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Gilmer, Jasper preparing for rematch in Tyler on Saturday afternoon

Depending on one’s time perspective, it may seem either like ancient history or like it was just yesterday, but on Friday night, Aug. 28, the Gilmer Buckeyes began their regular season journey to a perfect 10-0 record by trouncing the Jasper Bulldogs, 42-14, at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches.

The Bulldogs were able to hang with the Buckeyes for one half, trailing only 8-7 at intermission. Few make better halftime adjustments, though, than Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor and his staff. His team scored on the opening possession of the second half. By the end of the third quarter, Gilmer had amassed an insurmountable 29-7 lead.

On Saturday, Nov. 14, at 3 p.m., the Bulldogs get another shot at the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes, this time at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium in Tyler.

And this time there’s something on the line other than pride, as it is a UIL Class 3A Division I bi-district title which is at stake.

The winner of this Region III contest will face the winner of the game between Athens and La Vega, also being played Saturday afternoon at Mesquite’s Hanby Stadium.

It takes five wins to claim the state championship in Division I.

This will be the second time the two teams have met on Earl Campbell Field. On Aug. 28, 2008, Gilmer beat Jasper, 56-28, in the opener of the Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic.

The most memorable game between the two programs, of course, was the first time they met — Gilmer’s 49-47 win on Dec. 18, 2004, back at Homer Bryce Stadium to claim the Class 3A Division II title.

Jasper under first-year head coach Mike Bickham has had to learn an entire new system on both offense and defense, but has done so perhaps better than was expected before the season.

“A brand new offense and a brand new defense; it’s bound to be tough,” admitted Bickham to The Mirror’s Joe Dodd in August.

He did have four starters each returning on offense and defense from Coach Thomas Brooks’ team in 2008, which went 4-6 and lost to Chapel Hill this time last year in bi-district, 34-20, in Lufkin.

Bickham is in his seventh season as a head coach and now has a 61-23 record. Previously he was the boss at Tenaha, Brookshire Royal and Carthage.

His counterpart, Jeff Traylor, is 107-17 in his 10th season as a head coach, all at Gilmer.

The Bulldogs’ only other loss of 2009 has been a home loss to the defending Class 3A Division II state champion Carthage Bulldogs, 27-3, on Oct. 23.

In September, Jasper impressed with wins over Class 2A power Kirbyville, 31-22, and over West Orange-Stark, 23-13. At that time the Mustangs, a team Gilmer eliminated (35-23) in the third round of the 2008 Division II playoffs, were ranked in the Top Five in Class 3A.

Jasper wound up 8-2 overall and 4-1 in District 18-3A, surpassed only by Carthage ((10-0; 5-0).

Jasper clinched a playoff berth with a road win in Rusk, 45-21, on Oct. 30, and then tuned up at home for the playoffs with a hard-fought 32-25 victory over the Center Roughriders last Friday night.

Predominantly a running team, Jasper most often utilizes a Triple I option offense. Senior QB Sam Alvis leads the attack, with a supporting cast which includes backs Ben Armstrong and Jarrod Adams. Darren Beavers is another threat at receiver, as Alvis will on occasion try to keep the defense honest with play-action passes.

It has some big offensive linemen. During the teams’ first meeting in August, the Bulldogs attempted to run right at the speedy Black Flag Defense of the Buckeyes.
Jasper has been known to employ trickery on kickoff returns in the form of what is called the “Starburst.”

On defense, the Dawgs employ a 3-3 Stack. It has been an opportunistic unit in terms of forcing turnovers, with an impressive “takeaway” margin over the opposition.

Jasper has a good kicker in Juan Mijares.

The Buckeyes will be the home team on Saturday. That seems fitting, as TMF Rose Stadium could be called Gilmer’s “home away from home.” The Buckeyes have played at least one game there every season since 2003.

Buck Cargal of HuddleUpTexas.com projects Gilmer as a 27-point favorite Saturday.

That may be a bit excessive, but you know a team is good when coming within 19 points of it is considered cause for celebration and a moral victory for an opponent.
Joe Dodd will have more on this game in Saturday’s Mirror, including comments from the coaches and more about the Buckeyes.

Bridget Fowler, Gilmer Athletic Booster Club president, asks that every Buckeye fan wear black to the Saturday, Nov. 14, game.
The Buckeyes will play Jasper at 3 p.m. at Tyler’s Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.
“Everyone come and enjoy supporting the Buckeyes all the way to state,” she said. “Wear your black and help us ‘Black Out’ the Jasper Bulldogs.”


Bounty Hunter of the Week: Tamil Harris
Special Teams Player of the Week: Harvey Horton
Scout Team Players of the Week:
Jarrett Finney, Offense; Daniel Arrington, Defense

BUCKEYE TICKET LINE:
903-841-7777
LUNCH WITH THE COACH:
Noon Wednesdays, Buckeyes Booster Club meets at Gilmer Country Club
LIVE WEBCAST:
www.GilmerBuckeyes.com

Jasper Video Highlights from KFDM Beaumont:

Jasper Bulldogs

From the Longview News-Journal:

Buckeyes at a glance

From the Beaumont Enterprise:

Jasper looking for inspiration vs. Gilmer

Game Accounts of Jasper's 2009 Season from the Jasper Newsboy:

And now...Gilmer again Jasper dispatches Center, prepares for new rematch with Buckeyes

'Dogs take bite out of 'Riders, 32-25

Jasper jumps on Rusk early, cruises to easy victory to clinch postseason

Too much defense - Carthage steps up pressure to keep Dawgs at bay 27-3

Bring on Carthage: Jasper makes short work of Red Devils, prepares for showdown

Mud Bowl ushers in district play; Jasper sloshes through Diboll to claim 14-0 shutout victory

Late score lifts Bulldogs past Silsbee 24-20

With no Ike to save H-F, Jasper rolls over Longhorns 63-13

State who? Dawgs blast WO-S from unbeaten ranks

Alvis, defense fuel Dawgs 31-22 win over Kirbyville

Gilmer breaks open close contest in second half to win 42-14

Jasper Bulldogs vs. Gilmer Buckeyes
Class 3A, Division I
Bi-District Playoff
Saturday, November 14, 2009, 3 p.m., TMF Rose Stadium, Tyler
Broadcast:
GilmerBuckeyes.com
KJAS 107.5 FM (kjas.com)
Winner to face
Athens/La Vega winner
Jasper Bulldogs
Runner up, District 18-3A
Coach: Mike Bickham
Overall Record: 8-2
District Record: 4-1
Avg. points scored: 28.4
Avg. points allowed: 18.3
2009 Jasper Game Results
Aug. 28 Gilmer, L, 14-42
Sept. 4 @ Kirbyville, W, 31-22
Sept. 11 OPEN
Sept. 18 West Orange-Stark, W, 23-13
Sept. 25 @ Hamshire-Fannett, W, 63-13
Oct. 2 Silsbee, W, 24-20
Oct. 9 Diboll*, W, 14-0
Oct. 16 @ Huntington*, W, 35-0
Oct. 23 Carthage*, L, 3-27
Oct. 30 @ Rusk*, W, 45-21
Nov. 6 Center*, W, 32-25
* District game
Gilmer Buckeyes
Champion, District 17-3A
Coach: Jeff Traylor
Overall Record: 10-0
District Record: 5-0
Avg. points scored/game: 55.4
Avg. points allowed/game: 14.3
2009 Gilmer Game Results
Aug. 28 Jasper, W, 42-14
Sept. 4 @ Emory Rains, W, 76-12
Sept. 11 @ Liberty-Eylau, W, 35-17
Sept. 18 Kilgore, W, 70-27
Sept. 25 Daingerfield, W, 43-20
Oct. 2 OPEN
Oct. 9 @ Bullard*, W, 71-0
Oct. 16 Tyler Chapel Hill*, W, 45-7
Oct. 23 @ Longview Spring Hill*, W, 66-14
Oct. 30 @ Gladewater*, W, 67-12
Nov. 6 Tatum*, W, 39-20
* District game


Class 3A
Division I
Region I
Lubbock Estacado (6-4) vs. Abilene Wylie (8-1) Saturday 7:30pm Grande Communications Stadium, Midland
Andrews (4-6) vs. Fort Stockton (7-3) Friday 7:30pm Walton Field, Kermit
Burkburnett (7-3), bye
Gatesville (7-3) vs. Burnet (7-2) Friday 7:30pm Bulldawg Stadium, Copperas Cove
Region II
Prosper (9-1) vs. Paris North Lamar (3-7) Friday 7:30pm Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium, Rockwall
River Oaks Castleberry (5-5) vs. Alvarado (6-4) Friday 7:30pm Brewer Bear Stadium, Fort Worth
Lovejoy (9-1) vs. Wills Point (9-1) Friday 7:30pm Cotton Ford Stadium, Greenville
Texarkana Liberty-Eylau (6-4), bye
Region III
Gilmer (10-0) vs. Jasper (8-2) Saturday 3pm TMF Rose Stadium, Tyler
Bellmead La Vega (6-4) vs. Athens (4-6) Saturday 2pm Hanby Stadium, Mesquite
Silsbee (6-4) vs. Huffman Hargave (5-5) Saturday 7pm Stallworth Stadium, Baytown
Navasota (8-2) bye
Region IV
Sealy (10-0) vs. Needville (7-3) Friday 7:30pm Traylor Stadium, Rosenberg
San Antonio Sam Houston (8-2) vs. Cuero (10-0) Friday 7:30pm Matador Stadium, Seguin
Bandera (8-2), bye
Ingleside (9-1) vs. Zapata (6-4) Friday 7:30pm LaJoya ISD Stadium, LaJoya

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