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Buckeyes start ‘Murderer’s row’ schedule with Liberty-Eylau

By JOE DODD

The Gilmer Buckeyes might be 2-0 on the season, having outscored their opponents by an average of 67-25, but head coach Jeff Traylor knows that his young team has not been seriously challenged yet.

That will change over the next three games when the Buckeyes face Liberty-Eylau, Kilgore, and Daingerfield. “It's a murderer's row,” said Traylor. “The last time we played a stretch this tough would be 2003 when we played Daingerfield, Celina, Tatum, and Atlanta right in a row in the playoffs.”

“We really respect all three of these next opponents,” explained Traylor. “We're excited about it, we really are. We know it's going to be a hard stretch. We'll know when we get through with that Daingerfield game exactly where we are.”

The Leopards, Bulldogs, and Tigers have a combined 5-1 record on the season, and the Buckeyes must travel to both Kilgore and Daingerfield after hosting Liberty-Eylau Friday night at Buckeye Stadium.

The Leopards and Buckeyes are familiar foes, having met in the first round of the playoffs the past two seasons. In 2006, Liberty-Eylau upset number-one ranked Gilmer 39-36 on their way to a Class 3A-Division I state championship. In 2007, the Buckeyes returned the favor, knocking the Leopards out 41-26, before eventually losing in the championship game.

“We've kind of built up a little bit of a rivalry,” said Liberty-Eylau head coach Pat Brady, who is 36-17 in his fifth season as the Leopards' head coach. “Our kids have a lot of respect for Gilmer and their program.”

While Gilmer has dominated their first two opponents, Liberty-Eylau has struggled to a 1-1 record with a 35-28 win over North Lamar and a 27-13 loss to Mt. Pleasant. “We're young and inexperienced with a lot of talent, but right now we haven't shown ourselves to be a very good football team,” admitted Brady.

“They're going to play a lot better against us,” Traylor promised. “We all know L-E; no matter what their record is, they're talented and they're playing Gilmer so they're going to be up.”

Traylor also knows that the intimidation factor that the Buckeyes have against most opponents is not a factor for the Leopards. “They definitely aren't scared of us,” stated Traylor.

Brady confirmed Traylor's statement. “Are we intimidated by Gilmer? No. Do we respect Gilmer? Absolutely,” Brady replied. “When we are not making mistakes and playing good football, we can play with anybody in 3A in the state of Texas.”

Traylor said the Leopards' two state titles in the past nine years is proof enough. “They have the talent, that when they play their best they're hard to beat.”

Liberty-Eylau returns 11 starters from last year's team, and Traylor expects the same type of team that the Buckeyes have played the last two seasons. “They're always really good on defense,” stated Traylor. “They have two division one recruits at defensive tackles, and their secondary can just fly.”

Senior tackles Charles Rigsby (6-1, 281) and Keith Cross ( 6-0, 245) anchor the defense, while the secondary consists of three seniors, Daveon Willis (5-11, 161), Brandon Baker (5-9, 165), and T.Q Lowe (5-11, 161) and one junior, Kendrick Ray (5-7, 141).

“Offensively, their difference maker this year is a kid named Marquez Clark (5-10, 165) ,” said Traylor. “He's a great player.” In the Leopards’ win over North Lamar, the junior receiver returned a kickoff 78 yards for a touchdown in the first half, and took the opening snap of the second half 67 yards for a touchdown on an end-around play.

Brady was quick to return the praise to Traylor's Buckeyes. “I think that it may be a better Gilmer football team overall than the one we played last year,” stated Brady. Last year's team pounded the football down the Leopards' throat; rushing for 338 yards on 51 carries, while only attempting 7 passes.

Brady expects the Buckeyes to have a more balanced offense out of necessity this season. “From what I've seen, they look big and good on the offensive line, but I don't care how good they are, you can't tell me their offensive line could be as good as it was last year.”

After watching the Gilmer offense score 13 touchdowns in three-play drives or less in their first two games, Traylor believes he knows what the Leopards will do Friday night. “I expect them to have a game plan where they're going to try to keep the ball from us; keep our offense on the sideline. That's how they win anyway; that's what their game plan is.

Brady's game plan is even simpler that that. “We've got to outscore them. That's the only way I've ever seen them beat,” deadpanned Brady, who did say, “Every time we have the ball, we need to get points. Whether it's six, three, seven; every time we touch the ball we need to come away with points. And obviously we need to make sure that somewhere down the line, Gilmer does not.”

“If we play good enough, then we're going to win the football game,” stated Brady.
“We know that the first game went down to the wire and last year's game went down to the wire, and this one will too,” predicted Traylor.

One thing that will be different this year than the previous two meetings between these teams, is that the loser's season will not be over. “The pressure of if you lose, you're done is gone. It's obviously not the pressure of a playoff game,” said Brady. “I think both teams can kind of relax and have a little bit more fun. Just relax and play football.”

Game Notes

• Gilmer is 3-11-0 all-time against Liberty-Eylau
• Gilmer has a 26-game home winning streak (last loss: 14-7 to Pine Tree in 2002)
• Gilmer has a 26-game regular season winning streak (last loss: 26-17 at Daingerfield Sep. 30, 2005)
• Jeff Traylor's 87 career wins at Gilmer is 2nd all-time
• Traylor needs 3 wins to pass Henry McClelland as Gilmer's career wins leader
• Gilmer QB Stump Godfrey needs 3 touchdown passes to pass G.J. Kinne for 2nd place in school history
• Gilmer QB Stump Godfrey needs 4 touchdown passes to pass Manuel Johnson and become Gilmer's career leader in touchdown passes
• Gilmer QB Stump Godfrey needs 462 passing yards to pass G.J. Kinne for 3rd place in school history
• Gilmer QB Stump Godfrey needs 476 total yards to pass Jamell Kennedy for 4th place in school history
• Gilmer is 56-1 in their last 57 regular season games

Bounty Hunter of the Week: Tamil Harris
Special Teams Player of the Week: Paul Chesnut
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week: Cory Davis
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week: Marquelan Tate



GILMER’S J.T. BEECHAM turns a 3rd-and-19 pass in the flat into a 54-yard scoring dash down the west sidelines for the Buckeyes first touchdown against Rains last week.

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