Listen Live
Saturday, Nov. 29
Backup Stream
Buckeyes at a glance: Saturday, Nov. 29
Gilmer program rises under Traylor
By JOE DODD
When the Gilmer Buckeyes’ Jeff Traylor returned to his alma mater in 2000 as the school’s head coach, he hoped to return the program back to the glory years of 1924-1935 when Henry McClelland led the Buckeyes to an 89-28-8 record. Traylor’s 96-16 record and two trips to the state finals have restored Gilmer’s glory, and made Traylor the school’s winningest coach.
In 1982 when Dan Hooks took over the head coaching duties in West Orange Stark, the Mustangs were starting their fifth season of high school football and trying to make a name for themselves. In his 28 seasons at the helm, Hooks has made West Orange Stark the most successful program in all of Texas high school football. The Mustangs winning percentage of .7943 is best among all schools at any classification.
“They have an unbelievable history of being great,” marveled Traylor. “I want us to be like West Orange Stark. I want somebody in 25 years to say that we’ve been winning for the last 30 years.”
The two teams meet for the first time Saturday at 2:30 pm. in Lufkin’s Abe Martin Stadium in the Class 3A Division II Region III Semifinal.
Hooks (261-64-2) said his Mustangs are excited to face the Buckeyes. “It’s going to be a good football game. I’m looking forward to it,” said Hooks, who credits his success and the Buckeyes’ to a common denominator. “The kids have tremendous pride. They’re representing their community, their parents, the school. They really feel obligated to play well and represent the community and their folks. That’s what makes the two programs so good. There will be some sparks flying Saturday.”
On paper it appears to be a classic matchup. “It will be our defense against their offense,” said Hooks.
The Buckeyes’ offense has scored a state best 557 points in twelve games and averages 477.1 total yards per game.
The Mustangs’ defense has allowed a state best 56 points in 10 games this season, giving up an average of just 121.3 total yards per game.
Hooks credits his defense’s success to his longtime assistant. “Our defensive coordinator is a man named Cornel Thompson,” said Hooks. “He demands that our kids run to the ball and get there in a bad mood.”
Traylor said that Thompson needs no introduction. “Anybody in coaching knows about Cornel Thompson, and the 50 Defense. He’s renowned for it. He’s spoken at a million clinics about it; He’s just known as the 50 guru among coaches.”
“We’ve not played a defense like this,” warned Traylor. “They remind me of Atlanta’s defense in 2003. They hit. They take a lot of great pride in their defense.”
That could be bad news for the Buckeyes, who lost 34-14 to the eventual state champion Rabbits in the regional final that year.
“Their team speed is phenomenal defensively,” said Traylor, who cited the 4.36 40 time for Mustangs’ safety James Haynes in a camp earlier this past summer. “They are just so fast. That’s really the strength of their team.”
Hooks said the Mustangs defensive philosophy is simple. “We try to stop what the other team does best. If we do, we win. If we don’t we don’t.”
So far this season, it’s worked every game. The Mustangs have allowed more than 200 total yards only once, while holding six out of 10 opponents to 115 yards or less.
Hooks said the Mustangs have to do the same thing to the Buckeyes in order to win. “I would rather it be a low scoring game. I don’t want one of those 50-48 deals because you’re liable to have 48 when it’s over, and that’s not good. So I would like to hold the score down as much as we could and play real good defense, and score four touchdowns and hope that’s enough.”
Traylor knows that the Buckeyes’ offense can not win the game by themselves. “Your kicking game and your defense is how you win championships. It doesn’t matter how good you are on offense, if you’re not good on defense.”
Gilmer’s defense is suddenly an area of concern after allowing 372 yards and 29 points in the second half last week to Mexia. “We’ve got to play better on defense, and I know we can because we have,” Traylor said. “I’m not going to let one half of football erase 23 halves of good football.”
The Mustangs are confident that their offense matches up well against the Buckeyes’ defense. “Offensively, I think our kids can move the ball on them and get into the end zone,” said Hooks, who said that eliminating Gilmer’s big plays is a key.
“You can’t go out there in the first quarter and turn the ball over and give them 21 points. You can’t give them points. You’ve got to make them drive the length of the field. Don’t fumble the football; kick it to them and play defense. If we can do that and just hang in there and not give them the big play, then we’ll be fine,” Hooks said.
“Fast, quick and athletic,” is how Traylor describes the Mustangs’ offense that averages 44 points and almost 376 total yards per game.
“Their tailback is big-time; you cannot get him down,” said Traylor, about Quintavious Garrett who has rushed for 1,117 yards and 19 touchdowns on 151 carries this season.
“Their strength is their skill kids. Their quarterback [Ortavious Hypolite] (6-0, 190, 4.6) reminds me of Derek McKenzie. He’s strong and will not go down. When you give him the ball on fourth and one, he makes it.”
Hypolite has rushed for 738 yards and 10 touchdowns on 109 carries, while completing 83 of 134 passes for 1,277 yards and 10 more touchdowns. Hypolite has thrown only two interceptions all season.
His main target has been receiver Trey Franks, who leads the Mustangs with 578 yards and five touchdowns on 31 catches.
Hooks said Hypolite, Garrett and Franks will have to have a good game in order for the Mustangs to equal the success that they enjoyed in Class 4A when the Mustangs won two state championships and played in two more.
Since their move down to Class 3A in 2004, the Mustangs have made it past the third round of the playoffs only once. “It’s real big. We’ve been close, but we just can’t get over that third round; it’s just been a nemesis to us. We need to get past that and go on,” said Hooks.
“If you don’t win you go home; and that’s going to be sad for either team, because both teams are very good,” summed up Hooks.
Traylor said that’s the kind of pressure he likes. “This is fun. This is what it’s all about,” said Traylor. “You live for this. This is why you coach; this is why you play.”
Game Notes
• Gilmer quarterback Stump Godfrey needs 117 total yards to reach 7,000 for his career.
• Gilmer running back Jeremy Jackson needs 38 rushing yards to reach 1,000 on the season.
• Gilmer quarterback Stump Godfrtey needs 238 rushing yards to reach 1,000 on the season.
• The Mustangs have a nickname for their defense analogous to the “Black Flag” of the Buckeyes. Theirs is called the “Chain Gang.”
Bounty Hunter of the Week: Vance Green
Special Teams Players of the Week: Daniel McLaren, Marlon Granville, D.J. Stanley
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week: Jordan Traylor
Defensive Scout Team Players of the Week: Ty Barr, Colton Hill
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
JEREMY JACKSON hurdles Buckeye teammate Beau Blair as Michael Boddie blocks a Blackcat defender. Jackson had key touchdowns in the win over Mexia.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
MARLON GRANVILLE glances back as he dashes 27 yards for the final Gilmer touchdown against Mexia.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
GILMER BUCKEYES in 2008 are: Kedon Franklin, Tristan Holt, Daniel McLaren, Luis Castro, Braylon Webb, Zach Jones, Vance Green, Cody Sewell, Darian Godfrey, Paul Chesnut, D.J. Stanley, Andy Schmidt, Luke Turner, Hunter Harrison, Chris Miller, Tevin Godfrey, Prentiss Bell, Ben Griffith, Marlon Granville, J.T. Beecham, Gus Osborne, Tanner Kern, Aaron Borens, Xavier Easley, Tyrone Fort, Jeff Jackson, Josh Thompson, Joseph Crocker, Jeremy Jackson, Mikey Wilson, Kavin Patton, Adan Olivares, Mitch Reid, Josh Gordon, Adam Martin, Roy Chambers, Eric Miller, Jordan Abron, Tamil Harris, Jordan McCraven, Ben Turner, Ty Barr, Dakota Cannon, Caleb Denton, Barry Kennedy, Dakota Hagler, Dustin Hardin, Jacob Ramsey, Jared Harborth, Hayden Holmes, Jonathon Rockwell, Jason Humphrey, Cory Davis, Beau Blair, Jacob Jenkins, Clayton Hampton, Rondarius Darden, Michael Boddie, Arsenio Elder, Harvey Horton, Chad Tennison and Shaquille Ector.
From Maxpreps:
Gilmer High School
West Orange-Stark High School
West Orange-Stark vs. Gilmer Game Matchup
From KFDM Beaumont:
WOS Preps For Round 3
From The Orange Leader:
WO-S defense to meet Gilmer’s high-powered O
WO-S looks to slow down wide-open Buckeyes
Garrett stepping up his game
Ike's wrath draws WO-S' Foreman, players closer with new living quarters
From the Beaumont Enterprise:
West Orange-Stark defense to meet high-scoring offense in next round
From the Record:
Scoring Spree Saturday at Abe Martin Stadium?
Mustang Insider
Happy 70th Birthday Coach Dan R. Hooks
Discuss The Game Here
Or Here
Or Here
(Registration required to post)
Google Map
Abe Martin Stadium
Lufkin
View Larger Map
Saturday, Nov. 29
Backup Stream
Buckeyes at a glance: Saturday, Nov. 29
Gilmer program rises under Traylor
By JOE DODD
When the Gilmer Buckeyes’ Jeff Traylor returned to his alma mater in 2000 as the school’s head coach, he hoped to return the program back to the glory years of 1924-1935 when Henry McClelland led the Buckeyes to an 89-28-8 record. Traylor’s 96-16 record and two trips to the state finals have restored Gilmer’s glory, and made Traylor the school’s winningest coach.
In 1982 when Dan Hooks took over the head coaching duties in West Orange Stark, the Mustangs were starting their fifth season of high school football and trying to make a name for themselves. In his 28 seasons at the helm, Hooks has made West Orange Stark the most successful program in all of Texas high school football. The Mustangs winning percentage of .7943 is best among all schools at any classification.
“They have an unbelievable history of being great,” marveled Traylor. “I want us to be like West Orange Stark. I want somebody in 25 years to say that we’ve been winning for the last 30 years.”
The two teams meet for the first time Saturday at 2:30 pm. in Lufkin’s Abe Martin Stadium in the Class 3A Division II Region III Semifinal.
Hooks (261-64-2) said his Mustangs are excited to face the Buckeyes. “It’s going to be a good football game. I’m looking forward to it,” said Hooks, who credits his success and the Buckeyes’ to a common denominator. “The kids have tremendous pride. They’re representing their community, their parents, the school. They really feel obligated to play well and represent the community and their folks. That’s what makes the two programs so good. There will be some sparks flying Saturday.”
On paper it appears to be a classic matchup. “It will be our defense against their offense,” said Hooks.
The Buckeyes’ offense has scored a state best 557 points in twelve games and averages 477.1 total yards per game.
The Mustangs’ defense has allowed a state best 56 points in 10 games this season, giving up an average of just 121.3 total yards per game.
Hooks credits his defense’s success to his longtime assistant. “Our defensive coordinator is a man named Cornel Thompson,” said Hooks. “He demands that our kids run to the ball and get there in a bad mood.”
Traylor said that Thompson needs no introduction. “Anybody in coaching knows about Cornel Thompson, and the 50 Defense. He’s renowned for it. He’s spoken at a million clinics about it; He’s just known as the 50 guru among coaches.”
“We’ve not played a defense like this,” warned Traylor. “They remind me of Atlanta’s defense in 2003. They hit. They take a lot of great pride in their defense.”
That could be bad news for the Buckeyes, who lost 34-14 to the eventual state champion Rabbits in the regional final that year.
“Their team speed is phenomenal defensively,” said Traylor, who cited the 4.36 40 time for Mustangs’ safety James Haynes in a camp earlier this past summer. “They are just so fast. That’s really the strength of their team.”
Hooks said the Mustangs defensive philosophy is simple. “We try to stop what the other team does best. If we do, we win. If we don’t we don’t.”
So far this season, it’s worked every game. The Mustangs have allowed more than 200 total yards only once, while holding six out of 10 opponents to 115 yards or less.
Hooks said the Mustangs have to do the same thing to the Buckeyes in order to win. “I would rather it be a low scoring game. I don’t want one of those 50-48 deals because you’re liable to have 48 when it’s over, and that’s not good. So I would like to hold the score down as much as we could and play real good defense, and score four touchdowns and hope that’s enough.”
Traylor knows that the Buckeyes’ offense can not win the game by themselves. “Your kicking game and your defense is how you win championships. It doesn’t matter how good you are on offense, if you’re not good on defense.”
Gilmer’s defense is suddenly an area of concern after allowing 372 yards and 29 points in the second half last week to Mexia. “We’ve got to play better on defense, and I know we can because we have,” Traylor said. “I’m not going to let one half of football erase 23 halves of good football.”
The Mustangs are confident that their offense matches up well against the Buckeyes’ defense. “Offensively, I think our kids can move the ball on them and get into the end zone,” said Hooks, who said that eliminating Gilmer’s big plays is a key.
“You can’t go out there in the first quarter and turn the ball over and give them 21 points. You can’t give them points. You’ve got to make them drive the length of the field. Don’t fumble the football; kick it to them and play defense. If we can do that and just hang in there and not give them the big play, then we’ll be fine,” Hooks said.
“Fast, quick and athletic,” is how Traylor describes the Mustangs’ offense that averages 44 points and almost 376 total yards per game.
“Their tailback is big-time; you cannot get him down,” said Traylor, about Quintavious Garrett who has rushed for 1,117 yards and 19 touchdowns on 151 carries this season.
“Their strength is their skill kids. Their quarterback [Ortavious Hypolite] (6-0, 190, 4.6) reminds me of Derek McKenzie. He’s strong and will not go down. When you give him the ball on fourth and one, he makes it.”
Hypolite has rushed for 738 yards and 10 touchdowns on 109 carries, while completing 83 of 134 passes for 1,277 yards and 10 more touchdowns. Hypolite has thrown only two interceptions all season.
His main target has been receiver Trey Franks, who leads the Mustangs with 578 yards and five touchdowns on 31 catches.
Hooks said Hypolite, Garrett and Franks will have to have a good game in order for the Mustangs to equal the success that they enjoyed in Class 4A when the Mustangs won two state championships and played in two more.
Since their move down to Class 3A in 2004, the Mustangs have made it past the third round of the playoffs only once. “It’s real big. We’ve been close, but we just can’t get over that third round; it’s just been a nemesis to us. We need to get past that and go on,” said Hooks.
“If you don’t win you go home; and that’s going to be sad for either team, because both teams are very good,” summed up Hooks.
Traylor said that’s the kind of pressure he likes. “This is fun. This is what it’s all about,” said Traylor. “You live for this. This is why you coach; this is why you play.”
Game Notes
• Gilmer quarterback Stump Godfrey needs 117 total yards to reach 7,000 for his career.
• Gilmer running back Jeremy Jackson needs 38 rushing yards to reach 1,000 on the season.
• Gilmer quarterback Stump Godfrtey needs 238 rushing yards to reach 1,000 on the season.
• The Mustangs have a nickname for their defense analogous to the “Black Flag” of the Buckeyes. Theirs is called the “Chain Gang.”
Bounty Hunter of the Week: Vance Green
Special Teams Players of the Week: Daniel McLaren, Marlon Granville, D.J. Stanley
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week: Jordan Traylor
Defensive Scout Team Players of the Week: Ty Barr, Colton Hill
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
JEREMY JACKSON hurdles Buckeye teammate Beau Blair as Michael Boddie blocks a Blackcat defender. Jackson had key touchdowns in the win over Mexia.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
MARLON GRANVILLE glances back as he dashes 27 yards for the final Gilmer touchdown against Mexia.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
GILMER BUCKEYES in 2008 are: Kedon Franklin, Tristan Holt, Daniel McLaren, Luis Castro, Braylon Webb, Zach Jones, Vance Green, Cody Sewell, Darian Godfrey, Paul Chesnut, D.J. Stanley, Andy Schmidt, Luke Turner, Hunter Harrison, Chris Miller, Tevin Godfrey, Prentiss Bell, Ben Griffith, Marlon Granville, J.T. Beecham, Gus Osborne, Tanner Kern, Aaron Borens, Xavier Easley, Tyrone Fort, Jeff Jackson, Josh Thompson, Joseph Crocker, Jeremy Jackson, Mikey Wilson, Kavin Patton, Adan Olivares, Mitch Reid, Josh Gordon, Adam Martin, Roy Chambers, Eric Miller, Jordan Abron, Tamil Harris, Jordan McCraven, Ben Turner, Ty Barr, Dakota Cannon, Caleb Denton, Barry Kennedy, Dakota Hagler, Dustin Hardin, Jacob Ramsey, Jared Harborth, Hayden Holmes, Jonathon Rockwell, Jason Humphrey, Cory Davis, Beau Blair, Jacob Jenkins, Clayton Hampton, Rondarius Darden, Michael Boddie, Arsenio Elder, Harvey Horton, Chad Tennison and Shaquille Ector.
From Maxpreps:
Gilmer High School
West Orange-Stark High School
West Orange-Stark vs. Gilmer Game Matchup
From KFDM Beaumont:
WOS Preps For Round 3
From The Orange Leader:
WO-S defense to meet Gilmer’s high-powered O
WO-S looks to slow down wide-open Buckeyes
Garrett stepping up his game
Ike's wrath draws WO-S' Foreman, players closer with new living quarters
From the Beaumont Enterprise:
West Orange-Stark defense to meet high-scoring offense in next round
From the Record:
Scoring Spree Saturday at Abe Martin Stadium?
Mustang Insider
Happy 70th Birthday Coach Dan R. Hooks
Discuss The Game Here
Or Here
Or Here
(Registration required to post)
Google Map
Abe Martin Stadium
Lufkin
View Larger Map
Comments