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Showing posts from 2007

We love you all
Way to go, Buckeyes,
and thanks for the memories

Congratulations to the Gilmer Buckeyes for all the thrills and excitement you’ve given us this season. It was truly awesome! We know it must be disappointing to have come up short in Waco on Saturday against the Liberty Hill Panthers (to whom we also extend kudos), but remember that you accomplished what only a handful of football teams in Texas did. And that is to still be playing, not only in December, but in the middle of December. A school is the heart and soul of any small community such as ours. The spirit our Gilmer Independent School District expresses for us, not only in football, but in numerous other activities on campus and in the community, keeps us all young at heart and inspired in our souls. And this is true of the other school districts of our area as well. Many of us in this community are also graduates of your school. We, too, were raised as Buckeyes. Very few of us ever experienced the “glory days” you have. We are in awe. The memories you have created for us, to pu

Buckeyes fall to Liberty Hill Panthers in championship game

By JOE DODD For the first three-and-a-half minutes of Saturday's Class 3A Division I State Championship game it appeared that the Gilmer Buckeyes were on their way to their second title in four years. For the final 44-and-a-half minutes the Liberty Hill Panthers showed why they have won 24 games in a row including their second straight state championship game with a 38-13 win over the Buckeyes. Gilmer's Justin Johnson took the opening kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown to give the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead with only 14 seconds off the clock. Then the Gilmer defense held the Panthers to 25 yards on 5 plays, forcing Liberty Hill to punt for only the 15th time all season. From that point on it was all Panthers, as Liberty Hill's defense held the Buckeyes' offense to a season-low 135 total yards while the Panthers offense rolled up 354 yards and 6 touchdowns rushing. “They just outplayed us,” admitted senior receiver Lamar Harris who scored the Buckeyes only offensive touchdown on

Liberty Hill 38, Gilmer 13

From the Austin American-Statesman: Liberty Hill rubs it in Photo Gallery From the Tyler Morning Telegraph: Liberty Hill Halts Gilmer's Bid For Another State Title From the Longview News-Journal: Buckeyes suffer disappointing 38-13 loss to Liberty Hill From the Associated Press: Liberty Hill rolls past Gilmer, 38-13, for 2nd straight 3A title Buckeyes Turned Away In State Finals ALTO WINS AGAIN! Tatum and Gilmer come up short Liberty Hill H.S. wins State 3A Championship

Buckeyes face challenge against Liberty Hill in state championship game

By JOE DODD The offenses of the Gilmer Buckeyes and Liberty Hill Panthers featured in Saturday’s Class 3A Division I championship game could not be more different, despite the two teams’ almost mirror-image production. No matter which team receives the opening kickoff slated for 4 p.m. at Baylor University’s Floyd Casey Stadium, fans will be treated to one of the state’s premier offensive machines. Gilmer’s spread offense is averaging a state best 49.2 points per game, while racking up 497.5 total yards per game. Liberty Hills’ wing-t offense is averaging 46.5 points and 477.9 yards per game. “It’s going to be a great matchup of two different styles of offense,” predicted Liberty Hill head coach Jerry Vance, whose team is riding a 23-game winning streak and attempting to defend last season’s state title. Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor agreed. “In the state of Texas, you couldn’t have one drawn it up any better. It’s an incredible matchup.” Traylor’s spread offense averages almost 302 y

Last-chance touchdown gives Buckeyes victory over Abilene Wylie

By JOE DODD After watching his defense turn back Abilene Wylie for the second time in less than two minutes despite being deep inside Gilmer territory, Buckeyes’ head coach Jeff Traylor was left with a choice when his offense was given the football at their own 36-yard line with the score tied 21-21. “I had a decision because I had 34 seconds and 3 timeouts; whether to just go to overtime or not,” explained Traylor. “And true to who we are, we decided we were going to go try to score with 34 seconds left and the kids responded.” Senior wide receiver Lamar Harris rewarded his coach’s faith with a spectacular 34-yard touchdown on an underneath pass route with 9 seconds on the clock to give the Buckeyes a dramatic 28-21 win over the Bulldogs, and a berth in the Class 3A Division I state championship game. “We knew they were going to drop back, and we just guessed right,” conceded Traylor. “We talked to our receivers about down-field blocks and sure enough, down-field blocks is what got it

Coming up

Gilmer Buckeyes vs. Liberty Hill Panthers Saturday, December 15, 4 p.m. Floyd Casey Stadium, Waco This will be for the state championship in Class 3A Division I The Buckeyes are the visiting team and will wear white. Floyd Casey Stadium Pleasanton's season comes crashing to a halt Blog from Alamodome Liberty Hill back in title game Statesman - Liberty Hill Panthers Navasota's postseason run ended by Liberty Hill Liberty Hill machine rolls Robinson in bi-district, 42-14 Doug Allman - Hidden Gem Faces Off the Field: Liberty Hill's Marlowe Poitier, John Miller Liberty Hill handles Gatesville Liberty Hill looking to dominate 3A Some of the assumptions in this preseason article proved invalid as Liberty Hill went into Division I rather than II, once the playoff picture became clear. Liberty Hill Varsity Liberty Hill offense in action Gilmer Statistics: Opponents Rushing: 428 att - 1927 yds | 137.6 yds/g (4.5 yds/car) Passing: 124 - 248 - 1358 yds | 97.0 yds/g Total: 676 - 3285 y

Gilmer Buckeyes face Abilene Wylie Bulldogs tonight

By JOE DODD When the Gilmer Buckeyes (13-0) and Abilene Wylie Bulldogs (11-2) kick off at 6 p.m. at Birdville ISD Stadium in North Richland Hills, it will be the first-ever meeting between two of the best programs in Class 3A. Since 2000, the Buckeyes and Bulldogs have combined for 168 wins, 5 semifinal appearances, and 2 state championships. “I think it’s a huge marquee match-up to get two schools that have a state championship at their school to meet each other in the state semifinals,” said Abilene Wylie head coach Hugh Sandifer, who is 188-74-1 in 22 seasons as the Bulldogs head coach. Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor, who is 84-14 in eight seasons at Gilmer, is thrilled to have his program compared to Abilene Wylie. “We’ve been good for seven,” admitted Traylor. “They’ve been good for 14 years in a row. That’s the difference; they’ve been doing it longer.” Traylor is referring to the Bulldogs’ Class 3A-best streak of 14 consecutive playoff appearances. “They are one of the best prog

Buckeyes corral Mustangs in regional final

By JOE DODD The Gilmer Buckeyes managed to overcome a disastrous second quarter and a Herculean effort by Dallas Roosevelt quarterback Vincent McNeil Jr. to capture a hard-fought 42-36 Class 3A Region I final win over the Mustangs before an estimated crowd of 13,000 people at Mesquite’s Memorial Stadium Saturday night. McNeil led the Mustangs to a 29-point second quarter, thanks to three Buckeyes’ miscues that helped Roosevelt rack up 194 yards of total offense in the second quarter alone. “He’s the best player I’ve ever coached against,” praised Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor. “I know I said that about LaMichael James [Liberty-Eylau’s running back], but now LaMichael James is second.” McNeil accounted for 432 total yards in the game, throwing two touchdown passes and running for another score. Luckily for the Buckeyes it took McNeil a quarter to get warmed up. The Mustangs’ first possession lasted 5:03, but only managed 28 yards in 8 plays before Roosevelt was forced to punt to the Bu

Coming up

Next game Gilmer Buckeyes (13-0) vs. Abilene Wylie Bulldogs (11-2), Birdville Athletic Complex, North Richland Hills, 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 8 Gilmer will be the home team in this Class 3A Division I semifinal and will wear black. Gilmer On Track For Another Title Gilmer Shoots For Berth In State Championship For me, no game lights up this week's schedule brighter than Wylie and Gilmer. View Larger Map Rusty's take on the drive in: (scroll down for parking) Senior leadership Wylie elders make key plays in win Wylie's consistency starts with the staff Abilene Wylie Team Page Wylie All-Sports Booster Club WylieSports.com Wylie Bulldogs vs Wimberley Texans Wylie vs. Clyde Wylie Bulldogs' Regular Season Highlights Wylie vs Decatur 2007 Bi-District
DISD probes Roosevelt football fight DISD official: Roosevelt players will be punished Post-game Punch Under Investigation DISD Probes Gilmer Playoff Game Incident DISD Apologizes for Fighting Football Team

Buckeyes face Dallas Roosevelt in regional final

Gilmer faces another 'big-time prospect' in Roosevelt's McNeil Former Eagles soaring for Roosevelt PrepCountry.com Class 3A Playoff Preview Show for Week 3 Pregame Interview with Coach Jeff Traylor Week 12 - Roosevelt vs Royse City Week 9: Dallas Madison at Dallas Roosevelt Week 3 - Molina vs. Roosevelt Week 1 - Roosevelt vs. Lincoln Video of Roosevelt-Royse City on Nov. 23 Video of Roosevelt-SOC on Sept. 29 Video of Roosevelt-Molina on Sept. 21 By JOE DODD When the Gilmer Buckeyes defeated the defending state champion Liberty-Eylau Leopards in the first round of the playoffs, Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor was convinced that his team had just faced the most athletic and talented football team in Class 3A. He is rethinking that evaluation now as his team prepares to meet the Dallas Roosevelt Mustangs Saturday at 6:30 pm in Mesquite’s Memorial Stadium in the Class 3A Division I Region II Final. “The difference is,” explained Traylor. “These guys have three threats, where L-E

Buckeyes survive weather to beat Mabank

By JOE DODD Overcoming what head coach Jeff Traylor called, “The toughest playing conditions I have ever played or coached in,” the Gilmer Buckeyes defeated the Mabank Panthers 35-28 Saturday at Stephen F. Austin’s Homer Bryce Stadium to stay alive in the Class 3A Division I area round. With temperatures in the low 40s, driving rain and a brisk north wind, the Buckeyes also overcame a furious comeback attempt by the Panthers in the game’s final two minutes to advance to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs for the third time in the last five years. “It was just so cold, so miserable, windy and rainy, and Mabank really played great. They really competed hard. We got it done. That’s the name of the game to move on. I’m very proud of my kids right now,” exclaimed Traylor after the game. The Buckeyes improved their record to 12-0 while the Panthers ended their season at 6-6. “We weren’t really sharp, but it was about what we expected coming after Liberty-Eylau,” explained Traylor, who ad