By JOE DODD
The White Oak Roughnecks were a familiar foe when Gilmer Buckeyes’ head coach Jeff Traylor donned an orange and black uniform for his alma matter back in the mid-1980s. But when the Buckeyes host the Roughnecks at Buckeye Stadium Friday night, it will be the first time a Traylor coached team has played White Oak since he came to Gilmer in 2000.
Traylor has been looking forward to this game since Gilmer and White Oak were placed in the same district this past February. “White Oak is an old district rival that’s knocked Gilmer out of the playoffs for many years; so I think our fans have been dying to play White Oak for a while,” said Traylor.
Gilmer owns an 11-8-1 advantage over White Oak since the teams first met in 1943, but the Roughnecks bettered the Buckeyes in their last two meetings in 1998 and 1999. Gilmer’s last win over White Oak was a convincing 55-6 victory in 1991.
Traylor has brought the Buckeyes the kind of success that the Roughnecks enjoyed in the 1940s when White Oak recorded 58 consecutive district wins and seven consecutive district championships. Traylor’s teams have gone 67-13, and currently sport a 25-game district winning streak, along with five consecutive district championships. Those are accomplishments that Traylor challenges his team to improve. “That’s something that we talk about every week,” said Traylor. “It motivates them to practice harder during the week; and if you practice hard during the week, you’re going to play better on Friday.”
There is another reason that Traylor hopes to extend the streak. “What I like about our district winning streak is that it ties back to my very first group. My group in 2000 is still a part of something in this program,” Traylor said. “That group is special to me, so I really feel obligated to that group to keep the streak going.”
To keep the streak alive, Gilmer will have to defeat a program that is well-known for their pride. “They’re a very proud community. They think White Oak is the best. They think they’re the best school, the best sports, the best everything. That might rub you wrong if you’re not from White Oak, but I have tremendous respect for the people of White Oak for that very reason; and that’s something that we hope we have here. You don’t want to ever be arrogant, but you do want to be proud of where you’re from.”
No one is prouder of where they’re from than Traylor; but White Oak head coach Tracy Blankenship might argue that. Like Traylor, Blankenship now coaches at the school he played for, having graduated in 1981, and returning to coach there in 1988. In 2003, Blankenship was named the Roughneck’s new head coach, and has guided White Oak to a 16-22 overall record since then.
Following a playoff appearance last season, the Roughnecks are struggling this year, winning only one of six games, and being outscored 151-39 in the process. Despite White Oak’s record, Traylor doesn’t think his team will have a let down against the Roughnecks. “I think our kids will respect the fact that White Oak is a very proud program with a lot of tradition,” stated Traylor, who added, “They’re scrappy; they play hard, they compete; they just haven’t won very much yet.”
Traylor also pays no credence to the theory that the Yamboree distracts his team. “I just trust my kids,” Traylor said. “They know what’s at stake.” Blankenship agreed with Traylor, going so far as to call it an advantage for Gilmer. “I don’t think the Yamboree will be much of a factor during the game. They’ll want to shine in front of a good crowd,” said Blankenship.
The Buckeyes do enjoy a tremendous home-field advantage, having won their last 18 games at Buckeye Stadium dating back to 2002. Blankenship admitted that ending that streak will be hard for the Roughnecks. “That’s the most athletic team I have ever seen in 3A football,” Blankenship stated. “They have got unbelievable athletes. I’ve never seen that many good ones wear the same color uniform in one season.”
“We’ll approach it as a game that can make our season,” stated the Roughneck coach.
When White Oak has the football
Blankenship would like to run the spread, but said that he switched to a traditional I formation to better accommodate his personnel. The Roughnecks have struggled on offense so far this season, averaging only 41 yards rushing and 80 yards passing per game. Freshman Austin Tubbs (5-10, 180) starts at quarterback for White Oak, and has impressed Traylor. “He’s gotten better each week,” Traylor said. “He throws the ball pretty good for a freshman.” Tubbs is joined in the backfield by senior running backs Austin Morgan (5-7, 155) and Josh Goll (6-1, 165).
Coach Blankenship’s son Barrett anchors the Roughneck line from the center position, while his nephew, Craig Blankenship (6-2, 195) starts at tight end.
White Oak plans to keep the football away from the Buckeyes. “We’ll gamble some, but at the same time we’ll have to play close to the vest, and keep the clock running. We’ll have to find a way to run the ball and keep that clock ticking to keep it from being a track meet,” said Blankenship.
The Buckeyes will counter with a defensive unit that is allowing 241 yards total offense and 17 points per game. Senior linebackers Arsenial Richardson (82 tackles), and Dominique Buchanan (52 tackles) lead the Black Flag Defense. Gilmer will probably be without the services of starters Jeremy Reeves and Jules Johnson, who are nursing injuries.
When Gilmer has the football
The Buckeyes are led by senior quarterback G.J. Kinne who has passed for 1,724 yards and 25 touchdowns in Gilmer’s first six games. Kinne’s favorite target, Curtis Brown, is expected to miss the game as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury suffered against Atlanta two weeks ago, along with receiver Jake Ashley who suffered a broken collarbone against Atlanta. Lamar Harris and Jamell Kennedy have taken over the bulk of the receiving duties. Harris has 29 catches for 489 yards and eight touchdowns. Kennedy has 327 yards on 16 receptions and three touchdowns.
Justin Johnson leads the Buckeyes’ ground attack with 523 yards and 6 touchdowns on only 49 carries. Josh Thompson is the next leading rusher with 150 yards and two touchdowns on only 27 carries.
The Buckeyes’ 295 passing yards and 190 rushing yards per game have helped make Gilmer the most prolific scoring offense in the state of Texas, averaging 54.2 points per game.
White Oak counters with a defense that has allowed 1837 yards in six games, most of it on the ground; as opponents average 233 yards rushing and only 73 yards passing. Despite the 306 yard per game average, Traylor said that the Roughnecks defense plays hard. “Their defense moves around quite a bit. They loop, twist, stunt, slant; they do a lot of stuff on defense, so we’ll have to work.”
The Roughnecks operate out of both the 4-3 and the 4-2 defensive scheme. The linebacker corps of Craig Blankenship (6-2, 195), Ryan Grantham and Cullen Heim (5-10, 195) is White Oak’s strength. The Roughneck defensive front is anchored by returning all-district end Nick Thompson (5-10, 175).
SCOUT TEAM
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offense: Michael Pearson
Defense: Colton Gage
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
GILMER’S DONTE HARRIS dives over a hapless Cardinal to scoop up the loose pigskin and slide to the one yard line. Justin Johnson scored for Gilmer on the next play as Gilmer went on to win the Homecoming and opening district game with Sabine 49-7. Next up for the Buckeyes is another District 15-3A opponent, the White Oak Roughnecks, who will travel to Buckeye Stadium Friday night.
The White Oak Roughnecks were a familiar foe when Gilmer Buckeyes’ head coach Jeff Traylor donned an orange and black uniform for his alma matter back in the mid-1980s. But when the Buckeyes host the Roughnecks at Buckeye Stadium Friday night, it will be the first time a Traylor coached team has played White Oak since he came to Gilmer in 2000.
Traylor has been looking forward to this game since Gilmer and White Oak were placed in the same district this past February. “White Oak is an old district rival that’s knocked Gilmer out of the playoffs for many years; so I think our fans have been dying to play White Oak for a while,” said Traylor.
Gilmer owns an 11-8-1 advantage over White Oak since the teams first met in 1943, but the Roughnecks bettered the Buckeyes in their last two meetings in 1998 and 1999. Gilmer’s last win over White Oak was a convincing 55-6 victory in 1991.
Traylor has brought the Buckeyes the kind of success that the Roughnecks enjoyed in the 1940s when White Oak recorded 58 consecutive district wins and seven consecutive district championships. Traylor’s teams have gone 67-13, and currently sport a 25-game district winning streak, along with five consecutive district championships. Those are accomplishments that Traylor challenges his team to improve. “That’s something that we talk about every week,” said Traylor. “It motivates them to practice harder during the week; and if you practice hard during the week, you’re going to play better on Friday.”
There is another reason that Traylor hopes to extend the streak. “What I like about our district winning streak is that it ties back to my very first group. My group in 2000 is still a part of something in this program,” Traylor said. “That group is special to me, so I really feel obligated to that group to keep the streak going.”
To keep the streak alive, Gilmer will have to defeat a program that is well-known for their pride. “They’re a very proud community. They think White Oak is the best. They think they’re the best school, the best sports, the best everything. That might rub you wrong if you’re not from White Oak, but I have tremendous respect for the people of White Oak for that very reason; and that’s something that we hope we have here. You don’t want to ever be arrogant, but you do want to be proud of where you’re from.”
No one is prouder of where they’re from than Traylor; but White Oak head coach Tracy Blankenship might argue that. Like Traylor, Blankenship now coaches at the school he played for, having graduated in 1981, and returning to coach there in 1988. In 2003, Blankenship was named the Roughneck’s new head coach, and has guided White Oak to a 16-22 overall record since then.
Following a playoff appearance last season, the Roughnecks are struggling this year, winning only one of six games, and being outscored 151-39 in the process. Despite White Oak’s record, Traylor doesn’t think his team will have a let down against the Roughnecks. “I think our kids will respect the fact that White Oak is a very proud program with a lot of tradition,” stated Traylor, who added, “They’re scrappy; they play hard, they compete; they just haven’t won very much yet.”
Traylor also pays no credence to the theory that the Yamboree distracts his team. “I just trust my kids,” Traylor said. “They know what’s at stake.” Blankenship agreed with Traylor, going so far as to call it an advantage for Gilmer. “I don’t think the Yamboree will be much of a factor during the game. They’ll want to shine in front of a good crowd,” said Blankenship.
The Buckeyes do enjoy a tremendous home-field advantage, having won their last 18 games at Buckeye Stadium dating back to 2002. Blankenship admitted that ending that streak will be hard for the Roughnecks. “That’s the most athletic team I have ever seen in 3A football,” Blankenship stated. “They have got unbelievable athletes. I’ve never seen that many good ones wear the same color uniform in one season.”
“We’ll approach it as a game that can make our season,” stated the Roughneck coach.
When White Oak has the football
Blankenship would like to run the spread, but said that he switched to a traditional I formation to better accommodate his personnel. The Roughnecks have struggled on offense so far this season, averaging only 41 yards rushing and 80 yards passing per game. Freshman Austin Tubbs (5-10, 180) starts at quarterback for White Oak, and has impressed Traylor. “He’s gotten better each week,” Traylor said. “He throws the ball pretty good for a freshman.” Tubbs is joined in the backfield by senior running backs Austin Morgan (5-7, 155) and Josh Goll (6-1, 165).
Coach Blankenship’s son Barrett anchors the Roughneck line from the center position, while his nephew, Craig Blankenship (6-2, 195) starts at tight end.
White Oak plans to keep the football away from the Buckeyes. “We’ll gamble some, but at the same time we’ll have to play close to the vest, and keep the clock running. We’ll have to find a way to run the ball and keep that clock ticking to keep it from being a track meet,” said Blankenship.
The Buckeyes will counter with a defensive unit that is allowing 241 yards total offense and 17 points per game. Senior linebackers Arsenial Richardson (82 tackles), and Dominique Buchanan (52 tackles) lead the Black Flag Defense. Gilmer will probably be without the services of starters Jeremy Reeves and Jules Johnson, who are nursing injuries.
When Gilmer has the football
The Buckeyes are led by senior quarterback G.J. Kinne who has passed for 1,724 yards and 25 touchdowns in Gilmer’s first six games. Kinne’s favorite target, Curtis Brown, is expected to miss the game as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury suffered against Atlanta two weeks ago, along with receiver Jake Ashley who suffered a broken collarbone against Atlanta. Lamar Harris and Jamell Kennedy have taken over the bulk of the receiving duties. Harris has 29 catches for 489 yards and eight touchdowns. Kennedy has 327 yards on 16 receptions and three touchdowns.
Justin Johnson leads the Buckeyes’ ground attack with 523 yards and 6 touchdowns on only 49 carries. Josh Thompson is the next leading rusher with 150 yards and two touchdowns on only 27 carries.
The Buckeyes’ 295 passing yards and 190 rushing yards per game have helped make Gilmer the most prolific scoring offense in the state of Texas, averaging 54.2 points per game.
White Oak counters with a defense that has allowed 1837 yards in six games, most of it on the ground; as opponents average 233 yards rushing and only 73 yards passing. Despite the 306 yard per game average, Traylor said that the Roughnecks defense plays hard. “Their defense moves around quite a bit. They loop, twist, stunt, slant; they do a lot of stuff on defense, so we’ll have to work.”
The Roughnecks operate out of both the 4-3 and the 4-2 defensive scheme. The linebacker corps of Craig Blankenship (6-2, 195), Ryan Grantham and Cullen Heim (5-10, 195) is White Oak’s strength. The Roughneck defensive front is anchored by returning all-district end Nick Thompson (5-10, 175).
SCOUT TEAM
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offense: Michael Pearson
Defense: Colton Gage
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
GILMER’S DONTE HARRIS dives over a hapless Cardinal to scoop up the loose pigskin and slide to the one yard line. Justin Johnson scored for Gilmer on the next play as Gilmer went on to win the Homecoming and opening district game with Sabine 49-7. Next up for the Buckeyes is another District 15-3A opponent, the White Oak Roughnecks, who will travel to Buckeye Stadium Friday night.
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