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 had one.” Liberty-Eylau relied almost exclusively on the running of star back LaMichael James. Roosevelt spreads the football around to their big three: quarterback Vincent McNeil Jr., running back Kevin Booker and receiver Quintell Solomon.
McNeil (6-2, 195, 4.4) has become the state’s top dual-threat quarterback, running for 1,469 yards and 18 touchdowns, while passing for 1,807 yards and 33 touchdowns out of the Mustangs’ spread offense.
Booker has 1,070 yards and 11 touchdowns on 165 carries, while Solomon (6-3, 190, 4.4) has caught 44 passes for 743 yards and 13 touchdowns.
All together they helped Roosevelt average 406 yards and 41 points per game. “We can attack anywhere,” proclaimed Mustangs’ head coach Joseph Daniels. “We can go long, we can go wide. We have a versatile offense.”
“It’s just like Tatum in 2004,” Traylor agreed. “Great quarterback, great running back, great receivers. Fast as can be. That’s who they remind me of.”
Gilmer beat that 2004 Tatum team 60-35 in the regional finals on their way to the state title. That was the last regional final the Buckeyes played in, losing in the second round in 2005 and the first round in 2006.
Traylor is quick to point out that his 2004 defense included three first team all-state players, something this year’s defense lacks. “No one really stands out,” stated Traylor. “They’re like a no-name defense; they just get it done.”
The Black Flag Defense has been impressive all season giving up an average of only 218.4 yards and 12.6 points per game. Roosevelt and McNeil will be their toughest challenge to date. “I don’t know if we can tackle him, but we’ll get a great effort out of our kids this week because they know how good they are,” promised Traylor.
The Mustangs have been good since the first game of the season when McNeil connected with Solomon for a 7-yard touchdown pass with no time on the clock to shock Class 4A Dallas Lincoln 34-33.
The Mustangs went on to defeat three more 4A teams on their pre-district schedule, including Dallas South Oak Cliff who is still alive in the playoffs. The only team to beat the Mustangs was Dallas Molina, a Class 5A team that lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Entering the playoffs, Roosevelt wasn’t considered to be much of a threat since it has been 19 years since a Dallas Independent School District team has won a state championship. But the Mustangs ignored recent history in blowout wins over Kennedale (46-10) and Royse City (48-22) to set the table for their showdown with the Buckeyes.
“We don’t feel like we’re underdogs,” admitted Daniels, who is 18-5 in his two seasons with the Mustangs. “We started out the season with a goal in mind and that was to win a state championship.”
To achieve that goal, the Mustangs will have to do something that no other team in school history has done; advance past the third round of the playoffs. “We’re going to come in there ready,” promised Daniels, who believes that his team’s schedule was the difference in their upset win over Royse City.
“I don’t know if they had been battle-tested like we had,” questioned Daniels. “We played some heavyweight schools in the 4A division and also a 5A division school, so we had been battle-tested pretty good.”
Traylor admitted that the Mustangs’ schedule and big win over Royse City had gotten the attention of the Buckeyes. “They know they are playing a great, great team that destroyed Royse City,” Traylor said. “I think we’ll refocus and give Roosevelt all they can handle.”
The Mustangs expect as much. “Gilmer’s got a good little team. It’s going to be a good game,” said Daniels, who expects the Buckeyes to stick with the running game that has accounted for 699 yards and 10 touchdowns in Gilmer’s two playoff wins.
“I’m pretty sure they’re going to come out running the ball on us. The running back twenty-two is a good athlete,” stated Daniels, referring to Justin Johnson who has rushed for 511 yards and 8 touchdowns in those two wins. “He’s a big back and I’m sure he’s going to try to run downhill on us. We’re just going to try and stop him.”
Johnson said the Buckeyes will be prepared. “We know Roosevelt is a great team. We are going to practice hard this week to see if we can get those guys,” said the senior running back who needs 170 rushing yards to reach 2,000 for the season.
Roosevelt’s defense has allowed an average of 239.9 yards per game this season, with 174.4 of that coming on the ground; statistics that are amazingly similar to Gilmer’s defense. Daniels said the two defenses have something else in common. “We try to play real team defense. I don’t know if we have any outstanding individual on the defense, we just try to play as a team.”
When asked what his defense likes to do, Daniels joked, “We like to stop folks, we try to slow them down as much as we can.” Joking aside, the Mustangs’ 4-3 defense has limited opposing teams to just 15.5 points per game.
While Roosevelt’s impressive numbers have captured the Buckeyes’ attention, Traylor is certain that his team is motivated by their own team goal. “If you win this one you are just two away,” said Traylor in reference to the state title. “You’re getting close.”
Did you know?
• This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
• The last time Gilmer played at Mesquite’s Memorial Stadium was in 1991. The Buckeyes lost 34-21 to Forney to finish 11-2.
• Roosevelt won the 2006 Class 3A Basketball championship, defeating Bullard 58-41. Quarterback Vincent McNeil Jr. and Defensive End Terrence Dellums won gold medals.
• Gilmer needs 46 points to surpass the team’s single-season record of 664 points scored during the 2004 season.
Directions to the stadium
Take State Highway 155 South approximately 26 miles. Take Interstate 20 West for approximately 69 miles before taking exit 499A and merging onto US Highway 80 West for approximately 19.4 miles. Merge onto I-635 South for 1.8 miles then take the Scyene Rd. exit (TX-352 exit 4) toward Military Pkwy. Take the Scyene Rd. ramp toward Miitary Pkwy. West then turn right on W Sceyne Rd./TX 352 W. Keep left at the fork, stadium will be on the left.
View Larger Map
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
BUCKEYE RECEIVER Houston Tuminello secures the pigskin and picks up the first down as the Mabank Panther pounces on him during second quarter action at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches Saturday against Mabank. In background are Buckeyes Darian Godfrey and Justin Johnson. Tuminello and his teammates will travel to Mesquite Saturday night to play the Dallas Roosevelt Mustangs for the Class 3A Division I Region II championship.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
BUCKEYE LINEBACKER Mikey Wilson (34) bursts into the Panther backfield past Matt Holcomb (64)to take down Mabank’s quarterback, Kolton Browning.
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 had one.” Liberty-Eylau relied almost exclusively on the running of star back LaMichael James. Roosevelt spreads the football around to their big three: quarterback Vincent McNeil Jr., running back Kevin Booker and receiver Quintell Solomon.
McNeil (6-2, 195, 4.4) has become the state’s top dual-threat quarterback, running for 1,469 yards and 18 touchdowns, while passing for 1,807 yards and 33 touchdowns out of the Mustangs’ spread offense.
Booker has 1,070 yards and 11 touchdowns on 165 carries, while Solomon (6-3, 190, 4.4) has caught 44 passes for 743 yards and 13 touchdowns.
All together they helped Roosevelt average 406 yards and 41 points per game. “We can attack anywhere,” proclaimed Mustangs’ head coach Joseph Daniels. “We can go long, we can go wide. We have a versatile offense.”
“It’s just like Tatum in 2004,” Traylor agreed. “Great quarterback, great running back, great receivers. Fast as can be. That’s who they remind me of.”
Gilmer beat that 2004 Tatum team 60-35 in the regional finals on their way to the state title. That was the last regional final the Buckeyes played in, losing in the second round in 2005 and the first round in 2006.
Traylor is quick to point out that his 2004 defense included three first team all-state players, something this year’s defense lacks. “No one really stands out,” stated Traylor. “They’re like a no-name defense; they just get it done.”
The Black Flag Defense has been impressive all season giving up an average of only 218.4 yards and 12.6 points per game. Roosevelt and McNeil will be their toughest challenge to date. “I don’t know if we can tackle him, but we’ll get a great effort out of our kids this week because they know how good they are,” promised Traylor.
The Mustangs have been good since the first game of the season when McNeil connected with Solomon for a 7-yard touchdown pass with no time on the clock to shock Class 4A Dallas Lincoln 34-33.
The Mustangs went on to defeat three more 4A teams on their pre-district schedule, including Dallas South Oak Cliff who is still alive in the playoffs. The only team to beat the Mustangs was Dallas Molina, a Class 5A team that lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Entering the playoffs, Roosevelt wasn’t considered to be much of a threat since it has been 19 years since a Dallas Independent School District team has won a state championship. But the Mustangs ignored recent history in blowout wins over Kennedale (46-10) and Royse City (48-22) to set the table for their showdown with the Buckeyes.
“We don’t feel like we’re underdogs,” admitted Daniels, who is 18-5 in his two seasons with the Mustangs. “We started out the season with a goal in mind and that was to win a state championship.”
To achieve that goal, the Mustangs will have to do something that no other team in school history has done; advance past the third round of the playoffs. “We’re going to come in there ready,” promised Daniels, who believes that his team’s schedule was the difference in their upset win over Royse City.
“I don’t know if they had been battle-tested like we had,” questioned Daniels. “We played some heavyweight schools in the 4A division and also a 5A division school, so we had been battle-tested pretty good.”
Traylor admitted that the Mustangs’ schedule and big win over Royse City had gotten the attention of the Buckeyes. “They know they are playing a great, great team that destroyed Royse City,” Traylor said. “I think we’ll refocus and give Roosevelt all they can handle.”
The Mustangs expect as much. “Gilmer’s got a good little team. It’s going to be a good game,” said Daniels, who expects the Buckeyes to stick with the running game that has accounted for 699 yards and 10 touchdowns in Gilmer’s two playoff wins.
“I’m pretty sure they’re going to come out running the ball on us. The running back twenty-two is a good athlete,” stated Daniels, referring to Justin Johnson who has rushed for 511 yards and 8 touchdowns in those two wins. “He’s a big back and I’m sure he’s going to try to run downhill on us. We’re just going to try and stop him.”
Johnson said the Buckeyes will be prepared. “We know Roosevelt is a great team. We are going to practice hard this week to see if we can get those guys,” said the senior running back who needs 170 rushing yards to reach 2,000 for the season.
Roosevelt’s defense has allowed an average of 239.9 yards per game this season, with 174.4 of that coming on the ground; statistics that are amazingly similar to Gilmer’s defense. Daniels said the two defenses have something else in common. “We try to play real team defense. I don’t know if we have any outstanding individual on the defense, we just try to play as a team.”
When asked what his defense likes to do, Daniels joked, “We like to stop folks, we try to slow them down as much as we can.” Joking aside, the Mustangs’ 4-3 defense has limited opposing teams to just 15.5 points per game.
While Roosevelt’s impressive numbers have captured the Buckeyes’ attention, Traylor is certain that his team is motivated by their own team goal. “If you win this one you are just two away,” said Traylor in reference to the state title. “You’re getting close.”
Did you know?
• This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
• The last time Gilmer played at Mesquite’s Memorial Stadium was in 1991. The Buckeyes lost 34-21 to Forney to finish 11-2.
• Roosevelt won the 2006 Class 3A Basketball championship, defeating Bullard 58-41. Quarterback Vincent McNeil Jr. and Defensive End Terrence Dellums won gold medals.
• Gilmer needs 46 points to surpass the team’s single-season record of 664 points scored during the 2004 season.
Directions to the stadium
Take State Highway 155 South approximately 26 miles. Take Interstate 20 West for approximately 69 miles before taking exit 499A and merging onto US Highway 80 West for approximately 19.4 miles. Merge onto I-635 South for 1.8 miles then take the Scyene Rd. exit (TX-352 exit 4) toward Military Pkwy. Take the Scyene Rd. ramp toward Miitary Pkwy. West then turn right on W Sceyne Rd./TX 352 W. Keep left at the fork, stadium will be on the left.
View Larger Map
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
BUCKEYE RECEIVER Houston Tuminello secures the pigskin and picks up the first down as the Mabank Panther pounces on him during second quarter action at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches Saturday against Mabank. In background are Buckeyes Darian Godfrey and Justin Johnson. Tuminello and his teammates will travel to Mesquite Saturday night to play the Dallas Roosevelt Mustangs for the Class 3A Division I Region II championship.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
BUCKEYE LINEBACKER Mikey Wilson (34) bursts into the Panther backfield past Matt Holcomb (64)to take down Mabank’s quarterback, Kolton Browning.
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