back totaled 144 yards rushing on only 12 carries, including a spectacular 56-yard run that set up the Buckeyes’ final score. “I was frustrated because I could see the hole where I needed to go, but I didn’t have the speed and the quickness to get there,” said Johnson. “It bothered me, but I knew I would get there sooner or later.”
Traylor said that most of the credit for the Buckeyes’ 529 yards of total offense should go to the men in the trenches. “The offensive line played their best game this year,” said Traylor. “David Snow played really well. Garrett Atkins played good again, and Cody Lee responded with a good game. Those three offensive linemen played really well.”
In addition to praising the offense, Traylor gave his defense high marks, calling the defensive performance the best of the season after holding the Rabbits to only 188 yards of total offense; all of it on the ground. “Arsenial Richardson really played well,” said Traylor. “His grade was high, and he had 13 tackles. Keezie Camp graded out 85 percent at the safety position, he had four tackles and an assist; and the defensive tackles; Donte Harris and Wes Wynne played well down in there.”
Traylor had special praise for Jules Johnson, who was forced to change positions for the second straight game due to starting tackle Jeremy Reeves, and starting linebacker Dominique Buchanan, missing the game due to illness. Jules Johnson moved last week to outside linebacker from safety, and this week moved to inside linebacker. “Jules Johnson might be the smartest player we’ve ever coached on defense,” Traylor stated. “He never skipped a beat at all three positions.”
“A lot of people stepped up tonight that usually don’t get to play,” said Wynne. “They did a great job stepping up and taking a leadership role.”
Brown finished the game watching his teammates from the bench and said, “They made me proud. Now it’s their turn.”
STATISTICS
Gilmer Atlanta
18 First downs 5
27-191 Rushes-yds 33-188
20-24-0 Passing 0-8-1
338 Passing-yds 0
529 Total yds 188
2-20 Penalties-yds 4-35
0 Fumbles lost 1
2-36 Punts-avg 6-33.7
25:53 Time of possession 22:07
SCORE BY QUARTERS
1 2 3 4 T
Gilmer 14 21 7 7 49
Atlanta 0 6 6 0 12
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
MATT BURGIN kicks one of his seven PATs against Atlanta.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
JOSH THOMPSON clears the corner as he heads for his first varsity toucdown. Scoring the final tally in the fourth quarter, the running back raised Gilmer’s score to 49-12 over Atlanta.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
JUSTIN JOHNSON follows the blocks of Garrett Adkins (73), Daniel Jenkins (71) and Cody Lee (72) the strong offensive line for the Buckeyes. Gilmer defeated Atlanta, 49-12, Friday in the last game before District 15-3A play begins Friday night here against Sabine.
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