By JOE DODD
The Gilmer Buckeyes kick off the 2008 season Thursday night (August 28) at 7:30 p.m. against Jasper in the opening game of the Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic in a game billed as the rematch of the 2004 Class 3A Division II State Championship game.
The only similarity to that game according to both Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor and Jasper head coach Thomas Brooks, is the name of the two teams playing.
“None of these kids played, but they did go to the game,” said Brooks. “They know about Gilmer and they know about the program that they have. So I don't have to tell them about the tradition that they have, their winning percentage, or how many times they've been to the playoffs; the kids know about them.”
It's hard not to know about Gilmer, who won that first meeting between the two schools, 49-47, on their way to their first state title. The Buckeyes have gone 34-4 since the last meeting against the Bulldogs, including another trip to the state championship game.
“Every time they play somebody, it's a big ball game for their opponent,” stated Brooks. “And I think they know that. That's why they have to be ready to play every week.”
Jasper hasn't enjoyed the same success as Gilmer since 2004, going 16-17 the past three seasons. But that doesn't intimidate the Bulldogs. “That's one thing I can tell you,” Brooks said. “Our kids never back down from a challenge, and they're excited about playing Gilmer.”
“Thomas Brooks has had this game circled for a long time,” confirmed Traylor. “He's won everywhere he has gone. His kids are very well coached and disciplined.” Brooks left John Tyler after the 2006 season to return to Jasper, where he was head coach from 2000 to 2001. “He's going back to Tyler where he coached. He told me that they've really worked hard for this game. I know he wants to look good.”
Brooks is excited about his return to the Rose City. “I always enjoyed playing at Rose Stadium,” Brooks said. “It's a great place, great atmosphere.”
Brooks does have one concern about his return to Tyler. “We played in the Classic every year that I was there so I got a chance to watch Gilmer play. It seemed like every time they played someone in the Classic, they blew them out, so I'm worried about that.”
The Buckeyes have averaged 55 points in four Classic appearances and have won each game by an average margin of 39 points. But Traylor said that is unlikely to happen again, for one reason. “We lost 10 starters on offense,” explained Traylor.
But the one starter returning is junior quarterback Stump Godfrey, who threw for 2,727 yards and 38 touchdowns and ran for another 617 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. That makes Godfrey the target for the Bulldogs. “We're going to have to contain the quarterback,” said Brooks. “If he has a great night against us, I think that's not going to be good. I think we'll be in trouble.”
Brooks also admits that Jasper's returning junior quarterback Dominique Bailey is the focus of the Bulldog's offense. “It's no secret that we're going to ride him as far as he can take us,” stated Brooks. Last season Bailey (5' 8”, 175) accounted for 1,025 yards passing and 1,125 yards rushing, while scoring 34 touchdowns to be named District 21-3A's offensive newcomer of the year.
“He didn't start until about the fifth ball game for us, and we rode him to the playoffs,” said Brooks. “He wants the ball in his hands; that's why he's playing quarterback.”
Jasper operates out of the spread offense like Gilmer. “Very similar to us, but more ground oriented,” Traylor said. “They're going to run their quarterback and their tailback. Their receivers are extremely fast; they can stretch the field on you. They have legitimately four or five kids that when they touch it they can score.”
Jasper returns five starters on an offense that averaged almost 33 points per game last season. Defensively, the Bulldogs are even more experienced with eight returning starters. “Our middle linebacker (Dante Rollins, 6', 230) had 150 tackles last year and our weakside linebacker (Alton Bronson, 5' 10”, 200) had over 100 tackles last year, so those guys have a lot of experience,” said Brooks. “They've seen just about everything.”
Traylor is concerned with the Bulldogs' returning starters. “Early in the year that's a huge advantage,” confirmed Traylor. “They have all of those players back; significant players back.”
Brooks said Jasper's experience advantage will only last a few games. “I'm glad that we get to play them first because they're only going to get better and better,” stated Brooks.
“I wouldn't want to play them the fourth or fifth ball game. I'm just glad we're playing them the first. I think we can give them a good ball game. That's what I'm hoping.”
If preseason scrimmages are any indication, the Bulldogs should give the Buckeyes plenty of problems. Jasper outscored Port Neches-Groves 5-1 in touchdowns and Nederland 29-22 in a simulated game. Both teams made the playoffs in Class 4A last season.
The Buckeyes also looked good in their two scrimmages against Atlanta and New Boston, but Traylor warned his team to not compare those two teams to the Bulldogs. “Jasper is a lot better than Atlanta or New Boston,” Traylor said.
The Buckeyes' Boss confided on what it will take to win this ball game. “It will come down to two things; turnovers, and which team is conditioned the best will win the game,” Traylor stated.
Jasper's Brooks agreed with Traylor and added his reason for agreeing to the game. “Whether we win or lose, we're going to be a better team for doing this because we could have played someone that is not very good and easily won, but that wouldn't have helped us.”
Traylor said the matchup has the potential to be memorable. “I think this will be a game that when you leave you're going to say, 'man I was glad I was at that game.”
NOTES
• Gilmer has a 24-game regular season winning streak (last loss: 26-17 @ Daingerfield Sept. 30, 2005)
• Gilmer has a 6-game opening game winning streak (last loss: 20-14 Gladewater 2001)
• Gilmer has a 4-game winning streak in the TMF Football Classic
• Jeff Traylor is 85-15 at Gilmer
• Jeff Traylor is 7-1 in opening games
• Jeff Traylor is 6-2 in games played at TMF Rose Stadium
• Gilmer is 54-1 in their last 55 regular season games
• Gilmer's Stump Godfrey needs 53 total yards to pass Tommy Palmer for 7th place in school history
• Gilmer's Stump Godfrey needs 147 total yards to pass G.J. Kinne for 6th place in school history
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
DANIEL DODD of the Gilmer Buckeyes leaps high into the air to force a change in the trajectory of Jasper Bulldogs QB Gilbert Moye’s pass during the thrilling Class 3A Division II state championship game on Dec. 18, 2004, at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches. Other Buckeyes pressuring Moye are Roderick McKnight (33) and Jake Holladay (12). Gilmer won, 49-47. The two teams will meet for only the second time in history on Thursday night at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium in Tyler as the opening game of the Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic.
Area Teams Open Season Tonight
A Lot Expected of Gilmer QB Darian Godfrey
District 17-3A Preview
The Gilmer Buckeyes kick off the 2008 season Thursday night (August 28) at 7:30 p.m. against Jasper in the opening game of the Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic in a game billed as the rematch of the 2004 Class 3A Division II State Championship game.
The only similarity to that game according to both Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor and Jasper head coach Thomas Brooks, is the name of the two teams playing.
“None of these kids played, but they did go to the game,” said Brooks. “They know about Gilmer and they know about the program that they have. So I don't have to tell them about the tradition that they have, their winning percentage, or how many times they've been to the playoffs; the kids know about them.”
It's hard not to know about Gilmer, who won that first meeting between the two schools, 49-47, on their way to their first state title. The Buckeyes have gone 34-4 since the last meeting against the Bulldogs, including another trip to the state championship game.
“Every time they play somebody, it's a big ball game for their opponent,” stated Brooks. “And I think they know that. That's why they have to be ready to play every week.”
Jasper hasn't enjoyed the same success as Gilmer since 2004, going 16-17 the past three seasons. But that doesn't intimidate the Bulldogs. “That's one thing I can tell you,” Brooks said. “Our kids never back down from a challenge, and they're excited about playing Gilmer.”
“Thomas Brooks has had this game circled for a long time,” confirmed Traylor. “He's won everywhere he has gone. His kids are very well coached and disciplined.” Brooks left John Tyler after the 2006 season to return to Jasper, where he was head coach from 2000 to 2001. “He's going back to Tyler where he coached. He told me that they've really worked hard for this game. I know he wants to look good.”
Brooks is excited about his return to the Rose City. “I always enjoyed playing at Rose Stadium,” Brooks said. “It's a great place, great atmosphere.”
Brooks does have one concern about his return to Tyler. “We played in the Classic every year that I was there so I got a chance to watch Gilmer play. It seemed like every time they played someone in the Classic, they blew them out, so I'm worried about that.”
The Buckeyes have averaged 55 points in four Classic appearances and have won each game by an average margin of 39 points. But Traylor said that is unlikely to happen again, for one reason. “We lost 10 starters on offense,” explained Traylor.
But the one starter returning is junior quarterback Stump Godfrey, who threw for 2,727 yards and 38 touchdowns and ran for another 617 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. That makes Godfrey the target for the Bulldogs. “We're going to have to contain the quarterback,” said Brooks. “If he has a great night against us, I think that's not going to be good. I think we'll be in trouble.”
Brooks also admits that Jasper's returning junior quarterback Dominique Bailey is the focus of the Bulldog's offense. “It's no secret that we're going to ride him as far as he can take us,” stated Brooks. Last season Bailey (5' 8”, 175) accounted for 1,025 yards passing and 1,125 yards rushing, while scoring 34 touchdowns to be named District 21-3A's offensive newcomer of the year.
“He didn't start until about the fifth ball game for us, and we rode him to the playoffs,” said Brooks. “He wants the ball in his hands; that's why he's playing quarterback.”
Jasper operates out of the spread offense like Gilmer. “Very similar to us, but more ground oriented,” Traylor said. “They're going to run their quarterback and their tailback. Their receivers are extremely fast; they can stretch the field on you. They have legitimately four or five kids that when they touch it they can score.”
Jasper returns five starters on an offense that averaged almost 33 points per game last season. Defensively, the Bulldogs are even more experienced with eight returning starters. “Our middle linebacker (Dante Rollins, 6', 230) had 150 tackles last year and our weakside linebacker (Alton Bronson, 5' 10”, 200) had over 100 tackles last year, so those guys have a lot of experience,” said Brooks. “They've seen just about everything.”
Traylor is concerned with the Bulldogs' returning starters. “Early in the year that's a huge advantage,” confirmed Traylor. “They have all of those players back; significant players back.”
Brooks said Jasper's experience advantage will only last a few games. “I'm glad that we get to play them first because they're only going to get better and better,” stated Brooks.
“I wouldn't want to play them the fourth or fifth ball game. I'm just glad we're playing them the first. I think we can give them a good ball game. That's what I'm hoping.”
If preseason scrimmages are any indication, the Bulldogs should give the Buckeyes plenty of problems. Jasper outscored Port Neches-Groves 5-1 in touchdowns and Nederland 29-22 in a simulated game. Both teams made the playoffs in Class 4A last season.
The Buckeyes also looked good in their two scrimmages against Atlanta and New Boston, but Traylor warned his team to not compare those two teams to the Bulldogs. “Jasper is a lot better than Atlanta or New Boston,” Traylor said.
The Buckeyes' Boss confided on what it will take to win this ball game. “It will come down to two things; turnovers, and which team is conditioned the best will win the game,” Traylor stated.
Jasper's Brooks agreed with Traylor and added his reason for agreeing to the game. “Whether we win or lose, we're going to be a better team for doing this because we could have played someone that is not very good and easily won, but that wouldn't have helped us.”
Traylor said the matchup has the potential to be memorable. “I think this will be a game that when you leave you're going to say, 'man I was glad I was at that game.”
NOTES
• Gilmer has a 24-game regular season winning streak (last loss: 26-17 @ Daingerfield Sept. 30, 2005)
• Gilmer has a 6-game opening game winning streak (last loss: 20-14 Gladewater 2001)
• Gilmer has a 4-game winning streak in the TMF Football Classic
• Jeff Traylor is 85-15 at Gilmer
• Jeff Traylor is 7-1 in opening games
• Jeff Traylor is 6-2 in games played at TMF Rose Stadium
• Gilmer is 54-1 in their last 55 regular season games
• Gilmer's Stump Godfrey needs 53 total yards to pass Tommy Palmer for 7th place in school history
• Gilmer's Stump Godfrey needs 147 total yards to pass G.J. Kinne for 6th place in school history
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
DANIEL DODD of the Gilmer Buckeyes leaps high into the air to force a change in the trajectory of Jasper Bulldogs QB Gilbert Moye’s pass during the thrilling Class 3A Division II state championship game on Dec. 18, 2004, at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches. Other Buckeyes pressuring Moye are Roderick McKnight (33) and Jake Holladay (12). Gilmer won, 49-47. The two teams will meet for only the second time in history on Thursday night at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium in Tyler as the opening game of the Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic.
Area Teams Open Season Tonight
A Lot Expected of Gilmer QB Darian Godfrey
District 17-3A Preview
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