From the Longview News-Journal:
Buckeyes battle past Leopards
From the Tyler Morning Telegraph:
Gilmer Earns 28-14 Win
From The Gilmer Mirror:
By JOE DODD
The Gilmer Buckeyes' Black Flag Defense limited the Liberty-Eylau Leopards to only two scoring drives, while forcing three turnovers, as Gilmer outlasted the Leopards 28-14 to win their 27th consecutive home game at Buckeye Stadium.
The win was also Gilmer's 27th regular season victory in a row, and came despite the Buckeyes' offense struggling to their lowest point total in a regular season game since 2005.
“We had a very off game. We weren't focused from the start,” admitted Gilmer running back Jeremy Jackson, who rushed for 99 yards on 12 carries, but was held scoreless for the first game this season. “Our defense did a great job though, that's how we won the game.”
“Maybe this will give some people a chance to appreciate how good we do play on defense,” agreed Buckeyes' head coach Jeff Traylor, who saw his Buckeyes defeat Liberty-Eylau for the second straight season.
“They're a lot more athletic on defense this year,” complemented Leopards' head coach Pat Brady.
It was Gilmer's defense that came up with the game's first big play when linebacker Mikey Wilson intercepted the Leopards' Alex Watson on Liberty-Eylau's first possession, and gave the football to the Buckeyes' offense at the Gilmer 38-yard line.
“I don't know if I've ever coached a kid that has ever gotten interceptions in three consecutive games,” marveled Traylor about Wilson, who finished the game with 8 tackles and 5 assists to go along with his third interception of the season.
The Buckeyes' offense could not take advantage of the turnover, giving the ball back to the Leopards at their own 47-yard line just four plays later after a fumbled snap on fourth down.
Nine plays, and nine rushes later, Liberty-Eylau's Bryce Thomas scored from two yards out with 2:07 remaining in the opening quarter. Andrew Morsmen's extra point kick was good for a 7-0 Leopards lead.
The Buckeyes' offense came to life on their next possession, as quarterback Stump Godfrey completed three straight passes to Jackson, Prentiss Bell, and Braylon Webb for big gains before capping off the 60-yard scoring drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Following a penalty against the Leopards' defense on the extra-point attempt, Godfrey ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-7 lead with only 56 seconds left in the first quarter.
Following Liberty-Eylau's kickoff return to their own 32-yard line, Gilmer's defense gave the offense another huge opportunity when three defenders swarmed Watson in the backfield, forcing a fumble recovered by Wilson at the Leopards' own 25-yard line.
But once again, the Buckeyes' offense couldn't take advantage of the great field position. An incomplete pass, a penalty and an errant pitch on an option play forced Gilmer backwards 20 yards before a 25-yard pass from Godfrey to Paul Chesnut gave the Buckeyes a fourth and five yards from the Leopards' 20-yard line. Godfrey's fourth down pass to Daniel McLaren was good for only four yards, so Liberty-Eylau took possession at their own 16-yard line.
“Our intensity has not been real good this past week on offense,” explained Traylor. “It does not surprise me that we did not execute real well because we did not execute real well in practice.”
Gilmer's defense came to the rescue again, limiting the Leopards to only one yard on their next series, giving the football back to the offense after a 26-yard punt.
This time the Buckeyes' offense responded, but not before losing six yards on the first two plays. On third and 16, Godfrey hit Hunter Harrison at the 35-yard line, allowing the senior receiver to weave his way around defenders for a 49-yard touchdown. Adan Olivares kicked the extra point for a 15-7 Gilmer lead with 7:20 to play in the first half.
“That catch by Hunter Harrison was probably one of the biggest plays of the ball game,” stated Traylor.
Buoyed by the Buckeyes' score, the defense stopped the Leopards again on their next series, forcing Liberty-Eylau backwards one yard before T. Q. Lowe got off a punt that rolled to the Buckeyes' 20-yard line.
Gilmer's offense gave the ball right back to the Leopards three plays later when Godfrey was intercepted at the Leopards' 48-yard line.
“Dropped passes, inopportune penalties, fumbled snaps; we just kept doing something to slow us down,” said a frustrated Traylor, who credited his defense for the victory. “We put them in some bad situations a lot of times, and they just kept bailing us out.”
Energized by the short field, Liberty-Eylau drove the football down to the Buckeyes' 12-yard line before Gilmer's defense stiffened, stopping the Leopards on fourth down and giving the ball back to the offense at their own 8-yard line.
'“We knew the defense was going to have to win the game,” said Buckeyes' linebacker Vance Green, who had 5 tackles and 9 assists. ''We've got to help the offense by stopping them and get the offense back on the field.”
The Buckeyes' offense advanced the ball all the way to the Liberty-Eylau 25-yard line before time ran out in the first half.
The Leopards started the second half with a questionable decision when they attempted an onside kick that Gilmer's McLaren recovered at the Liberty-Eylau 49-yard line. After a one yard loss on the first play, Jackson broke loose for a 49-yard run to the 1-yard line. Godfrey spun his way into the end zone on the next play for a 22-7 lead only 57 seconds into the second half.
“I thought Jeremy Jackson's run to start off the third quarter was big to get the momentum back,” Traylor said.
The momentum didn't stay with the Buckeyes for long, as the Leopards took their first possession of the second half and marched 72 yards on 9 running plays, scoring on a Tra Carson 4-yard run with 7:00 left in the third quarter to shorten Gilmer's lead to 22-14.
That would be the final time the Leopards would score, as Gilmer's defense held Liberty-Eylau to only 91 yards on their final three possessions, and forced another Leopards turnover that set up the game-clinching touchdown.
Braylon Webb would get the turnover and the touchdown, when he intercepted Watson's pass with 4:21 to play in the game and returned it to the Leopards' 22-yard line. After Gilmer's offense stalled at the 21-yard line, Webb came in to hold the ball for Olivares' 38-yard field goal attempt. The snap from center was high, forcing Webb to scramble. The junior looked trapped in the backfield, but alluded the tackler, then looked up to his left and noticed a wall of Buckeye blockers and followed them into the end zone for a touchdown with only 2:37 left in the game. Olivares' extra point kick was wide, leaving the score 28-14.
“Webb's interception at the end broke their back,” said Traylor. “It was a great win for us because we know how talented Liberty-Eylau is.”
“This was what I expected,” stated Brady after the close game. “I wish them luck, but I hope that we don't have to play each other again.”
Traylor shared Brady's sentiments about meeting the Leopards for the third straight year in the playoffs, but was glad for this regular season meeting. “This game does us a lot of good because you're playing such good players, you can evaluate really where you're strong and really where you're weak.”
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
BUCKEYES CREATE a Leopard sandwich as Luis Castro, Braylon Webb, D.J. Stanley, Marlon Granville and Paul Chesnut converge on the L-E running back.
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Buckeyes battle past Leopards
From the Tyler Morning Telegraph:
Gilmer Earns 28-14 Win
From The Gilmer Mirror:
Defense key in win for Buckeyes
By JOE DODD
The Gilmer Buckeyes' Black Flag Defense limited the Liberty-Eylau Leopards to only two scoring drives, while forcing three turnovers, as Gilmer outlasted the Leopards 28-14 to win their 27th consecutive home game at Buckeye Stadium.
The win was also Gilmer's 27th regular season victory in a row, and came despite the Buckeyes' offense struggling to their lowest point total in a regular season game since 2005.
“We had a very off game. We weren't focused from the start,” admitted Gilmer running back Jeremy Jackson, who rushed for 99 yards on 12 carries, but was held scoreless for the first game this season. “Our defense did a great job though, that's how we won the game.”
“Maybe this will give some people a chance to appreciate how good we do play on defense,” agreed Buckeyes' head coach Jeff Traylor, who saw his Buckeyes defeat Liberty-Eylau for the second straight season.
“They're a lot more athletic on defense this year,” complemented Leopards' head coach Pat Brady.
It was Gilmer's defense that came up with the game's first big play when linebacker Mikey Wilson intercepted the Leopards' Alex Watson on Liberty-Eylau's first possession, and gave the football to the Buckeyes' offense at the Gilmer 38-yard line.
“I don't know if I've ever coached a kid that has ever gotten interceptions in three consecutive games,” marveled Traylor about Wilson, who finished the game with 8 tackles and 5 assists to go along with his third interception of the season.
The Buckeyes' offense could not take advantage of the turnover, giving the ball back to the Leopards at their own 47-yard line just four plays later after a fumbled snap on fourth down.
Nine plays, and nine rushes later, Liberty-Eylau's Bryce Thomas scored from two yards out with 2:07 remaining in the opening quarter. Andrew Morsmen's extra point kick was good for a 7-0 Leopards lead.
The Buckeyes' offense came to life on their next possession, as quarterback Stump Godfrey completed three straight passes to Jackson, Prentiss Bell, and Braylon Webb for big gains before capping off the 60-yard scoring drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Following a penalty against the Leopards' defense on the extra-point attempt, Godfrey ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-7 lead with only 56 seconds left in the first quarter.
Following Liberty-Eylau's kickoff return to their own 32-yard line, Gilmer's defense gave the offense another huge opportunity when three defenders swarmed Watson in the backfield, forcing a fumble recovered by Wilson at the Leopards' own 25-yard line.
But once again, the Buckeyes' offense couldn't take advantage of the great field position. An incomplete pass, a penalty and an errant pitch on an option play forced Gilmer backwards 20 yards before a 25-yard pass from Godfrey to Paul Chesnut gave the Buckeyes a fourth and five yards from the Leopards' 20-yard line. Godfrey's fourth down pass to Daniel McLaren was good for only four yards, so Liberty-Eylau took possession at their own 16-yard line.
“Our intensity has not been real good this past week on offense,” explained Traylor. “It does not surprise me that we did not execute real well because we did not execute real well in practice.”
Gilmer's defense came to the rescue again, limiting the Leopards to only one yard on their next series, giving the football back to the offense after a 26-yard punt.
This time the Buckeyes' offense responded, but not before losing six yards on the first two plays. On third and 16, Godfrey hit Hunter Harrison at the 35-yard line, allowing the senior receiver to weave his way around defenders for a 49-yard touchdown. Adan Olivares kicked the extra point for a 15-7 Gilmer lead with 7:20 to play in the first half.
“That catch by Hunter Harrison was probably one of the biggest plays of the ball game,” stated Traylor.
Buoyed by the Buckeyes' score, the defense stopped the Leopards again on their next series, forcing Liberty-Eylau backwards one yard before T. Q. Lowe got off a punt that rolled to the Buckeyes' 20-yard line.
Gilmer's offense gave the ball right back to the Leopards three plays later when Godfrey was intercepted at the Leopards' 48-yard line.
“Dropped passes, inopportune penalties, fumbled snaps; we just kept doing something to slow us down,” said a frustrated Traylor, who credited his defense for the victory. “We put them in some bad situations a lot of times, and they just kept bailing us out.”
Energized by the short field, Liberty-Eylau drove the football down to the Buckeyes' 12-yard line before Gilmer's defense stiffened, stopping the Leopards on fourth down and giving the ball back to the offense at their own 8-yard line.
'“We knew the defense was going to have to win the game,” said Buckeyes' linebacker Vance Green, who had 5 tackles and 9 assists. ''We've got to help the offense by stopping them and get the offense back on the field.”
The Buckeyes' offense advanced the ball all the way to the Liberty-Eylau 25-yard line before time ran out in the first half.
The Leopards started the second half with a questionable decision when they attempted an onside kick that Gilmer's McLaren recovered at the Liberty-Eylau 49-yard line. After a one yard loss on the first play, Jackson broke loose for a 49-yard run to the 1-yard line. Godfrey spun his way into the end zone on the next play for a 22-7 lead only 57 seconds into the second half.
“I thought Jeremy Jackson's run to start off the third quarter was big to get the momentum back,” Traylor said.
The momentum didn't stay with the Buckeyes for long, as the Leopards took their first possession of the second half and marched 72 yards on 9 running plays, scoring on a Tra Carson 4-yard run with 7:00 left in the third quarter to shorten Gilmer's lead to 22-14.
That would be the final time the Leopards would score, as Gilmer's defense held Liberty-Eylau to only 91 yards on their final three possessions, and forced another Leopards turnover that set up the game-clinching touchdown.
Braylon Webb would get the turnover and the touchdown, when he intercepted Watson's pass with 4:21 to play in the game and returned it to the Leopards' 22-yard line. After Gilmer's offense stalled at the 21-yard line, Webb came in to hold the ball for Olivares' 38-yard field goal attempt. The snap from center was high, forcing Webb to scramble. The junior looked trapped in the backfield, but alluded the tackler, then looked up to his left and noticed a wall of Buckeye blockers and followed them into the end zone for a touchdown with only 2:37 left in the game. Olivares' extra point kick was wide, leaving the score 28-14.
“Webb's interception at the end broke their back,” said Traylor. “It was a great win for us because we know how talented Liberty-Eylau is.”
“This was what I expected,” stated Brady after the close game. “I wish them luck, but I hope that we don't have to play each other again.”
Traylor shared Brady's sentiments about meeting the Leopards for the third straight year in the playoffs, but was glad for this regular season meeting. “This game does us a lot of good because you're playing such good players, you can evaluate really where you're strong and really where you're weak.”
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
BUCKEYES CREATE a Leopard sandwich as Luis Castro, Braylon Webb, D.J. Stanley, Marlon Granville and Paul Chesnut converge on the L-E running back.
Find more videos like this on PrepTicket
Galleries:
Buckeyes vs Liberty Eylau
Buckeyes vs Liberty Eylau
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