From the Longview News-Journal:
Buckeyes coast to 48-12 victory
From the Tyler Morning Telegraph:
Gilmer Delivers For Head Coach
From the Bullard Banner News:
Sixth-ranked Buckeyes claim 90th career win for Coach Jeff Traylor
From The Gilmer Mirror:
By JOE DODD
Gilmer Buckeyes' head coach Jeff Traylor became the school's all-time career wins leader with his 90th victory Friday night as the Buckeyes rolled over the Bullard Panthers 48-12. The victory was Gilmer's 35th consecutive district win and 28th straight win at home.
Despite the game being decided by halftime, Traylor had to wait a while to celebrate the accomplishment, as the game was delayed on two occasions. The first delay was the result of game officials debating a penalty, while the second was for an injured Bullard player. In all, the two incidents delayed the game by almost 45 minutes.
“One of the strangest, weirdest games I've ever coached in,” said Traylor. “Ironically it was the night we won the most games in Gilmer history. I think my record should be 90 1/2 wins instead of 90; that game should count for a game and a half. That's how long that game was.”
A large number of Buckeyes' fans stayed after the final buzzer sounded around 11 p.m. to celebrate Traylor's record-breaking victory. “Amazing. I can't believe anybody other than my mom and dad stayed. I was ready to go home,” admitted Traylor.
Traylor was presented with a game ball signed by all of the players on this year's team, as well as pictures of himself and the two coaches whose records he surpassed this season, Truett Rattan and Henry McClelland. After a proclamation from the school board was read over the public address system, Traylor was presented an artist's drawing of a commemorative ring that is being made to celebrate the achievement.
'That's the longest game I've ever been a part of and all of those people stayed around. It was a very humbling feeling. It was great,” Traylor said.
Traylor was not as excited about how his team got the record-setting win. “We were okay. We did enough to win,” stated Traylor, who saw his team jump out to a 41-6 halftime lead before running the clock for most of the second half.
Facing a team averaging more than 33 points per game, the Buckeyes’ defense set the tone early, forcing the Panthers to punt after a quick 3-and-out. The punt by Bullard's Sean Tadlock was off the side of his foot for a 9-yard net punt allowing Gilmer's offense to take over at the Panther's own 40-yard line.
“Defense is going out there and doing their job and getting us in scoring position,” praised Gilmer quarterback Stump Godfrey. “That's a great feeling knowing that the defense has done half the hard work, and we just have to go out there and do the rest of it.”
The rest of it on this series meant six plays, as the Buckeyes' covered the 40 yards in less than two minutes, scoring on an 8-yard run by Tristan Holt with 8:24 to play in the first quarter. Adan Olivares missed the extra-point attempt, and Gilmer led 6-0.
The Gilmer defense came up big again on the Panthers’ next series, returning the football to the Buckeyes' offense at their own 40-yard line after stopping Bullard on a 4th down and short play. On the very next play, Godfrey threw the first of three interceptions on the night, giving the ball back to the Bullard offense at their own 32-yard line.
Another 3-and-out series for the Panthers brought Tadlock back out to punt. This time a Gilmer player rolled into his legs after the punt, bringing a flag from an official. Another official threw a flag against the Buckeyes on the punt return. The officials met and decided to mark off the first 5-yard penalty and then tack on the 15-yard penalty giving the Panthers a first down at the Gilmer 46-yard line.
Following a time-out and several more meetings between officials, Traylor successfully argued that both penalties could not be marked off against the Buckeyes, and gave the football back to Bullard at their own 39-yard line, where Bullard quarterback Charlie Moore quick kicked the football down to the Gilmer 21-yard line.
Four plays later, Holt broke loose on a 41-yard touchdown run down the visitor's sideline before cutting back across the field to outrun two defenders into the end zone. The Buckeyes’ 2-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score 12-0 with 2:09 to go in the first quarter.
Holt finished the game with 49 yards and two touchdowns on only two carries. “He's been so good on defense for so long, that we've been trying to bring him along slowly,” explained Traylor. “He had a great game offensively, and we're going to keep trying to get him more and more involved in the offense.”
Bullard responded with an 11-play drive that reached the Buckeyes' 24-yard line before the Gilmer defense pushed them back on three consecutive plays to the 36-yard line, forcing another punt. Moore's punt rolled to the Gilmer 2-yard line, where the Buckeyes took possession.
Gilmer used six consecutive runs to push the football out to their own 44-yard line, before Godfrey surprised the Panthers with a long pass to Zack Jones, who had gotten behind the Panthers’ secondary and caught the ball at the 18-yard line and raced into the end zone untouched for a 56-yard touchdown. The direct snap to Gus Osborne was good for the 2-point conversion giving the Buckeyes a 20-0 lead with 5:35 to play in the half.
Two plays and 27 seconds later, Gilmer's Vance Green intercepted Moore's pass at the Panther's 42-yard line and returned the football untouched for the touchdown. Olivares' kick was good for a 27-0 lead.
“I thought Vance's interception just absolutely said it was over,” said Traylor who praised Green for his seven tackles that led the defense to hold the Panthers to only 272 total yards and 21 points below their season average.
Bullard's next series saw the Buckeyes push the Panthers backwards seven yards in three plays, forcing another 3-and-out punt. During the punt, the Panthers' deep snapper Hunter Skelton was injured and remained lying on the field after the play. After an almost 30-minute delay, Skelton was finally removed from the field and taken by ambulance to a Tyler hospital.
After the long delay, the Buckeyes' offense went right to work from their own 37-yard line. Godfrey went to the air on three straight plays; the final one a 24-yard touchdown strike to Prentiss Bell with 3:04 remaining in the half. Olivares' kick made the score 34-0.
Three plays later, the Buckeyes' Black Flag Defense forced another Panthers turnover when Mikey Wilson recovered a fumble at the Bullard 34-yard line.
Marlon Granville took the next snap and darted straight up the middle for the touchdown with 2:25 left to play in the half. Olivares' kick was good and Gilmer had a commanding 41-0 lead.
On Bullard's next possession, the Buckeyes' defense suffered their first letdown of the game, allowing the Panthers' Daniel Howard to bust loose on a 70-yard touchdown run on the first play of the drive. The Panthers' extra-point kick by Danny Vega was wide, so Gilmer took a 41-6 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Buckeyes received the second-half kickoff and proceeded on a 64-yard drive in seven plays, before Howard intercepted Godfrey's pass at the goal line and returned it to the Bullard 46-yard line. “He made a good play on it,” explained Godfrey. “I threw it where it was supposed to be, he just made a good play on the ball. All week we thought he was going to be pressing, but he got a cushion and he just made a good play on the slant.”
Godfrey finished the game with 277 yards passing, completing 14 of 19 passes with two touchdowns, but was marred by the three interceptions. “Stump played well,” confirmed Traylor. “Those three interceptions were not indicative of his performance.”
The Buckeyes’ defense made quick work of the Panther’s offense again, returning the football to Gilmer at their own 45-yard line after stopping Bullard on another fourth-down attempt. The Buckeyes' offense needed only six plays to travel the 55 yards, scoring their final touchdown on Granville's 1-yard run with 4:52 to play in the third quarter.
The Panthers responded with a 73-yard scoring drive punctuated by Howard's 9-yard touchdown run with 1:09 left in the quarter. The Panthers recovered an onside kick, but couldn't take advantage of it as both teams finished the final quarter without a score.
“Our kids played their guts out, we just couldn't find a way to get it done,” said Bullard head coach Jim Taylor after the game.
Traylor confirmed Taylor's assessment. “I was impressed with them and they played hard,” stated Traylor, who added his take on the Buckeyes' performance. “We're looking a little better, we're getting better. We're still not where we want to be, but we're getting better.”
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
BLACK FLAG DEFENDERS of the Buckeyes, including, from left, Michael Carpenter, Prentiss Bell and Vance Green surround the Panther receiver. Gilmer won the District 17-3A opener against Bullard at Buckeye Stadium 48-12.
Galleries:
Buckeyes vs Bullard
Buckeyes Vs Bullard Panthers
Buckeyes coast to 48-12 victory
From the Tyler Morning Telegraph:
Gilmer Delivers For Head Coach
From the Bullard Banner News:
Sixth-ranked Buckeyes claim 90th career win for Coach Jeff Traylor
From The Gilmer Mirror:
Traylor sets school record with win over Bullard
By JOE DODD
Gilmer Buckeyes' head coach Jeff Traylor became the school's all-time career wins leader with his 90th victory Friday night as the Buckeyes rolled over the Bullard Panthers 48-12. The victory was Gilmer's 35th consecutive district win and 28th straight win at home.
Despite the game being decided by halftime, Traylor had to wait a while to celebrate the accomplishment, as the game was delayed on two occasions. The first delay was the result of game officials debating a penalty, while the second was for an injured Bullard player. In all, the two incidents delayed the game by almost 45 minutes.
“One of the strangest, weirdest games I've ever coached in,” said Traylor. “Ironically it was the night we won the most games in Gilmer history. I think my record should be 90 1/2 wins instead of 90; that game should count for a game and a half. That's how long that game was.”
A large number of Buckeyes' fans stayed after the final buzzer sounded around 11 p.m. to celebrate Traylor's record-breaking victory. “Amazing. I can't believe anybody other than my mom and dad stayed. I was ready to go home,” admitted Traylor.
Traylor was presented with a game ball signed by all of the players on this year's team, as well as pictures of himself and the two coaches whose records he surpassed this season, Truett Rattan and Henry McClelland. After a proclamation from the school board was read over the public address system, Traylor was presented an artist's drawing of a commemorative ring that is being made to celebrate the achievement.
'That's the longest game I've ever been a part of and all of those people stayed around. It was a very humbling feeling. It was great,” Traylor said.
Traylor was not as excited about how his team got the record-setting win. “We were okay. We did enough to win,” stated Traylor, who saw his team jump out to a 41-6 halftime lead before running the clock for most of the second half.
Facing a team averaging more than 33 points per game, the Buckeyes’ defense set the tone early, forcing the Panthers to punt after a quick 3-and-out. The punt by Bullard's Sean Tadlock was off the side of his foot for a 9-yard net punt allowing Gilmer's offense to take over at the Panther's own 40-yard line.
“Defense is going out there and doing their job and getting us in scoring position,” praised Gilmer quarterback Stump Godfrey. “That's a great feeling knowing that the defense has done half the hard work, and we just have to go out there and do the rest of it.”
The rest of it on this series meant six plays, as the Buckeyes' covered the 40 yards in less than two minutes, scoring on an 8-yard run by Tristan Holt with 8:24 to play in the first quarter. Adan Olivares missed the extra-point attempt, and Gilmer led 6-0.
The Gilmer defense came up big again on the Panthers’ next series, returning the football to the Buckeyes' offense at their own 40-yard line after stopping Bullard on a 4th down and short play. On the very next play, Godfrey threw the first of three interceptions on the night, giving the ball back to the Bullard offense at their own 32-yard line.
Another 3-and-out series for the Panthers brought Tadlock back out to punt. This time a Gilmer player rolled into his legs after the punt, bringing a flag from an official. Another official threw a flag against the Buckeyes on the punt return. The officials met and decided to mark off the first 5-yard penalty and then tack on the 15-yard penalty giving the Panthers a first down at the Gilmer 46-yard line.
Following a time-out and several more meetings between officials, Traylor successfully argued that both penalties could not be marked off against the Buckeyes, and gave the football back to Bullard at their own 39-yard line, where Bullard quarterback Charlie Moore quick kicked the football down to the Gilmer 21-yard line.
Four plays later, Holt broke loose on a 41-yard touchdown run down the visitor's sideline before cutting back across the field to outrun two defenders into the end zone. The Buckeyes’ 2-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score 12-0 with 2:09 to go in the first quarter.
Holt finished the game with 49 yards and two touchdowns on only two carries. “He's been so good on defense for so long, that we've been trying to bring him along slowly,” explained Traylor. “He had a great game offensively, and we're going to keep trying to get him more and more involved in the offense.”
Bullard responded with an 11-play drive that reached the Buckeyes' 24-yard line before the Gilmer defense pushed them back on three consecutive plays to the 36-yard line, forcing another punt. Moore's punt rolled to the Gilmer 2-yard line, where the Buckeyes took possession.
Gilmer used six consecutive runs to push the football out to their own 44-yard line, before Godfrey surprised the Panthers with a long pass to Zack Jones, who had gotten behind the Panthers’ secondary and caught the ball at the 18-yard line and raced into the end zone untouched for a 56-yard touchdown. The direct snap to Gus Osborne was good for the 2-point conversion giving the Buckeyes a 20-0 lead with 5:35 to play in the half.
Two plays and 27 seconds later, Gilmer's Vance Green intercepted Moore's pass at the Panther's 42-yard line and returned the football untouched for the touchdown. Olivares' kick was good for a 27-0 lead.
“I thought Vance's interception just absolutely said it was over,” said Traylor who praised Green for his seven tackles that led the defense to hold the Panthers to only 272 total yards and 21 points below their season average.
Bullard's next series saw the Buckeyes push the Panthers backwards seven yards in three plays, forcing another 3-and-out punt. During the punt, the Panthers' deep snapper Hunter Skelton was injured and remained lying on the field after the play. After an almost 30-minute delay, Skelton was finally removed from the field and taken by ambulance to a Tyler hospital.
After the long delay, the Buckeyes' offense went right to work from their own 37-yard line. Godfrey went to the air on three straight plays; the final one a 24-yard touchdown strike to Prentiss Bell with 3:04 remaining in the half. Olivares' kick made the score 34-0.
Three plays later, the Buckeyes' Black Flag Defense forced another Panthers turnover when Mikey Wilson recovered a fumble at the Bullard 34-yard line.
Marlon Granville took the next snap and darted straight up the middle for the touchdown with 2:25 left to play in the half. Olivares' kick was good and Gilmer had a commanding 41-0 lead.
On Bullard's next possession, the Buckeyes' defense suffered their first letdown of the game, allowing the Panthers' Daniel Howard to bust loose on a 70-yard touchdown run on the first play of the drive. The Panthers' extra-point kick by Danny Vega was wide, so Gilmer took a 41-6 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Buckeyes received the second-half kickoff and proceeded on a 64-yard drive in seven plays, before Howard intercepted Godfrey's pass at the goal line and returned it to the Bullard 46-yard line. “He made a good play on it,” explained Godfrey. “I threw it where it was supposed to be, he just made a good play on the ball. All week we thought he was going to be pressing, but he got a cushion and he just made a good play on the slant.”
Godfrey finished the game with 277 yards passing, completing 14 of 19 passes with two touchdowns, but was marred by the three interceptions. “Stump played well,” confirmed Traylor. “Those three interceptions were not indicative of his performance.”
The Buckeyes’ defense made quick work of the Panther’s offense again, returning the football to Gilmer at their own 45-yard line after stopping Bullard on another fourth-down attempt. The Buckeyes' offense needed only six plays to travel the 55 yards, scoring their final touchdown on Granville's 1-yard run with 4:52 to play in the third quarter.
The Panthers responded with a 73-yard scoring drive punctuated by Howard's 9-yard touchdown run with 1:09 left in the quarter. The Panthers recovered an onside kick, but couldn't take advantage of it as both teams finished the final quarter without a score.
“Our kids played their guts out, we just couldn't find a way to get it done,” said Bullard head coach Jim Taylor after the game.
Traylor confirmed Taylor's assessment. “I was impressed with them and they played hard,” stated Traylor, who added his take on the Buckeyes' performance. “We're looking a little better, we're getting better. We're still not where we want to be, but we're getting better.”
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
BLACK FLAG DEFENDERS of the Buckeyes, including, from left, Michael Carpenter, Prentiss Bell and Vance Green surround the Panther receiver. Gilmer won the District 17-3A opener against Bullard at Buckeye Stadium 48-12.
Galleries:
Buckeyes vs Bullard
Buckeyes Vs Bullard Panthers
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