Buckeyes successful in 7-on-7 tourney

By JOE DODD

The 6th annual Buckeyes’ Booster Club 7-on-7 Tournament proved a big success for the Gilmer football program as the host Buckeyes won the Junior Varsity division and finished second in the Varsity division.

The varsity squad finished the tournament with a 4-1 record, losing to class 4A Sulphur Springs 41-13 in the championship game. Gilmer’s Junior Varsity team ended the day with a perfect 5-0 record, including a 39-18 thumping of Class 4A Pine Tree in the championship game.

"It was great," stated Buckeyes’ head coach Jeff Traylor. "We had a lot of success, that is always good." Traylor was upbeat despite his team’s loss in the varsity championship game. "We got down in the Sulphur Springs game, and I was awaiting to see if there was going to be some quit in us, but we had great leadership, and just kept battling."

The Buckeyes’ varsity squad finished pool play 3-0, defeating White Oak 26-6, Pleasant Grove 38-7, and Pine Tree 39-18. Gilmer then downed Elysian Fields 26-20 in overtime of the semi-final, before losing to Sulphur Springs. Gilmer’s junior varsity team opened pool play with a 56-6 win over Pine Tree, then cruised past White Oak 53-8 and Pleasant Grove 40-8. In the semi-final, the Buckeyes rolled over Elysian Fields 47-12.

In addition to the 7-on-7 play, the tournament hosted a lineman’s challenge. Gilmer senior-to-be David Snow, a University of Texas commitment, was the overall winner. "I’m extremely pleased," Traylor surmised. "Our kids behaved, and played hard."

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