Located about 125 miles east of Dallas, tiny Gilmer (pop. 5,143) could be the quintessential small Texas town.
Football rules — and with good reason. The Buckeyes have averaged more than 10 victories per season over the past decade.
By JOE DODD
Gilmer Buckeyes' senior football players Justin Johnson and David Snow will play together for the final time today in the Army All-American Bowl at San Antonio's Alamodome. The game kicks off at noon and will be nationally televised on NBC.
“They started playing together as freshman on the 2004 state championship team and they get to finish up in the Army All-American Bowl,” said Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor.
“I can't think of a better career than that. They started with a state championship game; they ended with a state championship game; and now they get to finish it with a game broadcast on NBC. It sounds like a lot of fun to me.”
With Snow (6-4, 300) blocking, Johnson (6-2, 215) rushed for over 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns, leading the Buckeyes to the Class 3A Division I State Championship game three weeks ago.
Today the two All-Americans will team up for the West squad before going their separate ways next season. Johnson has committed to the University of Oklahoma, while Snow is a University of Texas commitment.
The Buckeyes only lost four games during Johnson and Snow’s four years at Gilmer, and their coach expects more success for the two players.
“They'll play well. You don't get to that level unless you are a great player,” explained Traylor. “The difference is you are playing against players like you, so sometimes that makes you not look quite as good. But I think they'll do great.”
Snow and Johnson are two of only 84 players from across the nation chosen to participate in the prestigious game. Despite being in only it's eighth year, the game is already rich in tradition boasting current NFL stars like Adrian Peterson, Reggie Bush and Vince Young as alums.
This will be the second consecutive year that a player from Gilmer has been selected to play in the game. Curtis Brown played in the 2007 game before starting his college career at the University of Texas in Austin.
Traylor said that the chance to watch his former players on national television has been special.
“We are so blessed right now to be able to see former Buckeyes playing in bowl games on television with Manuel [Johnson] at Oklahoma, and Curtis [Brown] and G.J. [Kinne] at Texas, and Tay [Bowser] at Mississippi State. Now we're watching two more play. I just think we are very blessed right now, and we all really need to enjoy this. Our program has been extremely blessed, and I'm very proud of all of them.”
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
SEVERAL GILMER BUCKEYES gather with boxes of pizza at the Gilmer Civic Center Saturday, Jan. 5, as they watch college-bound, blue-chip teammates Justin Johnson and David Snow play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio. A special get-together sponsored by the U.S. Army was held at the Civic Center for Buckeyes, boosters and teachers.
Football rules — and with good reason. The Buckeyes have averaged more than 10 victories per season over the past decade.
Johnson, Snow play in Army All-American Bowl
By JOE DODD
Gilmer Buckeyes' senior football players Justin Johnson and David Snow will play together for the final time today in the Army All-American Bowl at San Antonio's Alamodome. The game kicks off at noon and will be nationally televised on NBC.
“They started playing together as freshman on the 2004 state championship team and they get to finish up in the Army All-American Bowl,” said Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor.
“I can't think of a better career than that. They started with a state championship game; they ended with a state championship game; and now they get to finish it with a game broadcast on NBC. It sounds like a lot of fun to me.”
With Snow (6-4, 300) blocking, Johnson (6-2, 215) rushed for over 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns, leading the Buckeyes to the Class 3A Division I State Championship game three weeks ago.
Today the two All-Americans will team up for the West squad before going their separate ways next season. Johnson has committed to the University of Oklahoma, while Snow is a University of Texas commitment.
The Buckeyes only lost four games during Johnson and Snow’s four years at Gilmer, and their coach expects more success for the two players.
“They'll play well. You don't get to that level unless you are a great player,” explained Traylor. “The difference is you are playing against players like you, so sometimes that makes you not look quite as good. But I think they'll do great.”
Snow and Johnson are two of only 84 players from across the nation chosen to participate in the prestigious game. Despite being in only it's eighth year, the game is already rich in tradition boasting current NFL stars like Adrian Peterson, Reggie Bush and Vince Young as alums.
This will be the second consecutive year that a player from Gilmer has been selected to play in the game. Curtis Brown played in the 2007 game before starting his college career at the University of Texas in Austin.
Traylor said that the chance to watch his former players on national television has been special.
“We are so blessed right now to be able to see former Buckeyes playing in bowl games on television with Manuel [Johnson] at Oklahoma, and Curtis [Brown] and G.J. [Kinne] at Texas, and Tay [Bowser] at Mississippi State. Now we're watching two more play. I just think we are very blessed right now, and we all really need to enjoy this. Our program has been extremely blessed, and I'm very proud of all of them.”
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
SEVERAL GILMER BUCKEYES gather with boxes of pizza at the Gilmer Civic Center Saturday, Jan. 5, as they watch college-bound, blue-chip teammates Justin Johnson and David Snow play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio. A special get-together sponsored by the U.S. Army was held at the Civic Center for Buckeyes, boosters and teachers.
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