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Buckeyes' scrimmage reveals concerns

By JOE DODD

Gilmer Buckeyes' head coach Jeff Traylor warns Buckeyes' fans to not read too much into Gilmer's 5-0 touchdown margin over the Atlanta Rabbits in Saturday's (Aug. 16) scrimmage.

“I was a little disappointed,” admitted Traylor. “We were sloppier than I thought we were going to be. We just didn't execute very well; we weren't very crisp.”

The Buckeyes' first string offense faced the Rabbits first string defense the first 20 plays of the controlled scrimmage. Gilmer managed 162 total yards and a touchdown when returning junior quarterback Stump Godfrey hit Zack Jones on a 55-yard pass on the eighth play.

The Buckeyes also suffered three turnovers in their first 10 plays; two fumbles and one interception on a tipped pass.

“All three of them you can attribute to lack of concentration;” said Traylor. “So we hope that we can clean that up. Obviously that is a huge concern.” Another concern for Traylor was the play of his defense, which gave up 90 rushing yards on only 12 carries.

“Defensively, we didn't run to the ball very well; we didn't tackle very well. We just looked pretty soft,” Traylor stated.

Soft is not how to describe the next 34 plays of the scrimmage which pitted the second-string players from both teams. Gilmer dominated that portion of the scrimmage, gaining 336 yards and scoring four touchdowns in only 19 plays, while Atlanta could only manage 26 yards on 15 plays.

The Buckeyes' back-up quarterbacks, junior Braylon Webb and freshman Luke Turner combined for 242 yards on 9 of 12 passes with 3 touchdowns. Webb hit Ben Griffith from 53 yards out, and Prentiss Bell on a 34-yard touchdown, while Turner found Zack Jones on a 54-yard touchdown throw on his very first varsity snap. Marlon Granville had a 70-yard touchdown run for the Buckeyes to round out the scoring.

“We've got great depth. Our two's were significantly better than their two's. But our one's were even,” reminded Traylor, who is counting on his players to make the necessary changes. “I've got a bunch of great kids that want to be good. They'll be fine, I just don't know when they will be fine.”

With their opening game of the season only a week ahead, and a strong pre-district schedule looming, Traylor is worried. “We've got a lot to do, and not much time to get good, but we've got to. We've just got to hurry because we're playing some really good people very soon.”




Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
GILMER’S ZACK JONES, right, heads up field on his 55-yard touchdown run with an escort of Paul Chesnut, left, and Hunter Harrison. Gilmer scrimmaged with Atlanta Saturday under the watchful eye of Buckeye fans. The scrimmage was moved here from Atlanta’s grass field because of the inclement weather forecast.

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