By JOE DODD
This Friday’s game matching the Gilmer Buckeyes and the Chapel Hill Bulldogs is a classic case of who has more to lose.
The Bulldogs (3-3, 0-1 in district play) have few expectations under first-year head coach Thomas Sitton. “Right now we’re trying to put it all together as far as learning the offense and learning the defense,” said Sitton.
The number-one ranked Buckeyes (6-0, 1-0) are trying to extend the state’s longest district winning streak, now at 40 games, and their 32-game home winning streak, all during the Yamboree, a 4-day celebration that closes school and provides unlimited distractions to the Gilmer players.
“It’s definitely a challenge. There’s a lot that goes on. You’re working around the pageant schedule, pageant practice and the livestock show,” said Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor. “I think that because I’m from here, I refuse to lose my focus.”
That focus is mirrored in his players, who refuse to let the streaks end under their watch. “It’s something the seniors want to pass down to the lower classmen,” said senior linebacker Mikey Wilson, who leads the Buckeyes with 63 total tackles.
“We have to keep the streaks alive; the home and district winning streaks, so of course it’s a big game,” confirmed senior wide receiver Ben Griffith, who has helped the Gilmer offense average almost 485 total yards per game this season.
Traylor admits that there is one advantage to playing at home during the Yamboree. “The good thing is that our Friday night crowds are amazing. It’s like another Homecoming,” said the 10th year head coach, who has won the last eight Yamboree games after losing his first one.
Griffith confirmed that this week’s game is special. “It’s always great to have all the fans there and for it to be loud. It’s like a playoff environment; it helps you a whole lot.”
Traylor concedes that all the pressure is on the Buckeyes, who are 103-17 since he arrived here in 2000 after being an assistant in Jacksonville.
Ironically, it was Sitton who replaced Traylor in Jacksonville. “I got the opportunity to coach with Matt Turner for three years, and of course Jeff and his staff were around us all the time, so I got the chance to pick their brain and find out what they liked doing,” said Sitton.
Sitton stayed in Jacksonville for five years before leaving to become the defensive coordinator at New Braunfels for the past four seasons. A desire to come home to East Texas, led Sitton to accept his first head coaching job at Chapel Hill in March.
“Coach Sitton is a good coach. I know his kids really like him, and they will play hard for him,” said Traylor, who added that the Bulldogs look very familiar.
“They remind me of us, our first year,” said Traylor. “They’ve won a few games. They’ve looked good at times, and they’ve looked bad at times. They’ve got some pretty good athletes. You look at them and think they could be good. It’s just kind of like what we used to look like. It just takes time to get it all together.”
Sitton considers that a complement, and hopes that the Bulldogs can continue to follow the Buckeyes’ path under Traylor. “Gilmer’s just playing at a different level than everybody else is right now,” admitted Sitton. “That’s a tribute to the tradition there, and the coaches there. We hope to be there one of these days.”
The talent is there according to Traylor. “I think they’re dangerous in the sense that they have a lot of athletes,” Traylor said. “Because of the transition they’ve obviously stumbled here and there, but you know that they could put together a game that could challenge you. They have the athletes to play us. As a coach, you are fearful that they might put it all together the night you play them.”
To do that, the Bulldogs will have to do something that has eluded them all season.
“We’re just going to have to execute on both sides of the football,” said Sitton. “We’ve played good on offense and we’ve played good on defense, but we’ve never been able to truly put a full game together.”
That was evident in the Bulldogs’ district opener last week at home against Spring Hill. After taking a 28-14 lead into the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs gave up 15 unanswered points to the Panthers, including the game-winning 2-point conversion with 54 seconds left in the game.
“Last week, we ended up shooting ourselves in the foot,” said Sitton. “We’ve done that throughout the year. We’re just not consistent right now at all.”
“They haven’t put it together yet, but you can see signs. They’ve gotten better every week,” praised Traylor, who is impressed with the Bulldogs’ spread offense.
“Their quarterback Jordan Williams is a really good athlete. He runs around and can make plays. Their tailback Lairamie Lee is a great athlete,” stated Traylor, who added. “They’ve got a huge offensive line. I don’t know what their weight is, but they are big kids.”
Sitton said don’t expect the Bulldogs to come out and run a gadget offense and defense in an attempt to confuse the Buckeyes. “I don’t agree with doing any of that crazy stuff, because I know that throughout the years Gilmer has seen pretty much everything you can throw at them as far as offensive schemes and defensive schemes,” Sitton said. “We’re just going to go out and try to do what we do and execute it.”
Traylor said the Buckeyes’ game plan also includes trying to execute better. “We’ve just got to clean ourselves up,” Traylor stated. “We’re going to try to get more physical on defense, eliminate penalties on offense, and become automatic on special teams.”
If Gilmer can do that, expect the Buckeyes to add to their winning streaks, and to the expectations.
GAME NOTES
Gilmer’s 40-game district win streak is tied for fifth best all-time in Class 3A (source: Joe Lee Smith)
Gilmer has outscored their district opponents 1,814-372 during their 40-game district winning streak
Gilmer’s 56.2 ppg average is the best in Class 3A and second- best in all classifications
Gilmer’s 41.2 average margin of victory is best in Class 3A
Gilmer’s 333 offensive plays consist of 168 passing attempts (50.5 percent) and 165 rushing attempts (49.5 percent)
Gilmer averages 284 yards per game passing (58.6 percent) and 201 yards per game rushing (41.4 percent)
Gilmer has receiving touchdowns by nine different players
Gilmer has rushing touchdowns by seven different players
Gilmer’s Stump Godfrey’s 94 career touchdown passes ranks as fourth best all-time in Class 3A and is tied for 10th best in all classifications with Chavis McCollister of Tenaha and Matthew Stafford of Highland Park. He needs two touchdown passes to tie Tyrik Rollison of Sulphur Springs for ninth place (source: Joe Lee Smith)
Gilmer quarterback Stump Godfrey needs six touchdown passes to give him 100 for his career. Only eight Texas quarterbacks have ever thrown for 100 touchdowns in their career. (Graham Harrell, 167; Garrett Gilbert, 137; G.J. Kinne, 132; Colt McCoy, 116; Drew Tate, 114; Chandler Dane, 104; Riley Dodge, 102; Stephen McGee, 101) (source: Joe Lee Smith)
Gilmer’s Stump Godfrey needs 24 rushing yards to pass Derek McKenzie as Gilmer’s career leader in rushing yards by a quarterback
Gilmer’s Stump Godfrey needs four rushing touchdowns to pass Justin Johnson as Gilmer’s career leader
October 16- Chapel Hill
Mascot: Bulldogs
Colors: Blue & Gold
District: 17-3A
Enrollment: 885
2008 Record: 9-2, 4-1 district, Div. I Regional Semi-finalist
2009 Record: 3-3, 0-1
Last meeting: 2008, Gilmer won 35-6
Series Record: Gilmer leads 5-0
Head Coach: Thomas Sitton (3-3 1st season; 3-3 overall)
Returning Starters: 4 Offense/4 Defense
Did you know? Gilmer is 8-1 under Jeff Traylor during Yamboree games. Daingerfield beat the Buckeyes 35-14 in a Yamboree game in 2000, Traylor’s first year at Gilmer.
Bounty Hunter of the Week: Vance Green
Special Teams Player of the Week: Tristan Holt
Scout Team Players of the Week:
Renoire Horton, Offense; Colton Hill, Defense
BUCKEYE TICKET LINE:
841-7777
LUNCH WITH THE COACH:
Noon Wednesdays, Buckeyes Booster Club meets at Gilmer Country Club
LIVE WEBCAST:
wwww.GilmerBuckeyes.com
This Friday’s game matching the Gilmer Buckeyes and the Chapel Hill Bulldogs is a classic case of who has more to lose.
The Bulldogs (3-3, 0-1 in district play) have few expectations under first-year head coach Thomas Sitton. “Right now we’re trying to put it all together as far as learning the offense and learning the defense,” said Sitton.
The number-one ranked Buckeyes (6-0, 1-0) are trying to extend the state’s longest district winning streak, now at 40 games, and their 32-game home winning streak, all during the Yamboree, a 4-day celebration that closes school and provides unlimited distractions to the Gilmer players.
“It’s definitely a challenge. There’s a lot that goes on. You’re working around the pageant schedule, pageant practice and the livestock show,” said Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor. “I think that because I’m from here, I refuse to lose my focus.”
That focus is mirrored in his players, who refuse to let the streaks end under their watch. “It’s something the seniors want to pass down to the lower classmen,” said senior linebacker Mikey Wilson, who leads the Buckeyes with 63 total tackles.
“We have to keep the streaks alive; the home and district winning streaks, so of course it’s a big game,” confirmed senior wide receiver Ben Griffith, who has helped the Gilmer offense average almost 485 total yards per game this season.
Traylor admits that there is one advantage to playing at home during the Yamboree. “The good thing is that our Friday night crowds are amazing. It’s like another Homecoming,” said the 10th year head coach, who has won the last eight Yamboree games after losing his first one.
Griffith confirmed that this week’s game is special. “It’s always great to have all the fans there and for it to be loud. It’s like a playoff environment; it helps you a whole lot.”
Traylor concedes that all the pressure is on the Buckeyes, who are 103-17 since he arrived here in 2000 after being an assistant in Jacksonville.
Ironically, it was Sitton who replaced Traylor in Jacksonville. “I got the opportunity to coach with Matt Turner for three years, and of course Jeff and his staff were around us all the time, so I got the chance to pick their brain and find out what they liked doing,” said Sitton.
Sitton stayed in Jacksonville for five years before leaving to become the defensive coordinator at New Braunfels for the past four seasons. A desire to come home to East Texas, led Sitton to accept his first head coaching job at Chapel Hill in March.
“Coach Sitton is a good coach. I know his kids really like him, and they will play hard for him,” said Traylor, who added that the Bulldogs look very familiar.
“They remind me of us, our first year,” said Traylor. “They’ve won a few games. They’ve looked good at times, and they’ve looked bad at times. They’ve got some pretty good athletes. You look at them and think they could be good. It’s just kind of like what we used to look like. It just takes time to get it all together.”
Sitton considers that a complement, and hopes that the Bulldogs can continue to follow the Buckeyes’ path under Traylor. “Gilmer’s just playing at a different level than everybody else is right now,” admitted Sitton. “That’s a tribute to the tradition there, and the coaches there. We hope to be there one of these days.”
The talent is there according to Traylor. “I think they’re dangerous in the sense that they have a lot of athletes,” Traylor said. “Because of the transition they’ve obviously stumbled here and there, but you know that they could put together a game that could challenge you. They have the athletes to play us. As a coach, you are fearful that they might put it all together the night you play them.”
To do that, the Bulldogs will have to do something that has eluded them all season.
“We’re just going to have to execute on both sides of the football,” said Sitton. “We’ve played good on offense and we’ve played good on defense, but we’ve never been able to truly put a full game together.”
That was evident in the Bulldogs’ district opener last week at home against Spring Hill. After taking a 28-14 lead into the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs gave up 15 unanswered points to the Panthers, including the game-winning 2-point conversion with 54 seconds left in the game.
“Last week, we ended up shooting ourselves in the foot,” said Sitton. “We’ve done that throughout the year. We’re just not consistent right now at all.”
“They haven’t put it together yet, but you can see signs. They’ve gotten better every week,” praised Traylor, who is impressed with the Bulldogs’ spread offense.
“Their quarterback Jordan Williams is a really good athlete. He runs around and can make plays. Their tailback Lairamie Lee is a great athlete,” stated Traylor, who added. “They’ve got a huge offensive line. I don’t know what their weight is, but they are big kids.”
Sitton said don’t expect the Bulldogs to come out and run a gadget offense and defense in an attempt to confuse the Buckeyes. “I don’t agree with doing any of that crazy stuff, because I know that throughout the years Gilmer has seen pretty much everything you can throw at them as far as offensive schemes and defensive schemes,” Sitton said. “We’re just going to go out and try to do what we do and execute it.”
Traylor said the Buckeyes’ game plan also includes trying to execute better. “We’ve just got to clean ourselves up,” Traylor stated. “We’re going to try to get more physical on defense, eliminate penalties on offense, and become automatic on special teams.”
If Gilmer can do that, expect the Buckeyes to add to their winning streaks, and to the expectations.
GAME NOTES
Gilmer’s 40-game district win streak is tied for fifth best all-time in Class 3A (source: Joe Lee Smith)
Gilmer has outscored their district opponents 1,814-372 during their 40-game district winning streak
Gilmer’s 56.2 ppg average is the best in Class 3A and second- best in all classifications
Gilmer’s 41.2 average margin of victory is best in Class 3A
Gilmer’s 333 offensive plays consist of 168 passing attempts (50.5 percent) and 165 rushing attempts (49.5 percent)
Gilmer averages 284 yards per game passing (58.6 percent) and 201 yards per game rushing (41.4 percent)
Gilmer has receiving touchdowns by nine different players
Gilmer has rushing touchdowns by seven different players
Gilmer’s Stump Godfrey’s 94 career touchdown passes ranks as fourth best all-time in Class 3A and is tied for 10th best in all classifications with Chavis McCollister of Tenaha and Matthew Stafford of Highland Park. He needs two touchdown passes to tie Tyrik Rollison of Sulphur Springs for ninth place (source: Joe Lee Smith)
Gilmer quarterback Stump Godfrey needs six touchdown passes to give him 100 for his career. Only eight Texas quarterbacks have ever thrown for 100 touchdowns in their career. (Graham Harrell, 167; Garrett Gilbert, 137; G.J. Kinne, 132; Colt McCoy, 116; Drew Tate, 114; Chandler Dane, 104; Riley Dodge, 102; Stephen McGee, 101) (source: Joe Lee Smith)
Gilmer’s Stump Godfrey needs 24 rushing yards to pass Derek McKenzie as Gilmer’s career leader in rushing yards by a quarterback
Gilmer’s Stump Godfrey needs four rushing touchdowns to pass Justin Johnson as Gilmer’s career leader
October 16- Chapel Hill
Mascot: Bulldogs
Colors: Blue & Gold
District: 17-3A
Enrollment: 885
2008 Record: 9-2, 4-1 district, Div. I Regional Semi-finalist
2009 Record: 3-3, 0-1
Last meeting: 2008, Gilmer won 35-6
Series Record: Gilmer leads 5-0
Head Coach: Thomas Sitton (3-3 1st season; 3-3 overall)
Returning Starters: 4 Offense/4 Defense
Did you know? Gilmer is 8-1 under Jeff Traylor during Yamboree games. Daingerfield beat the Buckeyes 35-14 in a Yamboree game in 2000, Traylor’s first year at Gilmer.
Bounty Hunter of the Week: Vance Green
Special Teams Player of the Week: Tristan Holt
Scout Team Players of the Week:
Renoire Horton, Offense; Colton Hill, Defense
BUCKEYE TICKET LINE:
841-7777
LUNCH WITH THE COACH:
Noon Wednesdays, Buckeyes Booster Club meets at Gilmer Country Club
LIVE WEBCAST:
wwww.GilmerBuckeyes.com
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