By JOE DODD
The Gilmer Buckeyes found inspiration from an unlikely source and used that motivation to dominate the White Oak Roughnecks 63-7 in a district 15-3A game Friday night at Roughneck Stadium, keeping their perfect season alive at 7-0.
Buckeyes’ running back Justin Johnson led the way with 189 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries. Johnson also provided the source of inspiration. “I got motivated for this game when our girls played them in volleyball and their football team was there taunting us,” said Johnson. “I made up my mind then to play this game for them.”
That was Oct. 2 when White Oak beat the Lady Buckeyes’ volleyball team in straight sets on Gilmer’s home court. Johnson thought it was only fair to return the favor on the Roughnecks’ home field.
Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor was happy for the motivational help against a team they were favored to beat by 40 points. “Whatever it takes to get them going,” chuckled Traylor. “If it takes a girl’s volleyball game to get them going, more power to it.”
Whatever their motivation, the Buckeyes took no mercy on the Roughnecks (1-6, 0-2), scoring touchdowns on their first nine possessions, before turning the ball over on downs their final possession after a 10th touchdown was called back due to a questionable penalty call.
Johnson started the scoring barrage with an 18-yard touchdown run with 7:49 to play in the opening quarter. Jake Ashley’s extra point attempt was wide, leaving the score 6-0.
Following David Smith’s sack and fumble recovery of Roughnecks’ quarterback Austin Tubbs on 4th-and- 3, Gilmer’s offense needed only three plays to score, capping a 46-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Darian Godfrey to Paul Chesnut. The Buckeyes faked the extra point kick, scoring two points on Braylon Webb’s pass to Brett Frase for a 14-0 lead with 2:47 remaining in the first quarter.
Gilmer’s 14-point first quarter lead was the smallest in the last five games for the Buckeyes, but thanks to two more Roughneck turnovers, Gilmer scored 21 points in a 3:25 stretch of the second quarter to take a commanding lead. The first of those scores came with 10:44 left in the first half on a Jeremy Jackson 8-yard run. Ashley kicked the first of two straight extra points for a 21-0 lead.
On White Oak’s next play the Buckeyes’ Vance Green recovered a Roughnecks’ lateral at the White Oak 25-yard line. Three plays later, Godfrey lofted a pass into the end zone that appeared to be overthrown, but Houston Tuminello made an unbelievable catch; stretching his body out and keeping his feet in bounds for a 6-yard touchdown and a 28-0 lead with 9:59 to go in the half.
The catch didn’t surprise Traylor. “He does it every day in practice. When you do it in practice, you’re going to do it in the game; and he does it every day,” marveled Traylor. Three plays later, the Buckeyes’ Black Flag Defense collected the third Roughneck turnover when Ross Stevens intercepted a tipped pass at the White Oak 48-yard line and returned it to the Roughnecks’ 25-yard line.
After a 5-yard penalty and a 2-yard loss on the first two snaps, Godfrey thrilled the Yamboree crowd on the third play, firing a 32-yard touchdown strike to Brennan Thompson who carried a couple of Roughneck defenders into the end zone. Adan Olivaris relieved Ashley to kick the first of his five straight extra points for a 35-0 lead with 7:19 remaining in the half.
Following a three-and-out possession by White Oak, the Buckeyes took over at the Roughnecks’ 34-yard line. Johnson took the hand-off from Godfrey and raced 66 yards up the right sideline on the first play, giving Gilmer a 42-0 lead with 4:17 to play in the half.
The Roughnecks’ offense finally came to life on their next possession with the help of sophomore running back Jackson McCurdy and a manipulative clock operator. McCurdy did his part by rushing for 54 yards on 8 carries. White Oak’s clock operator contributed by not running the clock during one play, giving the Roughnecks time to score on the last play of the half when McCurdy ran it in from a yard out. The clock operator made an error by leaving one second on the clock, meaning White Oak would have to kickoff to the Buckeyes, but after a long conference, the game officials announced that the half had indeed ended, sparing the Roughnecks from kicking to the angry Buckeyes.
“We were disappointed at halftime because of that drive,” admitted Johnson who contributed on defense with 5 tackles from his linebacker position.
Dakota Hagler, praised by Traylor for his 8 tackles, said the last second score by White Oak focused the Buckeyes’ defense, which had given up only 22 total yards before the Roughnecks’ touchdown drive. “The adversity was good for the team. We handled the adversity well when they scored. We stepped it up in the second half,” said the junior lineman. Gilmer wasted little time to start the second half, scoring in three plays when Godfrey connected with Lamar Harris from 19-yards out increasing the Buckeyes’ lead to 49-7 with 9:57 left in the third quarter.
The Buckeyes’ defense stifled the Roughnecks on their first possession, allowing only 14 yards before a punt gave the football back to Gilmer at their own 29-yard line.
Nine plays later, Godfrey wowed the Buckeyes’ faithful by avoiding a certain sack and firing an 11-yard touchdown strike to Chesnut, who was standing uncovered in the end zone for a 56-7 advantage with 3:20 to play in the third quarter.
The Roughnecks’ next drive ended with 18 yards in losses on 3 plays. Following the punt, Gilmer’s offense took over at the 50-yard line. 57 seconds later the Buckeyes’ Jackson scored his second touchdown of the game from 18 yards out to make the score 63-7.
The Buckeyes’ reserves came out to start the fourth quarter and held the Roughnecks to only 5 yards on their next possession, before taking over the football at the Gilmer 20-yard line following White Oak’s 6th punt of the game.
The Buckeyes then proceeded on a 6:14 drive that apparently resulted in a touchdown on a Jackson 19-yard run, but the Buckeyes were flagged for a phantom holding penalty on the play and later turned the ball over on downs at the White Oak 10-yard line.
After two short gains by White Oak’s McCurdy, the running back took a handoff up the middle with time running out on the game clock and appeared to be heading for the end zone before Gilmer’s Ben Griffith saved the touchdown with a diving tackle from behind at the Buckeyes’ 24-yard line to end the game.
“That was a great effort by Ben Griffith,” Traylor said. “I was proud of him running that kid down. It keeps everybody in a good mood. If he had scored we would all be demoralized. It was a good, upbeat way to end the game.”
Traylor said the final play was indicative of how the Roughnecks played the entire game. “You’ve got to give White Oak credit; they played hard. They played four full quarters, and they competed hard. The score might not look like it, but their kids played hard.”
Special Teams Player of the Week- Brett Frase
Bounty Hunters of the Week - Brett Frase & Mikey Wilson
Hector’s Wrecker - Michael Boddie
Black Attack - Arsenio Elder
STATISTICS
Gilmer White Oak
25 First downs 9
17-20-5-0 Passing (c-a-td-int) 2-7-0-1
199 Passing yds 11
28-372 Rushes-yds 40-155
571 Total yds 166
18:49 Time of possession 29:11
7-50 Penalties-yds. 7-60
0 Fumbles lost 2
SCORE BY QUARTERS
1 2 3 4 T
Gilmer 14 28 21 0 63
White Oak 0 7 0 0 7
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
DARIAN GODFREY (10) and PAUL CHESNUT celebrate their collaboration on a touchdown pass and catch in the first quarter of Gilmer’s 63-7 victory over White Oak last Friday night.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
ROSS STEVENS and BRENNAN THOMPSON of the Buckeyes pull down the White Oak running back at midfield Friday. WO put together one scoring drive in the second period, but otherwise the Buckeyes thwarted the Roughnecks efforts in a 63-7 District 15-3A win last Friday night on the road. Gilmer (7-0; 2-0) is ranked No. 4 in Class 3A. The team’s relentless march toward a seventh consecutive district championship continues Friday night at Buckeye Stadium against Mineola in Gilmer’s Homecoming game.
The Gilmer Buckeyes found inspiration from an unlikely source and used that motivation to dominate the White Oak Roughnecks 63-7 in a district 15-3A game Friday night at Roughneck Stadium, keeping their perfect season alive at 7-0.
Buckeyes’ running back Justin Johnson led the way with 189 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries. Johnson also provided the source of inspiration. “I got motivated for this game when our girls played them in volleyball and their football team was there taunting us,” said Johnson. “I made up my mind then to play this game for them.”
That was Oct. 2 when White Oak beat the Lady Buckeyes’ volleyball team in straight sets on Gilmer’s home court. Johnson thought it was only fair to return the favor on the Roughnecks’ home field.
Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor was happy for the motivational help against a team they were favored to beat by 40 points. “Whatever it takes to get them going,” chuckled Traylor. “If it takes a girl’s volleyball game to get them going, more power to it.”
Whatever their motivation, the Buckeyes took no mercy on the Roughnecks (1-6, 0-2), scoring touchdowns on their first nine possessions, before turning the ball over on downs their final possession after a 10th touchdown was called back due to a questionable penalty call.
Johnson started the scoring barrage with an 18-yard touchdown run with 7:49 to play in the opening quarter. Jake Ashley’s extra point attempt was wide, leaving the score 6-0.
Following David Smith’s sack and fumble recovery of Roughnecks’ quarterback Austin Tubbs on 4th-and- 3, Gilmer’s offense needed only three plays to score, capping a 46-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Darian Godfrey to Paul Chesnut. The Buckeyes faked the extra point kick, scoring two points on Braylon Webb’s pass to Brett Frase for a 14-0 lead with 2:47 remaining in the first quarter.
Gilmer’s 14-point first quarter lead was the smallest in the last five games for the Buckeyes, but thanks to two more Roughneck turnovers, Gilmer scored 21 points in a 3:25 stretch of the second quarter to take a commanding lead. The first of those scores came with 10:44 left in the first half on a Jeremy Jackson 8-yard run. Ashley kicked the first of two straight extra points for a 21-0 lead.
On White Oak’s next play the Buckeyes’ Vance Green recovered a Roughnecks’ lateral at the White Oak 25-yard line. Three plays later, Godfrey lofted a pass into the end zone that appeared to be overthrown, but Houston Tuminello made an unbelievable catch; stretching his body out and keeping his feet in bounds for a 6-yard touchdown and a 28-0 lead with 9:59 to go in the half.
The catch didn’t surprise Traylor. “He does it every day in practice. When you do it in practice, you’re going to do it in the game; and he does it every day,” marveled Traylor. Three plays later, the Buckeyes’ Black Flag Defense collected the third Roughneck turnover when Ross Stevens intercepted a tipped pass at the White Oak 48-yard line and returned it to the Roughnecks’ 25-yard line.
After a 5-yard penalty and a 2-yard loss on the first two snaps, Godfrey thrilled the Yamboree crowd on the third play, firing a 32-yard touchdown strike to Brennan Thompson who carried a couple of Roughneck defenders into the end zone. Adan Olivaris relieved Ashley to kick the first of his five straight extra points for a 35-0 lead with 7:19 remaining in the half.
Following a three-and-out possession by White Oak, the Buckeyes took over at the Roughnecks’ 34-yard line. Johnson took the hand-off from Godfrey and raced 66 yards up the right sideline on the first play, giving Gilmer a 42-0 lead with 4:17 to play in the half.
The Roughnecks’ offense finally came to life on their next possession with the help of sophomore running back Jackson McCurdy and a manipulative clock operator. McCurdy did his part by rushing for 54 yards on 8 carries. White Oak’s clock operator contributed by not running the clock during one play, giving the Roughnecks time to score on the last play of the half when McCurdy ran it in from a yard out. The clock operator made an error by leaving one second on the clock, meaning White Oak would have to kickoff to the Buckeyes, but after a long conference, the game officials announced that the half had indeed ended, sparing the Roughnecks from kicking to the angry Buckeyes.
“We were disappointed at halftime because of that drive,” admitted Johnson who contributed on defense with 5 tackles from his linebacker position.
Dakota Hagler, praised by Traylor for his 8 tackles, said the last second score by White Oak focused the Buckeyes’ defense, which had given up only 22 total yards before the Roughnecks’ touchdown drive. “The adversity was good for the team. We handled the adversity well when they scored. We stepped it up in the second half,” said the junior lineman. Gilmer wasted little time to start the second half, scoring in three plays when Godfrey connected with Lamar Harris from 19-yards out increasing the Buckeyes’ lead to 49-7 with 9:57 left in the third quarter.
The Buckeyes’ defense stifled the Roughnecks on their first possession, allowing only 14 yards before a punt gave the football back to Gilmer at their own 29-yard line.
Nine plays later, Godfrey wowed the Buckeyes’ faithful by avoiding a certain sack and firing an 11-yard touchdown strike to Chesnut, who was standing uncovered in the end zone for a 56-7 advantage with 3:20 to play in the third quarter.
The Roughnecks’ next drive ended with 18 yards in losses on 3 plays. Following the punt, Gilmer’s offense took over at the 50-yard line. 57 seconds later the Buckeyes’ Jackson scored his second touchdown of the game from 18 yards out to make the score 63-7.
The Buckeyes’ reserves came out to start the fourth quarter and held the Roughnecks to only 5 yards on their next possession, before taking over the football at the Gilmer 20-yard line following White Oak’s 6th punt of the game.
The Buckeyes then proceeded on a 6:14 drive that apparently resulted in a touchdown on a Jackson 19-yard run, but the Buckeyes were flagged for a phantom holding penalty on the play and later turned the ball over on downs at the White Oak 10-yard line.
After two short gains by White Oak’s McCurdy, the running back took a handoff up the middle with time running out on the game clock and appeared to be heading for the end zone before Gilmer’s Ben Griffith saved the touchdown with a diving tackle from behind at the Buckeyes’ 24-yard line to end the game.
“That was a great effort by Ben Griffith,” Traylor said. “I was proud of him running that kid down. It keeps everybody in a good mood. If he had scored we would all be demoralized. It was a good, upbeat way to end the game.”
Traylor said the final play was indicative of how the Roughnecks played the entire game. “You’ve got to give White Oak credit; they played hard. They played four full quarters, and they competed hard. The score might not look like it, but their kids played hard.”
Special Teams Player of the Week- Brett Frase
Bounty Hunters of the Week - Brett Frase & Mikey Wilson
Hector’s Wrecker - Michael Boddie
Black Attack - Arsenio Elder
STATISTICS
Gilmer White Oak
25 First downs 9
17-20-5-0 Passing (c-a-td-int) 2-7-0-1
199 Passing yds 11
28-372 Rushes-yds 40-155
571 Total yds 166
18:49 Time of possession 29:11
7-50 Penalties-yds. 7-60
0 Fumbles lost 2
SCORE BY QUARTERS
1 2 3 4 T
Gilmer 14 28 21 0 63
White Oak 0 7 0 0 7
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
DARIAN GODFREY (10) and PAUL CHESNUT celebrate their collaboration on a touchdown pass and catch in the first quarter of Gilmer’s 63-7 victory over White Oak last Friday night.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
ROSS STEVENS and BRENNAN THOMPSON of the Buckeyes pull down the White Oak running back at midfield Friday. WO put together one scoring drive in the second period, but otherwise the Buckeyes thwarted the Roughnecks efforts in a 63-7 District 15-3A win last Friday night on the road. Gilmer (7-0; 2-0) is ranked No. 4 in Class 3A. The team’s relentless march toward a seventh consecutive district championship continues Friday night at Buckeye Stadium against Mineola in Gilmer’s Homecoming game.
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