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Gilmer returns home to host Kilgore

By JOE DODD

After five long weeks on the road, the Gilmer Buckeyes return to the friendly confines of Buckeye Stadium Friday night for a homecoming game against the Kilgore Bulldogs.

With scrimmages in Atlanta and New Boston, and non-district games at Nacogdoches, Tyler and Texarkana, the number one ranked Buckeyes (3-0) return to Gilmer to defend their 30-game home winning streak.

Kilgore is a major threat to end that streak, just like the Buckeyes’ 27-game regular season winning streak that the Bulldogs stopped with their 28-14 win over the Buckeyes in Kilgore last season.

But history is on Gilmer’s side, as the Buckeyes have never lost two games in a row to the same opponent since head coach Jeff Traylor took over the program.

“They could stop both our home winning streak and our streak of never losing to the same team twice,” said Traylor. “They’ll be tough to beat.”

The Bulldogs have been tough to beat ever since head coach Mike Vallery arrived in Kilgore in 1995. Since then, the Bulldogs have won 75 percent of their games, made the playoffs every season but one, and won a state championship in 2004.

Sound familiar? It should, because since Traylor arrived in Gilmer in 2000, the Buckeyes have won 85 percent of their games, made the playoffs every season but one, and won a state championship in 2004.

Traylor is quick to praise his counterpart. “I think he’s the best coach in East Texas,” said Traylor.

Vallery returned the compliment. “Coach Traylor and his staff do a great job with the Gilmer program,” Vallery replied.

While both Gilmer and Kilgore have enjoyed similar success under their current head coaches; the two teams achieved it in vastly different ways.

Gilmer is best known for their high-powered offense, which usually is among the state’s best in yards and points scored. In 117 games under Traylor, the Buckeyes have scored an average of 39.6 points per game.

Kilgore is best known for their punishing defense, which is usually among the state’s best in yardage and points allowed. In 173 games under Vallery, the Bulldogs have allowed an average of 15.1 points per game.

“Every year that Mike Vallery has ever coached, Kilgore is always great on defense and special teams,” said Traylor. “Great defense always beats a great offense.”

That was evident last season when the Bulldogs held the Buckeyes to 220 total yards and forced four turnovers.

“Kilgore was good and we played really bad on offense. We turned the ball over too much and gave up too many big plays,” recalled Traylor about last season’s loss. “Whenever you lose the big play battle and the turnover battle, you’re going to lose.”

So far this season, it’s the Bulldogs who have lost the turnover and big play battles, going 1-2 in their first three games of the season.

“It’s a misleading 1-2,” warns Traylor. “If we had played Carthage, Hallsville and Marshall we might be 1-2 also. They just do such a great job running the football, kicking it, and they play good defense. So they’re always going to be in the ball game.”

Vallery would normally agree, but he’s not so sure this year. “This is as much as we’ve struggled in a long time,” Vallery said. “We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

Last year Kilgore’s offense controlled the football for over 32 minutes, while Gilmer’s offense had the football for less than 16 minutes.

“This year I don’t know if we can be that kind of football team that can dominate the time of possession,” worried Vallery, who lost 17 starters from last year’s team to graduation.
After three games, the Bulldogs are averaging only 195.7 total yards and 17 points per game while allowing 331.7 total yards and 28 points per game.

Despite the statistics, Traylor is not convinced that Kilgore is down this year. “They’re the best team that we have played this year,” promised Traylor who reminded fans that Kilgore’s junior varsity and freshmen teams dominated Gilmer last year. “They’re just going to move those kids up.”

Vallery has done just that, rotating sophomores Kaleb Brisendine and Riley Tolar at quarterback for the Bulldogs. Brisendine has completed 14 of 28 passing attempts for 136 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, while Tolar is 14 of 31 for 161 yards, with no touchdowns and three interceptions.

The sophomore quarterbacks are protected by a front five that averages 6 feet 3 inches tall and 255 pounds. “They are huge up front, and they are very well coached,” said Traylor.

The large offensive line also plows the field for senior tailback Jeremy Henderson who has 176 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries and 22 yards and another touchdown on one reception.

On defense, the Bulldogs are led by senior linebacker Mishaud Austin and sophomore safety Shawn Williams. Austin leads the team with 33 tackles, while Williams is second with 26 tackles, and has the Bulldogs only interception.

Traylor is impressed with the defense. “We’d be very fortunate if we could score 21-28 points. They’re really good,” Traylor said.

Vallery is not buying it, giving Gilmer the advantage on offense. “The Godfrey kid at quarterback is a year older and a year more experienced at running that offense,” said Vallery, who added. “They are so much more improved at the receiver position. They do a great job of running after the catch.”

Traylor said that his returning offensive starters must play much better than they did against Kilgore last season. “Our defense played great; we were just horrible offensively,” Traylor stated. “We’ve got to stop the turnovers and have more big plays.”

Vallery thinks the Buckeyes are in a position to do just that. “Some years your offense is much better than your defense, and some years your defense is much better than your offense,” said Vallery. “The thing they’ve got going right now is that they are good on both sides of the football.”

Traylor has warned his players not to believe Vallery’s assessment of them. “I think because they beat us last year, our kids know how good they are,” Traylor said. “It will be a nail-biter. It will go right down to the very end. They are too well coached. They do too many things well. It will be a great ball game.”

Game Notes
*Gilmer’s last loss at home was 14-7 to Pine Tree in 2002.
*Gilmer has a 9-game regular season winning streak.
*Gilmer is 0-4 all time against Kilgore.
*Kilgore has allowed 40 or more points in a game only 3 times in 173 games since Vallery became head coach in 1995. The Bulldogs are 0-3 in those games.
*Kilgore has allowed 30 or more points in a game only 17 times in 173 games since Vallery became head coach in 1995. The Bulldogs are 5-12 in those games.

Bounty Hunter of the Week: Jordan McCraven
Special Teams Player of the Week: Adan Olivares
Scout Team Players of the Week:
John Reynoso, Offense; Ricky Johnson, Defense

September 18- Kilgore
Mascot: Bulldogs
Colors: Red/Black/White
District: 14-4A
Enrollment: 1,080
2008 Record: 9-3, Area Finalist
2009 Record: 1-2
Last meeting: 2008, Kilgore won 28-14
Series Record: Kilgore leads 4-0
Head Coach: Mike Vallery (15th season, 129-43-1, 223-67-1 overall)
Returning Starters: 2 Offense/3 Defense

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