By JOE DODD
At the end of the Gilmer Buckeyes final preseason scrimmage, head coach Jeff Traylor stood in front of his kneeling players and reminded them that they had 85 days remaining to reach their off-season focus.
What? Wasn’t the Buckeyes’ regular season opener only eight days away?
“That’s the first playoff game,” explained Traylor. “And I would hope that our program is to the point now that we would expect to be in the playoffs.”
Expectations are something that Traylor knows all about. His 2006 team started the season ranked number one in Class 3A. Buckeyes quarterback G.J. Kinne was on the cover of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine. Nothing less than a state championship was expected.
The Buckeyes responded with a 10-0 regular season record. On Nov. 17, the unexpected happened. Gilmer lost in the first round of the playoffs to eventual state champion Liberty-Eylau.
“We started counting down the days we got to play Liberty-Eylau again the day after,” admitted Traylor. “People are still talking about Nov. 17, and how terrible it was that night. And we’re going to play them again Nov. 16, and people are going to talk about that day. Who’s going to win that night will be determined by who does the most in the time between.”
That time between games would become the inspiration for this season’s team motto, “The Dash.”
“Coach [Alan] Metzel’s father George passed away in January,” explained Traylor. “And I was at the funeral where they read the poem “The Dash.” People talked about the day he was born and the day that he died. But it was the dash in the middle that really defines a man’s life.”
Traylor was inspired, and the team’s motto was born. “It was a way we could honor George Metzel and raise [the players] focus every day in practice so we’ll play well that night.”
This isn’t the first time Traylor’s Buckeyes have started a season following a disappointing one. Gilmer’s 2003 squad had a 13-0 record before losing to eventual state champion Atlanta. The unranked 2004 team responded with a perfect 16-0 season and the school’s first state championship. “You would have never thought that team was going to win it; and they did,” recalled Traylor.
Can this year’s team repeat that accomplishment? “I hope,” replied Traylor who cautioned that this year’s team, like last season’s team, has a much harder playoff road.
That’s one of the few similarities from last season’s team. Gone is the number one ranking and the cover of Texas Football, along with the notoriety that comes with it. “The media attention has just disappeared, as compared to last year,” stated Traylor.
The Buckeyes are not quite invisible though, as their 7th place pre-season ranking proves. “This is still the highest we’ve ever been ranked besides from last year,” Traylor noted. “We’re used to it now; we weren’t used to it [last year].”
Offensive Preview
Gilmer’s ranking is in part because of Traylor’s 71-14 record in his seven seasons at his alma mater, and in part because of the Buckeyes’ highly recruited senior class, which includes five players who have committed to play football at major colleges.
All five players are starters on offense. Running back and Oklahoma commitment Justin Johnson (6’1”, 215 lbs.) returns after rushing for 1,040 yards and 11 touchdowns on only 94 carries. Johnson added another 366 yards and 5 touchdowns on 16 receptions. Leading the way for Johnson on the offensive line are Texas commit David Snow (6’4”, 305 lbs.), and Missouri commit Daniel Jenkins (6’5”, 280 lbs.).
Lamar Harris (6’1”, 185 lbs.), a Texas A&M commitment, returns as the team’s leading receiver after catching 46 passes for 748 yards and a school record 14 touchdowns. Transfer Houston Tuminello (6’, 180 lbs.), who has committed to Louisiana Tech, comes to Gilmer after catching 98 passes for 2,069 yards and 22 touchdowns last season for Colleyville Covenant, including a state record 371 receiving yards in one game. Buckeye fans may remember Tuminello as the sophomore receiver that scorched Gilmer for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Buckeyes loss to Canton two years ago.
“We’re going to always score points,” stated Traylor, whose 2006 team lead all schools in the state of Texas with a scoring average of 55 points per game. The Buckeyes racked up 3,468 yards through the air and 2,186 yards on the ground, with a balanced attack of 269 passes and 271 rushes for the season.
“That’s too much for me. That’s too much passing and not enough running,” Traylor complained. “I’ve always wanted to be 65 percent run and 35 percent pass, with 50-50 on yardage. I think that’s perfect football.”
Traylor’s 2007 offense may be forced to keep it on the ground, as sophomore Darian “Stump” Godfrey (6’1”, 195 lbs.) takes over the reins at quarterback after seeing mop-up duty as a freshman last season. Godfrey was impressive running the ball, gaining 198 yards and scoring 2 touchdowns on only 19 carries. His passing experience was limited to 10 completions in 15 attempts for 180 yards and 2 more touchdowns.
“I’ve been real proud of Stump. We’ve thrown a lot at that kid. He’s really stepped up,” stated Traylor, who added that a veteran receiving corps led by Tuminello will really help Godfrey improve. “You don’t have to be so accurate. You just get the ball near him. He’s as good as I’ve ever seen at catching a football.”
Defensive Preview
Despite allowing only 17 points per game in 2006, the Buckeyes’ defense has been highly criticized. “I personally get tired of the rap that we don’t play good defense,” said Traylor, who came to the defense of his unit. “We score so much, the other coach totally changes the way he calls his plays. He’s not calling just to run the clock. He’s thinking these guys are going to score every time. I’ve got to score every time. So that lends itself to a different kind of ball game.”
It also lends itself to the defense being on the field a lot. Last season the Buckeyes defense played 327 of the team’s 528 total minutes. That meant a lot of playing time for Gilmer’s reserves, and that will become valuable this season, as the Buckeyes return only two starters on defense.
Junior cornerback Zach Jones (5’9”, 160 lbs.), and senior cornerback Dustin Jones (5’ 10”, 170 lbs.) are the lone starters returning. They will be joined in the secondary by Lamar Harris, along with juniors Devane Clark (5’ 10”, 170 lbs.) and D.J. Stanley (5’ 10”, 160 lbs.), and sophomores Tristin Holt (5’ 9”, 170 lbs.), Braylon Webb (6’, 170 lbs.), and Paul Chesnut (5’ 9”, 170 lbs.).
Justin Johnson should see considerable time at linebacker, along with seniors Ross Stevens (6’ 1”, 180 lbs.), Brennan Thompson (6’, 205 lbs.), and Cord Dyer (5’ 10”, 160 lbs.). Juniors Josh Thompson (5’ 10”, 175 lbs.), and Kendrick Starling (5” 11”, 215 lbs.), along with sophomores Vance Green (5’ 10”, 185), Mikey Wilson (5’ 10”, 175 lbs.), and Kedon Franklin (5’ 9”, 170 lbs.) round out the linebacking corps.
Several players are expected to rotate in the defensive line, including seniors David Smith (5’ 11”, 200 lbs.), Snow, and Brett Frase (5’ 9”, 160 lbs.); along with juniors Dakota Hagler (6’ 1”, 260), Johnathan Rockwell (6’ 1”, 220 lbs.), Damien Redditt (5’ 11”, 180 lbs.), Hayden Holmes (6’, 185 lbs.), and Colton Gage (5’ 9”, 170 lbs.).
“Our defense is going to surprise some people,” Traylor predicted.
Opponents Preview
The Buckeyes pre-district schedule is a potential minefield. For the second straight season, Gilmer will start off with an out-of-state opponent, when the Richwood, Louisiana Rams travel to Buckeye Stadium on Aug. 31. The Rams finished with an 8-5 record after losing in the Louisiana Class 3A Quarterfinals.
“The opener is huge, because it’s your opener. It’s at home and we’re ready to get the Liberty-Eylau loss off,” said Traylor.
Gilmer will turn right around and take on two-time defending Texas state champion Tatum the next week in the opening game of the East Texas Football Classic in Tyler.
“Those two are the most important ones to me,” admitted Traylor. “I am excited about playing them because they will prepare us to play Liberty-Eylau.”
The Buckeyes will return home to Buckeye Stadium to host the Daingerfield Tigers and the Atlanta Rabbits, with an open week and a road game in Center between the two home games. “If we don’t win those first two; the Daingerfield and Atlanta games take on a whole other magnitude,” warned Traylor.
The pre-district schedule ends with a trip to Center to take on the Rough Riders.
The Buckeyes enter District 15-AAA play as overwhelming favorites to capture their 7th consecutive undefeated district championship. That quest starts at Sabine on Oct. 12 and ends at home against Gladewater on Nov. 10. In between, the Buckeyes will travel to White Oak and Spring Hill, and host Mineola.
Traylor points to the final two district games as crucial contests for his team. “To me, it’s Gladewater and Spring Hill,” said Traylor. “Those two teams have the ability to beat us.”
Then on Nov. 16 the dash will come to an end, and Traylor and his team will get their chance at redemption. “I really like this team,” Traylor confirmed. “Is that going to be enough to get over the hump and beat Liberty-Eylau? I don’t know.”
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
BUCKEYE VARSITY members for 2007 include, from left, front row, Lamar Harris, Zach Jones, Houston Tuminello, Devane Clark, Matt Dodd, Tristin Holt, Vance Green, Jake Ashley, Darian Godfrey, Paul Chesnut, Brennan Thompson; second row, D.J. Stanley, Dustin Jones, Hunter Harrison, Ross Stevens, Kyle Bowden, Kendrick Starling, Ben Griffith, Kedon Franklin, Brett Frase, Justin Johnson, Matt Potter; third row, Shaquille Ector, Braylon Webb, Tyrone Fort, Cord Dyer, Josh Thompson, Joseph Crocker, Jeremy Jackson, Damien Redditt, Mikey Wilson, Sam Trevino, Michael Pierson; fourth row, Colton Gage, Adam Martin, David Smith, Tyler Tucker, Aaron Borens, Chip Elms, Jacob Ramsey, Jared Harborth; fifth row, Hayden Holmes, Dakota Hagler, Daniel Jenkins, Cody Lee, Garrett Adkins, Kirby Spencer, Clayton Hampton; sixth row, David Snow, Daniel McClaren, Cody Kern, Michael Nuckolls, Marquis Carr, Tevon Godfrey, Arsenio Elder and Justin Fielden. Not shown is Jonathan Rockwell.
At the end of the Gilmer Buckeyes final preseason scrimmage, head coach Jeff Traylor stood in front of his kneeling players and reminded them that they had 85 days remaining to reach their off-season focus.
What? Wasn’t the Buckeyes’ regular season opener only eight days away?
“That’s the first playoff game,” explained Traylor. “And I would hope that our program is to the point now that we would expect to be in the playoffs.”
Expectations are something that Traylor knows all about. His 2006 team started the season ranked number one in Class 3A. Buckeyes quarterback G.J. Kinne was on the cover of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine. Nothing less than a state championship was expected.
The Buckeyes responded with a 10-0 regular season record. On Nov. 17, the unexpected happened. Gilmer lost in the first round of the playoffs to eventual state champion Liberty-Eylau.
“We started counting down the days we got to play Liberty-Eylau again the day after,” admitted Traylor. “People are still talking about Nov. 17, and how terrible it was that night. And we’re going to play them again Nov. 16, and people are going to talk about that day. Who’s going to win that night will be determined by who does the most in the time between.”
That time between games would become the inspiration for this season’s team motto, “The Dash.”
“Coach [Alan] Metzel’s father George passed away in January,” explained Traylor. “And I was at the funeral where they read the poem “The Dash.” People talked about the day he was born and the day that he died. But it was the dash in the middle that really defines a man’s life.”
Traylor was inspired, and the team’s motto was born. “It was a way we could honor George Metzel and raise [the players] focus every day in practice so we’ll play well that night.”
This isn’t the first time Traylor’s Buckeyes have started a season following a disappointing one. Gilmer’s 2003 squad had a 13-0 record before losing to eventual state champion Atlanta. The unranked 2004 team responded with a perfect 16-0 season and the school’s first state championship. “You would have never thought that team was going to win it; and they did,” recalled Traylor.
Can this year’s team repeat that accomplishment? “I hope,” replied Traylor who cautioned that this year’s team, like last season’s team, has a much harder playoff road.
That’s one of the few similarities from last season’s team. Gone is the number one ranking and the cover of Texas Football, along with the notoriety that comes with it. “The media attention has just disappeared, as compared to last year,” stated Traylor.
The Buckeyes are not quite invisible though, as their 7th place pre-season ranking proves. “This is still the highest we’ve ever been ranked besides from last year,” Traylor noted. “We’re used to it now; we weren’t used to it [last year].”
Offensive Preview
Gilmer’s ranking is in part because of Traylor’s 71-14 record in his seven seasons at his alma mater, and in part because of the Buckeyes’ highly recruited senior class, which includes five players who have committed to play football at major colleges.
All five players are starters on offense. Running back and Oklahoma commitment Justin Johnson (6’1”, 215 lbs.) returns after rushing for 1,040 yards and 11 touchdowns on only 94 carries. Johnson added another 366 yards and 5 touchdowns on 16 receptions. Leading the way for Johnson on the offensive line are Texas commit David Snow (6’4”, 305 lbs.), and Missouri commit Daniel Jenkins (6’5”, 280 lbs.).
Lamar Harris (6’1”, 185 lbs.), a Texas A&M commitment, returns as the team’s leading receiver after catching 46 passes for 748 yards and a school record 14 touchdowns. Transfer Houston Tuminello (6’, 180 lbs.), who has committed to Louisiana Tech, comes to Gilmer after catching 98 passes for 2,069 yards and 22 touchdowns last season for Colleyville Covenant, including a state record 371 receiving yards in one game. Buckeye fans may remember Tuminello as the sophomore receiver that scorched Gilmer for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Buckeyes loss to Canton two years ago.
“We’re going to always score points,” stated Traylor, whose 2006 team lead all schools in the state of Texas with a scoring average of 55 points per game. The Buckeyes racked up 3,468 yards through the air and 2,186 yards on the ground, with a balanced attack of 269 passes and 271 rushes for the season.
“That’s too much for me. That’s too much passing and not enough running,” Traylor complained. “I’ve always wanted to be 65 percent run and 35 percent pass, with 50-50 on yardage. I think that’s perfect football.”
Traylor’s 2007 offense may be forced to keep it on the ground, as sophomore Darian “Stump” Godfrey (6’1”, 195 lbs.) takes over the reins at quarterback after seeing mop-up duty as a freshman last season. Godfrey was impressive running the ball, gaining 198 yards and scoring 2 touchdowns on only 19 carries. His passing experience was limited to 10 completions in 15 attempts for 180 yards and 2 more touchdowns.
“I’ve been real proud of Stump. We’ve thrown a lot at that kid. He’s really stepped up,” stated Traylor, who added that a veteran receiving corps led by Tuminello will really help Godfrey improve. “You don’t have to be so accurate. You just get the ball near him. He’s as good as I’ve ever seen at catching a football.”
Defensive Preview
Despite allowing only 17 points per game in 2006, the Buckeyes’ defense has been highly criticized. “I personally get tired of the rap that we don’t play good defense,” said Traylor, who came to the defense of his unit. “We score so much, the other coach totally changes the way he calls his plays. He’s not calling just to run the clock. He’s thinking these guys are going to score every time. I’ve got to score every time. So that lends itself to a different kind of ball game.”
It also lends itself to the defense being on the field a lot. Last season the Buckeyes defense played 327 of the team’s 528 total minutes. That meant a lot of playing time for Gilmer’s reserves, and that will become valuable this season, as the Buckeyes return only two starters on defense.
Junior cornerback Zach Jones (5’9”, 160 lbs.), and senior cornerback Dustin Jones (5’ 10”, 170 lbs.) are the lone starters returning. They will be joined in the secondary by Lamar Harris, along with juniors Devane Clark (5’ 10”, 170 lbs.) and D.J. Stanley (5’ 10”, 160 lbs.), and sophomores Tristin Holt (5’ 9”, 170 lbs.), Braylon Webb (6’, 170 lbs.), and Paul Chesnut (5’ 9”, 170 lbs.).
Justin Johnson should see considerable time at linebacker, along with seniors Ross Stevens (6’ 1”, 180 lbs.), Brennan Thompson (6’, 205 lbs.), and Cord Dyer (5’ 10”, 160 lbs.). Juniors Josh Thompson (5’ 10”, 175 lbs.), and Kendrick Starling (5” 11”, 215 lbs.), along with sophomores Vance Green (5’ 10”, 185), Mikey Wilson (5’ 10”, 175 lbs.), and Kedon Franklin (5’ 9”, 170 lbs.) round out the linebacking corps.
Several players are expected to rotate in the defensive line, including seniors David Smith (5’ 11”, 200 lbs.), Snow, and Brett Frase (5’ 9”, 160 lbs.); along with juniors Dakota Hagler (6’ 1”, 260), Johnathan Rockwell (6’ 1”, 220 lbs.), Damien Redditt (5’ 11”, 180 lbs.), Hayden Holmes (6’, 185 lbs.), and Colton Gage (5’ 9”, 170 lbs.).
“Our defense is going to surprise some people,” Traylor predicted.
Opponents Preview
The Buckeyes pre-district schedule is a potential minefield. For the second straight season, Gilmer will start off with an out-of-state opponent, when the Richwood, Louisiana Rams travel to Buckeye Stadium on Aug. 31. The Rams finished with an 8-5 record after losing in the Louisiana Class 3A Quarterfinals.
“The opener is huge, because it’s your opener. It’s at home and we’re ready to get the Liberty-Eylau loss off,” said Traylor.
Gilmer will turn right around and take on two-time defending Texas state champion Tatum the next week in the opening game of the East Texas Football Classic in Tyler.
“Those two are the most important ones to me,” admitted Traylor. “I am excited about playing them because they will prepare us to play Liberty-Eylau.”
The Buckeyes will return home to Buckeye Stadium to host the Daingerfield Tigers and the Atlanta Rabbits, with an open week and a road game in Center between the two home games. “If we don’t win those first two; the Daingerfield and Atlanta games take on a whole other magnitude,” warned Traylor.
The pre-district schedule ends with a trip to Center to take on the Rough Riders.
The Buckeyes enter District 15-AAA play as overwhelming favorites to capture their 7th consecutive undefeated district championship. That quest starts at Sabine on Oct. 12 and ends at home against Gladewater on Nov. 10. In between, the Buckeyes will travel to White Oak and Spring Hill, and host Mineola.
Traylor points to the final two district games as crucial contests for his team. “To me, it’s Gladewater and Spring Hill,” said Traylor. “Those two teams have the ability to beat us.”
Then on Nov. 16 the dash will come to an end, and Traylor and his team will get their chance at redemption. “I really like this team,” Traylor confirmed. “Is that going to be enough to get over the hump and beat Liberty-Eylau? I don’t know.”
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
BUCKEYE VARSITY members for 2007 include, from left, front row, Lamar Harris, Zach Jones, Houston Tuminello, Devane Clark, Matt Dodd, Tristin Holt, Vance Green, Jake Ashley, Darian Godfrey, Paul Chesnut, Brennan Thompson; second row, D.J. Stanley, Dustin Jones, Hunter Harrison, Ross Stevens, Kyle Bowden, Kendrick Starling, Ben Griffith, Kedon Franklin, Brett Frase, Justin Johnson, Matt Potter; third row, Shaquille Ector, Braylon Webb, Tyrone Fort, Cord Dyer, Josh Thompson, Joseph Crocker, Jeremy Jackson, Damien Redditt, Mikey Wilson, Sam Trevino, Michael Pierson; fourth row, Colton Gage, Adam Martin, David Smith, Tyler Tucker, Aaron Borens, Chip Elms, Jacob Ramsey, Jared Harborth; fifth row, Hayden Holmes, Dakota Hagler, Daniel Jenkins, Cody Lee, Garrett Adkins, Kirby Spencer, Clayton Hampton; sixth row, David Snow, Daniel McClaren, Cody Kern, Michael Nuckolls, Marquis Carr, Tevon Godfrey, Arsenio Elder and Justin Fielden. Not shown is Jonathan Rockwell.
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