By JOE DODD
Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor knows offensive football. His 2006 team set a class 3A state record by averaging 53.6 points per game. His 2007 team scored a school record 701 points. His 2008 team has scored more points than any other team in Class 3A. Since 2003, Traylor's Buckeyes have averaged more than 456 total yards per game.
So when Traylor says, “Carthage is the best offensive team we've ever played.” Buckeye fans should be worried. “We have not played any team this good on offense, ever,” said Traylor of the Bulldogs, who have scored the second most points in Class 3A this season.
“Coming from Coach Traylor, that means a lot,” said Carthage head coach Scott Surratt, who has guided the Bulldogs to an impressive 20-5 record in just his second season.
Surratt knows a thing or two about offensive football himself, having served as Texas High's offensive coordinator from 1999 through 2006; winning eight consecutive district championships and a Class 4A state championship before taking the reins at Carthage last season.
The Bulldogs' offense has drawn comparisons to Gilmer's offenses of 2006 and 2007. “They did have a special offense last year,” Surratt said. “And if people compare us to them, that's a compliment to us.”
For Gilmer fans, the comparisons are daunting. “I would say their quarterback (Si'Darius Blackshire) would be comparable to how good Stump will be next year,” said Traylor. “Their tailback (Dwight Smith) would be comparable to Justin Johnson. I would compare Curtis Brown to number 19 (receiver Jarvin Robinson). We've never had a receiver like number 13 (Joe Jones), and their right guard (Cutter Clinton) would compare to David Snow or Daniel Jenkins.”
Blackshire (6-1, 215) has passed for 2,369 yards and 35 touchdowns this season, while throwing only four interceptions in 219 attempts. “It starts with their quarterback,” said Traylor. “He is quite arguably one of the top quarterbacks in Texas.”
Blackshire led the Bulldogs to a 9-3 record last season, throwing for 2,600 yards and 32 touchdowns before losing in the second round to eventual state champion Liberty Hill.
Surratt believes that if senior running back Dwight Smith (6-1, 225) had been with the Bulldogs last season, things might have been different. “We feel like we could have made more of a run at it with him last year,” said Surratt.
Hard to argue, considering Smith has rushed for 2,029 yards and 30 touchdowns this season.
“He went to school here all the way through his sophomore year,” explained Surratt. “His dad lives in California and he moved out there for one year and he came back and wanted to graduate with his best friends.”
Traylor said Smith is, “One of the best tailbacks in the state of Texas.”
Receiver Joe Jones (6-2, 220) leads the Bulldogs with 50 catches for 792 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Jarvin Robinson (5-9, 165) has 522 yards and 7 touchdowns on only 19 catches. “They're the best receivers we've ever played against,” stated Traylor.
“They have three kids that can score every time they touch it,” said Traylor, who gave much of the credit to the Bulldogs'offensive line which averages over 250 pounds per man. “All the offensive linemen are good. They are very well coached.”
Traylor said the Bulldogs compare well with the Buckeyes on the other side of the ball as well. “Defensively you don't hear about them as much because they score so much.”
The Carthage defense has allowed 231 total yards per game, while giving up an average of only 15.6 points per game behind the play of linebackers Caleb Pope (5-10, 210) and Kyle Deaton (5-9, 185). Pope leads the Bulldogs with 120 tackles, while Deaton has recorded 111 stops on the season.
Traylor said the Bulldogs' defense centers around their man over the center; defensive tackle DeShun Williams (6-0, 270) who has 86 tackles and a team high 6 sacks. “I think DeShun Williams is a big time division one defensive tackle,” Traylor said.
While most of the pre-game talk has focused on the two teams' similarities; experience is the one thing the two teams do not share. This will be the Buckeyes fourth appearance in the regional finals in the past six years, while the Bulldogs haven't been this deep in the playoffs since 1991.
“I don't think experience is that big a deal,” said Surratt. “I don't think it means that much because a lot of Gilmer's players are gone from last year. I don't think with this group of kids, we're going to be intimidated.”
Surratt believes the Bulldogs' schedule has prepared them for this opportunity. “Our pre-district schedule was very tough. We played four 4A teams and Atlanta. We came through it pretty good and I think we got better and better. I think we're ready for a big game, no question.”
The Buckeyes are coming off a big game last week where Gilmer dominated the West Orange Stark Mustangs 35-23 to advance to meet Carthage. But the Buckeyes paid a price for the victory. “I don't know what we've got left in our tank,” said Traylor. “We're really beat up.”
But Traylor knows that is normal for this time of year. “I say it all the time, healthy teams don't win championships. Tough teams do,” Traylor said.
That attitude has rubbed off on Gilmer linebacker Vance Green. “We've got bumps and bruises, but we're Buckeyes; we can play through anything,” said Green, who has prepared for the Bulldogs since the start of the season. “We kind of figured that we'd probably be meeting Carthage later on in the playoffs, so we've been getting ready for it.”
Surratt claims that Carthage anticipated this showdown with Gilmer. “We felt like for sure they would be there,” Surratt said. “We took care of our business and they took care of theirs, so we've got the matchup most of East Texas wanted.”
“We are trying to make a name for ourselves,” Surratt said. “We're the new kids on the block and we're trying to get to where they are and the only way we can do that is to win Saturday.”
Traylor knows that his Buckeyes face an enormous challenge. “They're the real deal. They are the best team we've seen. The most complete team. The best coached team. The most talented team,” said Traylor, who admits the Buckeyes don't look like the same team of the past two years.
“They're going to look at our kids and say they're not that impressive,” Traylor said. “But when they play; they play.”
Game Notes
• Gilmer and Carthage have met 6 times and have split the games 3-3, with the Buckeyes winning the most recent game in 1999.
• Gilmer and Carthage faced four common opponents this season, with both teams going 3-1 with their only loss against Kilgore.
• Carthage running back Dwight Smith needs 141 rushing yards to break Kris Briggs' single-season school record of 2,169 yards set in 1998.
Tonight’s game will be webcast as always via GilmerBuckeyes.com. Mineola’s KMOO 99.9 FM will also broadcast the game live on the radio and via their Web site at KMOO.com beginning with the pregame show at 7 p.m.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
GILMER’S GUS OSBORNE battles West Orange-Stark’s Josh Gloston after Mustang QB Ortavious Hypolite had fumbled during the Buckeyes’ 35-23 win in Lufkin last Saturday. Osborne emerged with the football.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
BLACK FLAG TEAMMATES Mikey Wilson, left, and Paul Chesnut, right, congratulate D.J. Stanley on his key interception with just 2:20 remaining in the Gilmer-WOS regional playoff game in Lufkin. Stanley’s interception thwarted a late Mustang attempt to score.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
PART OF the crowd at Abe Martin Stadium in Lufkin last Saturday. The Gilmer fans will be out en masse again tonight at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches, with many of them arriving before sundown.
Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor knows offensive football. His 2006 team set a class 3A state record by averaging 53.6 points per game. His 2007 team scored a school record 701 points. His 2008 team has scored more points than any other team in Class 3A. Since 2003, Traylor's Buckeyes have averaged more than 456 total yards per game.
So when Traylor says, “Carthage is the best offensive team we've ever played.” Buckeye fans should be worried. “We have not played any team this good on offense, ever,” said Traylor of the Bulldogs, who have scored the second most points in Class 3A this season.
“Coming from Coach Traylor, that means a lot,” said Carthage head coach Scott Surratt, who has guided the Bulldogs to an impressive 20-5 record in just his second season.
Surratt knows a thing or two about offensive football himself, having served as Texas High's offensive coordinator from 1999 through 2006; winning eight consecutive district championships and a Class 4A state championship before taking the reins at Carthage last season.
The Bulldogs' offense has drawn comparisons to Gilmer's offenses of 2006 and 2007. “They did have a special offense last year,” Surratt said. “And if people compare us to them, that's a compliment to us.”
For Gilmer fans, the comparisons are daunting. “I would say their quarterback (Si'Darius Blackshire) would be comparable to how good Stump will be next year,” said Traylor. “Their tailback (Dwight Smith) would be comparable to Justin Johnson. I would compare Curtis Brown to number 19 (receiver Jarvin Robinson). We've never had a receiver like number 13 (Joe Jones), and their right guard (Cutter Clinton) would compare to David Snow or Daniel Jenkins.”
Blackshire (6-1, 215) has passed for 2,369 yards and 35 touchdowns this season, while throwing only four interceptions in 219 attempts. “It starts with their quarterback,” said Traylor. “He is quite arguably one of the top quarterbacks in Texas.”
Blackshire led the Bulldogs to a 9-3 record last season, throwing for 2,600 yards and 32 touchdowns before losing in the second round to eventual state champion Liberty Hill.
Surratt believes that if senior running back Dwight Smith (6-1, 225) had been with the Bulldogs last season, things might have been different. “We feel like we could have made more of a run at it with him last year,” said Surratt.
Hard to argue, considering Smith has rushed for 2,029 yards and 30 touchdowns this season.
“He went to school here all the way through his sophomore year,” explained Surratt. “His dad lives in California and he moved out there for one year and he came back and wanted to graduate with his best friends.”
Traylor said Smith is, “One of the best tailbacks in the state of Texas.”
Receiver Joe Jones (6-2, 220) leads the Bulldogs with 50 catches for 792 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Jarvin Robinson (5-9, 165) has 522 yards and 7 touchdowns on only 19 catches. “They're the best receivers we've ever played against,” stated Traylor.
“They have three kids that can score every time they touch it,” said Traylor, who gave much of the credit to the Bulldogs'offensive line which averages over 250 pounds per man. “All the offensive linemen are good. They are very well coached.”
Traylor said the Bulldogs compare well with the Buckeyes on the other side of the ball as well. “Defensively you don't hear about them as much because they score so much.”
The Carthage defense has allowed 231 total yards per game, while giving up an average of only 15.6 points per game behind the play of linebackers Caleb Pope (5-10, 210) and Kyle Deaton (5-9, 185). Pope leads the Bulldogs with 120 tackles, while Deaton has recorded 111 stops on the season.
Traylor said the Bulldogs' defense centers around their man over the center; defensive tackle DeShun Williams (6-0, 270) who has 86 tackles and a team high 6 sacks. “I think DeShun Williams is a big time division one defensive tackle,” Traylor said.
While most of the pre-game talk has focused on the two teams' similarities; experience is the one thing the two teams do not share. This will be the Buckeyes fourth appearance in the regional finals in the past six years, while the Bulldogs haven't been this deep in the playoffs since 1991.
“I don't think experience is that big a deal,” said Surratt. “I don't think it means that much because a lot of Gilmer's players are gone from last year. I don't think with this group of kids, we're going to be intimidated.”
Surratt believes the Bulldogs' schedule has prepared them for this opportunity. “Our pre-district schedule was very tough. We played four 4A teams and Atlanta. We came through it pretty good and I think we got better and better. I think we're ready for a big game, no question.”
The Buckeyes are coming off a big game last week where Gilmer dominated the West Orange Stark Mustangs 35-23 to advance to meet Carthage. But the Buckeyes paid a price for the victory. “I don't know what we've got left in our tank,” said Traylor. “We're really beat up.”
But Traylor knows that is normal for this time of year. “I say it all the time, healthy teams don't win championships. Tough teams do,” Traylor said.
That attitude has rubbed off on Gilmer linebacker Vance Green. “We've got bumps and bruises, but we're Buckeyes; we can play through anything,” said Green, who has prepared for the Bulldogs since the start of the season. “We kind of figured that we'd probably be meeting Carthage later on in the playoffs, so we've been getting ready for it.”
Surratt claims that Carthage anticipated this showdown with Gilmer. “We felt like for sure they would be there,” Surratt said. “We took care of our business and they took care of theirs, so we've got the matchup most of East Texas wanted.”
“We are trying to make a name for ourselves,” Surratt said. “We're the new kids on the block and we're trying to get to where they are and the only way we can do that is to win Saturday.”
Traylor knows that his Buckeyes face an enormous challenge. “They're the real deal. They are the best team we've seen. The most complete team. The best coached team. The most talented team,” said Traylor, who admits the Buckeyes don't look like the same team of the past two years.
“They're going to look at our kids and say they're not that impressive,” Traylor said. “But when they play; they play.”
Game Notes
• Gilmer and Carthage have met 6 times and have split the games 3-3, with the Buckeyes winning the most recent game in 1999.
• Gilmer and Carthage faced four common opponents this season, with both teams going 3-1 with their only loss against Kilgore.
• Carthage running back Dwight Smith needs 141 rushing yards to break Kris Briggs' single-season school record of 2,169 yards set in 1998.
Tonight’s game will be webcast as always via GilmerBuckeyes.com. Mineola’s KMOO 99.9 FM will also broadcast the game live on the radio and via their Web site at KMOO.com beginning with the pregame show at 7 p.m.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
GILMER’S GUS OSBORNE battles West Orange-Stark’s Josh Gloston after Mustang QB Ortavious Hypolite had fumbled during the Buckeyes’ 35-23 win in Lufkin last Saturday. Osborne emerged with the football.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
BLACK FLAG TEAMMATES Mikey Wilson, left, and Paul Chesnut, right, congratulate D.J. Stanley on his key interception with just 2:20 remaining in the Gilmer-WOS regional playoff game in Lufkin. Stanley’s interception thwarted a late Mustang attempt to score.
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
PART OF the crowd at Abe Martin Stadium in Lufkin last Saturday. The Gilmer fans will be out en masse again tonight at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches, with many of them arriving before sundown.
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