By JOE DODD
Thirty-four members of the 2007 Gilmer Buckeyes were recently selected to the District 15-3A All-District football team, as postseason honors began to pour in for the Class 3A Division I state finalists.
“I remember when I was a kid; it was very important to make all-district,” said Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor. “I know how hard they work to get these honors.”
The Buckeyes swept all six superlative honors on the team that was selected by the district coaches. Senior running back Justin Johnson was named the district’s Most Valuable Player. Senior offensive lineman David Snow was selected the offensive MVP. Senior linebackers Ross Stevens and Brennan Thompson shared defensive MVP honors.
Sophomore quarterback Darian Godfrey captured Offensive Newcomer honors, while sophomore safeties Paul Chesnut and Braylon Webb shared Defensive Newcomer honors. Traylor and the Buckeyes’ coaching staff was named the coaching staff of the year.
Johnson finished the season with 2,171 yards and 25 touchdowns rushing on 203 carries, while catching 18 passes for 216 yards and four touchdowns.
“I was very happy for him,” Traylor said. “You are talking about a guy that only carried the ball as much as he should have in the playoffs. He’s shared the carries with another running back every year. His sophomore year he shared it with Trumaine Finch, his junior year he shared it with Josh Thompson, and his senior year he shared it with Jeremy Jackson. I was very happy for him to be so unselfish and get the MVP award.”
Snow, a 4-year starter, cleared the way for a school record 702 points on the season, as the Buckeyes offense racked up 7,100 total yards. “I was happy to see an ofensive lineman as the offensive MVP; I think that’s unique. I thought he was well deserving of that,” said Traylor.
Stevens led Gilmer with 140 tackles, while Thompson totaled 96 tackles for the Black Flag Defense that held five district opponents to only 38 points, as Gilmer won their seventh consecutive district championship. “Ross and Brennan are two kids that have been absolutely dedicated to the program since they day they started here,” stated Traylor. “They have worked their tails off.”
Godfrey, the first sophomore to start at quarterback under Traylor, passed for 2,727 yards and 38 touchdowns with only 4 interceptions, while completing more than 63 percent of his passes. Godfrey also rushed for 617 yards and 13 touchdowns on 124 carries.
“I was very happy for him for that. He’s worked extremely hard to be the quarterback,” said Traylor.
Chesnut and Webb highlighted an impressive sophomore class that helped the Buckeyes’ defense force 38 turnovers on the season while recording 2 shutouts in 15 games. “The future looks bright with sophomores like Paul and Braylon,” Traylor admitted.
Traylor improved his record to 85-15 as the Buckeyes’ head coach while Gilmer improved their consecutive district winning streak to 34 games and their home winning streak to 25 games.
“They understand that the reason they win these awards is because we win all these games,” explained Traylor. “When you win you get individual honors. If you don’t win, you don’t get individual honors.”
1st Team Offense
Lamar Harris, Sr. Receiver
Houston Tuminello, Sr. Receiver
Garrett Adkins, Sr. Tackle
Chip Elms, Sr. Center
Cody Lee, Sr. Guard
Daniel Jenkins, Sr. Tackle
1st Team Defense
David Smith, Sr. Tackle
Dakota Hagler, Jr. Tackle
Mikey Wilson, So. Linebacker
Vance Green, So. Linebacker
Devane Clark, Jr. Cornerback
Zack Jones, Jr. Cornerback
Houston Tuminello, Sr.
Punt Returner
2nd Team Offense
Jeremy Jackson, So.
Running Back
Justin Fielden, Sr. Tight End
Paul Chesnut, So. Receiver
Hunter Harrison, Jr. Receiver
Adan Olivares, Fr. Kicker
2nd Team Defense
Damien Redditt, Sr. Tackle
Jonathan Rockwell, Jr. Tackle
Kendrick Starling, Sr. Linebacker
Tristan Holt, So. Safety
Honorable Mention
Jake Ashley, Sr.
Dustin Jones, Sr.
Hayden Holmes, Jr.
Jacob Ramsey, Jr.
Marlin Granville, So.
Brett Frase, Sr.
Michael Pearson, Sr.
Ben Griffith, So.
D.J. Stanley, Jr.
Thirty-four members of the 2007 Gilmer Buckeyes were recently selected to the District 15-3A All-District football team, as postseason honors began to pour in for the Class 3A Division I state finalists.
“I remember when I was a kid; it was very important to make all-district,” said Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor. “I know how hard they work to get these honors.”
The Buckeyes swept all six superlative honors on the team that was selected by the district coaches. Senior running back Justin Johnson was named the district’s Most Valuable Player. Senior offensive lineman David Snow was selected the offensive MVP. Senior linebackers Ross Stevens and Brennan Thompson shared defensive MVP honors.
Sophomore quarterback Darian Godfrey captured Offensive Newcomer honors, while sophomore safeties Paul Chesnut and Braylon Webb shared Defensive Newcomer honors. Traylor and the Buckeyes’ coaching staff was named the coaching staff of the year.
Johnson finished the season with 2,171 yards and 25 touchdowns rushing on 203 carries, while catching 18 passes for 216 yards and four touchdowns.
“I was very happy for him,” Traylor said. “You are talking about a guy that only carried the ball as much as he should have in the playoffs. He’s shared the carries with another running back every year. His sophomore year he shared it with Trumaine Finch, his junior year he shared it with Josh Thompson, and his senior year he shared it with Jeremy Jackson. I was very happy for him to be so unselfish and get the MVP award.”
Snow, a 4-year starter, cleared the way for a school record 702 points on the season, as the Buckeyes offense racked up 7,100 total yards. “I was happy to see an ofensive lineman as the offensive MVP; I think that’s unique. I thought he was well deserving of that,” said Traylor.
Stevens led Gilmer with 140 tackles, while Thompson totaled 96 tackles for the Black Flag Defense that held five district opponents to only 38 points, as Gilmer won their seventh consecutive district championship. “Ross and Brennan are two kids that have been absolutely dedicated to the program since they day they started here,” stated Traylor. “They have worked their tails off.”
Godfrey, the first sophomore to start at quarterback under Traylor, passed for 2,727 yards and 38 touchdowns with only 4 interceptions, while completing more than 63 percent of his passes. Godfrey also rushed for 617 yards and 13 touchdowns on 124 carries.
“I was very happy for him for that. He’s worked extremely hard to be the quarterback,” said Traylor.
Chesnut and Webb highlighted an impressive sophomore class that helped the Buckeyes’ defense force 38 turnovers on the season while recording 2 shutouts in 15 games. “The future looks bright with sophomores like Paul and Braylon,” Traylor admitted.
Traylor improved his record to 85-15 as the Buckeyes’ head coach while Gilmer improved their consecutive district winning streak to 34 games and their home winning streak to 25 games.
“They understand that the reason they win these awards is because we win all these games,” explained Traylor. “When you win you get individual honors. If you don’t win, you don’t get individual honors.”
1st Team Offense
Lamar Harris, Sr. Receiver
Houston Tuminello, Sr. Receiver
Garrett Adkins, Sr. Tackle
Chip Elms, Sr. Center
Cody Lee, Sr. Guard
Daniel Jenkins, Sr. Tackle
1st Team Defense
David Smith, Sr. Tackle
Dakota Hagler, Jr. Tackle
Mikey Wilson, So. Linebacker
Vance Green, So. Linebacker
Devane Clark, Jr. Cornerback
Zack Jones, Jr. Cornerback
Houston Tuminello, Sr.
Punt Returner
2nd Team Offense
Jeremy Jackson, So.
Running Back
Justin Fielden, Sr. Tight End
Paul Chesnut, So. Receiver
Hunter Harrison, Jr. Receiver
Adan Olivares, Fr. Kicker
2nd Team Defense
Damien Redditt, Sr. Tackle
Jonathan Rockwell, Jr. Tackle
Kendrick Starling, Sr. Linebacker
Tristan Holt, So. Safety
Honorable Mention
Jake Ashley, Sr.
Dustin Jones, Sr.
Hayden Holmes, Jr.
Jacob Ramsey, Jr.
Marlin Granville, So.
Brett Frase, Sr.
Michael Pearson, Sr.
Ben Griffith, So.
D.J. Stanley, Jr.
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