By JOE DODD
Gilmer head football coach Jeff Traylor spent the Buckeyes’ bye week studying video of his team’s first five games. Despite watching the Buckeyes outscore their opponents 266-90 on their way to a perfect 5-0 record, Traylor was unimpressed.
“We’re not real good in my opinion,” said Traylor. “I studied us a lot this week, and I don’t think we’re playing real well. We could coach better and play better. There are a lot of things we can do better; we’re just not very good right now.”
That’s not at all how Bullard head coach Jim Taylor sees Gilmer, as his Panthers prepare to host the number-one ranked Buckeyes Friday night to start District 17-3A play. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Panther Stadium.
“I’ve been coaching for 25 years and they’re one of the finest ball clubs I’ve seen,” said Taylor. “I really feel like they’re a better football team than they were even last year, and obviously last year they were a great football team.”
Traylor said that the Buckeyes have a long ways to go if they want to be a great football team. “I think we could be better in every area,” explained Traylor, who named one specifically.
“I’ve not been real pleased with our kicking game,” admitted Traylor. “We have not punted the ball real well this year. The extra-point team has been inconsistent. Our special teams are going to have to get better.”
That may sound like nit-picking, but Traylor hasn’t led the Buckeyes to 39 consecutive district wins and eight straight undefeated district championships without paying attention to the details.
Gilmer’s district winning streak is the sixth longest in Class 3A history, but Traylor doesn’t pay much attention to those details. “I’m always looking forward, so I just want to win this next one,” he said.
That should be easy enough, according to most high school football experts, who pick the Buckeyes to blow through district play, starting with the Panthers.
“We’re all 0-0. Bullard has the same district record as we do. We’re all starting over Friday night,” exclaimed Traylor, who insisted that Gilmer does not enjoy a talent advantage over their district foes.
“We know that Tatum, Gladewater, Spring Hill and Chapel Hill all beat us in our district track meet. We know athletically where we are. We know the truth,” Traylor said.
The truth to Gilmer’s success, according to Traylor, is hard work and playing as a team, things that were emphasized during the Buckeyes’ bye week. “It was perfect timing. Getting that week off right before district is always good,” Traylor said. “We worked hard on ourselves; a lot of conditioning, a lot of fundamentals.”
That can’t be good news for Bullard, who enters district play with a 1-4 record, despite returning seven starters on each side of the ball. Taylor said that the number of returning starters is misleading.
“We’ve had to move a lot of kids around to different spots,” said Taylor, who is 10-15 in his third season at Bullard. “We’ve been struggling a little bit and we’re trying to find our identity.”
Taylor said identity is not a problem for Gilmer. “You don’t get an opportunity many times in life to play a team like Gilmer,” Taylor said. “When you’re playing someone like Gilmer, it’s a great opportunity for the kids to go against the best in the state, so the kids are excited about that.”
The Buckeyes started the season ranked number one, and have dominated their competition so far. In 2006, the last time Gilmer started the season as the state’s top-ranked team; this year’s senior class ended their freshman campaign with a loss to eventual state champion Liberty-Eylau in the first round of the playoffs.
That’s a scenario that Traylor does not want to repeat. “This senior group is really different. They understand what’s at stake,” said Traylor. “They are tired of getting second. They got beat by the state champions their ninth grade, 10th grade, and 11th grade years so they’re tired of that.”
The desire to win a state championship, along with the pressure to extend the Buckeyes’ home and district winning streaks are more than enough motivation for Gilmer’s seniors.
“We don’t want to be remembered as the team that stopped the streaks. That’s what motivates us,” confessed senior receiver Tevin Godfrey.
Those streaks also provide extra motivation for the Buckeyes’ opponents. “I know that every team that plays us would love to stop it,” said Traylor. “That’s just part of playing in Gilmer. We’re used to it.”
To help keep the Buckeyes focused on their goals, Traylor de-emphasizes their weekly opponents. “You’re never playing your opponent; you’re always playing yourself,” said Traylor. “We’re not playing Bullard; we’re playing Gilmer. You have to make a few adjustments for your opponent, but the truth is we’re trying to make Gilmer better.”
Taylor is not sure how Gilmer can get much better. “Gilmer is ranked number one for a reason,” said Taylor, who saw the Buckeyes jump out to a 41-0 first-half advantage last year before settling for a 48-12 win over the Panthers.
Those Panthers were led by quarterback Charlie Moore, who now plays at Oklahoma State. But Traylor said Bullard has found a worthy replacement in Marquez Franklin.
“Their quarterback is good. He’s a heck of an athlete. He can really go,” said Traylor about Franklin, who has thrown for 625 yards and three touchdowns in his first five games. Franklin has also rushed for 171 yards and two touchdowns.
“Marquez has stepped into that position and is doing a fine job for us,” confirmed Taylor. “He’s learning each week.”
“Their tailback is good, too,” added Traylor about Daniel Howard, who exploded for a 70-yard touchdown run against the Buckeyes in last year’s game, along with a 9-yard touchdown run.
While the Buckeyes’ Black Flag Defense will try to stop Franklin and Howard, Gilmer senior quarterback Stump Godfrey should be excited about the chance to make amends for his career-high three interceptions suffered against the Panthers last season.
“I didn’t remember that until I watched the video this week,” said Traylor. “I’m sure that will motivate him a little.”
That is a scary thought considering that Godfrey is on the cusp of joining the ranks of the best high school quarterbacks in Texas’ history.
Godfrey needs 12 touchdown passes to give him 100 for his career. Only eight Texas quarterbacks have ever thrown for 100 touchdowns in their career. The list is impressive: Graham Harrell, Garrett Gilbert, G.J. Kinne, Colt McCoy, Drew Tate, Chandler Dane, Riley Dodge and Stephen McGee. Currently four of those players are major college quarterbacks, while three others play professionally.
But Godfrey and the Buckeyes are focused on only one number, starting district play 1-0. “That’s the first district ball game so you want to get off to a win,” said Traylor.
NOTES
Gilmer’s 39-game district win streak is currently the second best among all schools in the state of Texas behind Class 5A Galena Park North Shore’s (52) (source: Joe Lee Smith)
Gilmer’s 293 offensive plays consist of 147 passing attempts (50.2 percent) and 146 rushing attempts (49.8 percent)
Gilmer averages 280 yards per game passing (58 percent) and 199 yards per game rushing (42 percent)
Gilmer has receiving touchdowns by seven different players
Gilmer has rushing touchdowns by six different players
Gilmer quarterback Stump Godfrey needs 123 rushing yards to give him 2,000 for his career
Gilmer’s Stump Godfrey needs 25 rushing yards to pass Derek McKenzie as Gilmer’s career leader in rushing yards by a quarterback
Gilmer’s Stump Godfrey needs four rushing touchdowns to pass Justin Johnson as Gilmer’s career leader
October 9- @ Bullard
Mascot: Panthers
Colors: Blue/White/Red
District: 17-3A
Enrollment: 494
Stadium: Panther Stadium
Stadium Opened: 2008
Stadium Surface: Real Grass (Turf)
Stadium Address: Schoolhouse Rd. @ Oak; Bullard, TX 75757
2008 Record: 3-7, 1-4 district
2009 Record: 1-4
Last meeting: 2008, Gilmer won 48-12
Series Record: Gilmer leads 3-0
Head Coach: Jim Taylor (3rd season, 10-15, 51-75 overall)
Returning Starters: 7 Offense/7 Defense
Offense: Multiple, one-back
Defense: 4-4
Did you know? Gilmer quarterback Stump Godfrey was intercepted a career-high 3 times in last season’s game against the Panthers.
BUCKEYE TICKET LINE:
841-7777
LUNCH WITH THE COACH:
Noon Wednesdays, Buckeyes Booster Club meets at Gilmer Country Club
LIVE WEBCAST:
www.GilmerBuckeyes.com
Gilmer head football coach Jeff Traylor spent the Buckeyes’ bye week studying video of his team’s first five games. Despite watching the Buckeyes outscore their opponents 266-90 on their way to a perfect 5-0 record, Traylor was unimpressed.
“We’re not real good in my opinion,” said Traylor. “I studied us a lot this week, and I don’t think we’re playing real well. We could coach better and play better. There are a lot of things we can do better; we’re just not very good right now.”
That’s not at all how Bullard head coach Jim Taylor sees Gilmer, as his Panthers prepare to host the number-one ranked Buckeyes Friday night to start District 17-3A play. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Panther Stadium.
“I’ve been coaching for 25 years and they’re one of the finest ball clubs I’ve seen,” said Taylor. “I really feel like they’re a better football team than they were even last year, and obviously last year they were a great football team.”
Traylor said that the Buckeyes have a long ways to go if they want to be a great football team. “I think we could be better in every area,” explained Traylor, who named one specifically.
“I’ve not been real pleased with our kicking game,” admitted Traylor. “We have not punted the ball real well this year. The extra-point team has been inconsistent. Our special teams are going to have to get better.”
That may sound like nit-picking, but Traylor hasn’t led the Buckeyes to 39 consecutive district wins and eight straight undefeated district championships without paying attention to the details.
Gilmer’s district winning streak is the sixth longest in Class 3A history, but Traylor doesn’t pay much attention to those details. “I’m always looking forward, so I just want to win this next one,” he said.
That should be easy enough, according to most high school football experts, who pick the Buckeyes to blow through district play, starting with the Panthers.
“We’re all 0-0. Bullard has the same district record as we do. We’re all starting over Friday night,” exclaimed Traylor, who insisted that Gilmer does not enjoy a talent advantage over their district foes.
“We know that Tatum, Gladewater, Spring Hill and Chapel Hill all beat us in our district track meet. We know athletically where we are. We know the truth,” Traylor said.
The truth to Gilmer’s success, according to Traylor, is hard work and playing as a team, things that were emphasized during the Buckeyes’ bye week. “It was perfect timing. Getting that week off right before district is always good,” Traylor said. “We worked hard on ourselves; a lot of conditioning, a lot of fundamentals.”
That can’t be good news for Bullard, who enters district play with a 1-4 record, despite returning seven starters on each side of the ball. Taylor said that the number of returning starters is misleading.
“We’ve had to move a lot of kids around to different spots,” said Taylor, who is 10-15 in his third season at Bullard. “We’ve been struggling a little bit and we’re trying to find our identity.”
Taylor said identity is not a problem for Gilmer. “You don’t get an opportunity many times in life to play a team like Gilmer,” Taylor said. “When you’re playing someone like Gilmer, it’s a great opportunity for the kids to go against the best in the state, so the kids are excited about that.”
The Buckeyes started the season ranked number one, and have dominated their competition so far. In 2006, the last time Gilmer started the season as the state’s top-ranked team; this year’s senior class ended their freshman campaign with a loss to eventual state champion Liberty-Eylau in the first round of the playoffs.
That’s a scenario that Traylor does not want to repeat. “This senior group is really different. They understand what’s at stake,” said Traylor. “They are tired of getting second. They got beat by the state champions their ninth grade, 10th grade, and 11th grade years so they’re tired of that.”
The desire to win a state championship, along with the pressure to extend the Buckeyes’ home and district winning streaks are more than enough motivation for Gilmer’s seniors.
“We don’t want to be remembered as the team that stopped the streaks. That’s what motivates us,” confessed senior receiver Tevin Godfrey.
Those streaks also provide extra motivation for the Buckeyes’ opponents. “I know that every team that plays us would love to stop it,” said Traylor. “That’s just part of playing in Gilmer. We’re used to it.”
To help keep the Buckeyes focused on their goals, Traylor de-emphasizes their weekly opponents. “You’re never playing your opponent; you’re always playing yourself,” said Traylor. “We’re not playing Bullard; we’re playing Gilmer. You have to make a few adjustments for your opponent, but the truth is we’re trying to make Gilmer better.”
Taylor is not sure how Gilmer can get much better. “Gilmer is ranked number one for a reason,” said Taylor, who saw the Buckeyes jump out to a 41-0 first-half advantage last year before settling for a 48-12 win over the Panthers.
Those Panthers were led by quarterback Charlie Moore, who now plays at Oklahoma State. But Traylor said Bullard has found a worthy replacement in Marquez Franklin.
“Their quarterback is good. He’s a heck of an athlete. He can really go,” said Traylor about Franklin, who has thrown for 625 yards and three touchdowns in his first five games. Franklin has also rushed for 171 yards and two touchdowns.
“Marquez has stepped into that position and is doing a fine job for us,” confirmed Taylor. “He’s learning each week.”
“Their tailback is good, too,” added Traylor about Daniel Howard, who exploded for a 70-yard touchdown run against the Buckeyes in last year’s game, along with a 9-yard touchdown run.
While the Buckeyes’ Black Flag Defense will try to stop Franklin and Howard, Gilmer senior quarterback Stump Godfrey should be excited about the chance to make amends for his career-high three interceptions suffered against the Panthers last season.
“I didn’t remember that until I watched the video this week,” said Traylor. “I’m sure that will motivate him a little.”
That is a scary thought considering that Godfrey is on the cusp of joining the ranks of the best high school quarterbacks in Texas’ history.
Godfrey needs 12 touchdown passes to give him 100 for his career. Only eight Texas quarterbacks have ever thrown for 100 touchdowns in their career. The list is impressive: Graham Harrell, Garrett Gilbert, G.J. Kinne, Colt McCoy, Drew Tate, Chandler Dane, Riley Dodge and Stephen McGee. Currently four of those players are major college quarterbacks, while three others play professionally.
But Godfrey and the Buckeyes are focused on only one number, starting district play 1-0. “That’s the first district ball game so you want to get off to a win,” said Traylor.
NOTES
Gilmer’s 39-game district win streak is currently the second best among all schools in the state of Texas behind Class 5A Galena Park North Shore’s (52) (source: Joe Lee Smith)
Gilmer’s 293 offensive plays consist of 147 passing attempts (50.2 percent) and 146 rushing attempts (49.8 percent)
Gilmer averages 280 yards per game passing (58 percent) and 199 yards per game rushing (42 percent)
Gilmer has receiving touchdowns by seven different players
Gilmer has rushing touchdowns by six different players
Gilmer quarterback Stump Godfrey needs 123 rushing yards to give him 2,000 for his career
Gilmer’s Stump Godfrey needs 25 rushing yards to pass Derek McKenzie as Gilmer’s career leader in rushing yards by a quarterback
Gilmer’s Stump Godfrey needs four rushing touchdowns to pass Justin Johnson as Gilmer’s career leader
October 9- @ Bullard
Mascot: Panthers
Colors: Blue/White/Red
District: 17-3A
Enrollment: 494
Stadium: Panther Stadium
Stadium Opened: 2008
Stadium Surface: Real Grass (Turf)
Stadium Address: Schoolhouse Rd. @ Oak; Bullard, TX 75757
2008 Record: 3-7, 1-4 district
2009 Record: 1-4
Last meeting: 2008, Gilmer won 48-12
Series Record: Gilmer leads 3-0
Head Coach: Jim Taylor (3rd season, 10-15, 51-75 overall)
Returning Starters: 7 Offense/7 Defense
Offense: Multiple, one-back
Defense: 4-4
Did you know? Gilmer quarterback Stump Godfrey was intercepted a career-high 3 times in last season’s game against the Panthers.
BUCKEYE TICKET LINE:
841-7777
LUNCH WITH THE COACH:
Noon Wednesdays, Buckeyes Booster Club meets at Gilmer Country Club
LIVE WEBCAST:
www.GilmerBuckeyes.com
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