By JOE DODD
The 7th-ranked Gilmer Buckeyes face more than just an unfamiliar opponent Friday night when they meet the Kilgore Bulldogs at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium in Kilgore. The Buckeyes also face two unfamiliar scenarios. Gilmer is Kilgore's homecoming opponent, as well as 2-point underdogs to the Class 4A Bulldogs.
“It's going to be tough,” admitted Buckeyes' head coach Jeff Traylor. “They're the toughest team we've played since we've been here as far as non-district.”
Kilgore enters the game with a 2-1 record, following last week's 28-18 loss at Marshall. That loss is one of only 39 suffered by Kilgore in 13 years under head coach Mike Vallery, who won a state championship in 2004—the same year Gilmer won their only state title.
“Mike's always done a great job,” said Traylor. “His teams always run the ball real well. They always play great defense. They always look good in the special teams. He does a wonderful job and they have a great program.”
Vallery returns the praise to Traylor's team. “I think Gilmer is a lot better football team than they were last year,” said Vallery. Considering that Gilmer went 14-1 and played for a state championship, the Bulldogs head coach doesn't believe that his team should be favored against the lower classification Buckeyes. “I don't judge a football team by the number of A's behind their classification. Gilmer is a good high school football team no matter what class they're in.”
Traylor on the other hand, said that the Bulldogs should be the favorite. “I know our kids see us as the underdog. All you have to do is watch the video; we don't have the players that they do.”
Those players include a massive offensive line that averages 273 pounds, and a tight end, Dominique Jones (6-3, 230), who is committed to Texas. “He's a dominant blocker,” stated Traylor. The Bulldogs use that offensive line to run for over 200 yards per game.
Frank Reddic (6-0, 195) is the Bulldogs' leading rusher with 409 yards and five touchdowns in three games. “The tailback is a good downhill runner. He runs the ball hard,” said Traylor.
“They're going to score; they're too good offensively not to score. You're not going to stop their running game,” promised Traylor, who said that playing Kilgore means several fewer possessions than the Buckeyes are used to. “Every time you play Mike it's a short game. You've just got to get your points when you get a chance.”
Luckily for Gilmer, the Buckeyes faced a comparable team last week in Liberty-Eylau. “They're very similar in how they're going to pound on you,” agreed Traylor, who cautioned his team this week. “This will be their hardest test. This is the best opponent they've played.”
Vallery said that Gilmer will be the best team they have faced this season as well. “Offensively they might be as good as anybody we've seen this year,” stated Vallery. “They do a lot of things offensively, and the key to them is their quarterback. I'm really impressed with him. I think he's what you want at quarterback. He's as good as I've seen in a long time; being able to run and throw.”
Gilmer's quarterback, Stump Godfrey has put up impressive numbers in the season's first three games, accounting for 760 total yards and 11 touchdowns. That is why Vallery would like to see him spend a lot of time on the sidelines Friday night.
“Our strategy is to do what we always do,” Vallery said. “We like to run the football and mix the pass with it to control the clock.” That is the conventional wisdom for teams that face the Buckeyes, who average almost 54 points per game.
“I've been coaching 35 years and I never have scored 77 points in a game, so I guess we don't want to get in a scoring match with them,” quipped Vallery, referring to Gilmer's point total in the season's second game against Rains.
Gilmer's points per game average dropped considerably after the 28-14 win over Liberty-Eylau. Several missed scoring opportunities has Traylor concerned. “We have to make plays at opportune times to put teams away,” Traylor warned. “That's really what we've got to focus on this week.”
Defensively, the Buckeyes are coming off of one of their best performances in years against Liberty-Eylau; something that Vallery is keenly aware of. “Anytime you've got a team that's scoring 56 and 77 points; you've got a defense that's putting the ball into your hands,” said Vallery.
“I'm impressed defensively with their speed and how they get after you,” continued the Kilgore coach. “They play hard on defense. Look at how many turnovers they cause on defense. They play with a great intensity and speed on defense.”
The Bulldogs' defense sports even better stats than the Buckeyes, averaging 19.3 points allowed compared to Gilmer's 24.7 points per game. Kilgore also allows fewer total yards per game, 284 compared to the Buckeyes' 308. That is why the Buckeyes are so concerned with this current three game stretch that included Liberty-Eylau last week and Daingerfield next week.
“My kids know that this 3-week stretch is going to really let us know where we are,” stated Traylor.
Kilgore also sees the Buckeyes as a test. “We feel like when we play people like that, it makes us a better football team, win or lose,” said Vallery, who added that there will be one clear winner when the two power house programs meet Friday night. “I think it's a great game for the fans of East Texas. We're excited about playing Gilmer. It's got the makings of a good high school football game.”
Game Notes
• Gilmer has a 27-game regular season winning streak (last loss: 26-17 @ Daingerfield Sep. 30, 2005)
• Gilmer's 27-game regular season winning streak is the 2nd longest in school history
• Jeff Traylor's 88 career wins at Gilmer is 2nd place in school history Traylor needs 2 wins to pass Henry McClelland as Gilmer's career wins leader
• Gilmer QB Stump Godfrey needs 2 touchdown passes to pass G.J. Kinne for 2nd place in school history
• Gilmer QB Stump Godfrey needs 3 touchdown passes to pass Manuel Johnson and become Gilmer's career leader in touchdown passes
• Gilmer QB Stump Godfrey needs 277 passing yards to pass G.J. Kinne for 3rd place in school history
• Gilmer QB Stump Godfrey needs 220 total yards to pass Jamell Kennedy for 4th place in school history
• Gilmer is 57-1 in their last 58 regular season games
Bounty Hunter of the Week: Vance Green
Special Teams Player of the Week: Braylon Webb
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week: Horatio Morgan
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week: Chase Spencer
Hold on to your hats: it's Kilgore-Gilmer
Bulldogs, Buckeyes at a glance
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
TRISTAN HOLT returns a first half punt against Liberty-Eylau.
Small town, big night: Football is at the heart of the community in Gilmer and other East Texas towns
The 7th-ranked Gilmer Buckeyes face more than just an unfamiliar opponent Friday night when they meet the Kilgore Bulldogs at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium in Kilgore. The Buckeyes also face two unfamiliar scenarios. Gilmer is Kilgore's homecoming opponent, as well as 2-point underdogs to the Class 4A Bulldogs.
“It's going to be tough,” admitted Buckeyes' head coach Jeff Traylor. “They're the toughest team we've played since we've been here as far as non-district.”
Kilgore enters the game with a 2-1 record, following last week's 28-18 loss at Marshall. That loss is one of only 39 suffered by Kilgore in 13 years under head coach Mike Vallery, who won a state championship in 2004—the same year Gilmer won their only state title.
“Mike's always done a great job,” said Traylor. “His teams always run the ball real well. They always play great defense. They always look good in the special teams. He does a wonderful job and they have a great program.”
Vallery returns the praise to Traylor's team. “I think Gilmer is a lot better football team than they were last year,” said Vallery. Considering that Gilmer went 14-1 and played for a state championship, the Bulldogs head coach doesn't believe that his team should be favored against the lower classification Buckeyes. “I don't judge a football team by the number of A's behind their classification. Gilmer is a good high school football team no matter what class they're in.”
Traylor on the other hand, said that the Bulldogs should be the favorite. “I know our kids see us as the underdog. All you have to do is watch the video; we don't have the players that they do.”
Those players include a massive offensive line that averages 273 pounds, and a tight end, Dominique Jones (6-3, 230), who is committed to Texas. “He's a dominant blocker,” stated Traylor. The Bulldogs use that offensive line to run for over 200 yards per game.
Frank Reddic (6-0, 195) is the Bulldogs' leading rusher with 409 yards and five touchdowns in three games. “The tailback is a good downhill runner. He runs the ball hard,” said Traylor.
“They're going to score; they're too good offensively not to score. You're not going to stop their running game,” promised Traylor, who said that playing Kilgore means several fewer possessions than the Buckeyes are used to. “Every time you play Mike it's a short game. You've just got to get your points when you get a chance.”
Luckily for Gilmer, the Buckeyes faced a comparable team last week in Liberty-Eylau. “They're very similar in how they're going to pound on you,” agreed Traylor, who cautioned his team this week. “This will be their hardest test. This is the best opponent they've played.”
Vallery said that Gilmer will be the best team they have faced this season as well. “Offensively they might be as good as anybody we've seen this year,” stated Vallery. “They do a lot of things offensively, and the key to them is their quarterback. I'm really impressed with him. I think he's what you want at quarterback. He's as good as I've seen in a long time; being able to run and throw.”
Gilmer's quarterback, Stump Godfrey has put up impressive numbers in the season's first three games, accounting for 760 total yards and 11 touchdowns. That is why Vallery would like to see him spend a lot of time on the sidelines Friday night.
“Our strategy is to do what we always do,” Vallery said. “We like to run the football and mix the pass with it to control the clock.” That is the conventional wisdom for teams that face the Buckeyes, who average almost 54 points per game.
“I've been coaching 35 years and I never have scored 77 points in a game, so I guess we don't want to get in a scoring match with them,” quipped Vallery, referring to Gilmer's point total in the season's second game against Rains.
Gilmer's points per game average dropped considerably after the 28-14 win over Liberty-Eylau. Several missed scoring opportunities has Traylor concerned. “We have to make plays at opportune times to put teams away,” Traylor warned. “That's really what we've got to focus on this week.”
Defensively, the Buckeyes are coming off of one of their best performances in years against Liberty-Eylau; something that Vallery is keenly aware of. “Anytime you've got a team that's scoring 56 and 77 points; you've got a defense that's putting the ball into your hands,” said Vallery.
“I'm impressed defensively with their speed and how they get after you,” continued the Kilgore coach. “They play hard on defense. Look at how many turnovers they cause on defense. They play with a great intensity and speed on defense.”
The Bulldogs' defense sports even better stats than the Buckeyes, averaging 19.3 points allowed compared to Gilmer's 24.7 points per game. Kilgore also allows fewer total yards per game, 284 compared to the Buckeyes' 308. That is why the Buckeyes are so concerned with this current three game stretch that included Liberty-Eylau last week and Daingerfield next week.
“My kids know that this 3-week stretch is going to really let us know where we are,” stated Traylor.
Kilgore also sees the Buckeyes as a test. “We feel like when we play people like that, it makes us a better football team, win or lose,” said Vallery, who added that there will be one clear winner when the two power house programs meet Friday night. “I think it's a great game for the fans of East Texas. We're excited about playing Gilmer. It's got the makings of a good high school football game.”
Game Notes
• Gilmer has a 27-game regular season winning streak (last loss: 26-17 @ Daingerfield Sep. 30, 2005)
• Gilmer's 27-game regular season winning streak is the 2nd longest in school history
• Jeff Traylor's 88 career wins at Gilmer is 2nd place in school history Traylor needs 2 wins to pass Henry McClelland as Gilmer's career wins leader
• Gilmer QB Stump Godfrey needs 2 touchdown passes to pass G.J. Kinne for 2nd place in school history
• Gilmer QB Stump Godfrey needs 3 touchdown passes to pass Manuel Johnson and become Gilmer's career leader in touchdown passes
• Gilmer QB Stump Godfrey needs 277 passing yards to pass G.J. Kinne for 3rd place in school history
• Gilmer QB Stump Godfrey needs 220 total yards to pass Jamell Kennedy for 4th place in school history
• Gilmer is 57-1 in their last 58 regular season games
Bounty Hunter of the Week: Vance Green
Special Teams Player of the Week: Braylon Webb
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week: Horatio Morgan
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week: Chase Spencer
Hold on to your hats: it's Kilgore-Gilmer
Bulldogs, Buckeyes at a glance
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
TRISTAN HOLT returns a first half punt against Liberty-Eylau.
Small town, big night: Football is at the heart of the community in Gilmer and other East Texas towns
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