From the Longview News-Journal:
Top-ranked Buckeyes dominate Jasper
From the Tyler Morning Telegraph:
Quick-Strike Offense Propels Gilmer
From The Gilmer Mirror:
Buckeyes dominate Jasper in first round of playoffs
By JOE DODD
Gilmer Buckeyes jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, then handed the ball to running back Gus Osborne for a season-high 152 yards rushing and three touchdowns to seal a 57-21 win over the Jasper Bulldogs in the first round of the Class 3A Division I playoffs Saturday at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium in Tyler.
Gilmer, which entered the season ranked number one, lay to rest any comparisons with the 2006 Buckeyes’ team which lost in the first round after spending the season as the top-ranked team in the state.
“I played on that team and it was just a horrible feeling,” recalled Gilmer quarterback Stump Godfrey, who started at safety in that loss his freshman season. “Now we can put it behind us and we won’t be compared with them anymore.”
“I got tired of hearing about the 2006 team,” confessed Buckeyes’ receiver Tristan Holt.
“It’s a big pressure lifted off of our shoulders,” said Gilmer defensive back Ben Griffith.
Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor, who saw his playoff record improve to 18-7, said the win should be a catalyst for the remaining season. “I think it was huge for the seniors,” said Traylor. “They’ve heard it forever. As soon as we got ranked number one, we knew that we would be compared to that team. Now all of those questions will go away and we can start playing football and maybe relax a little bit and have a little bit more fun.”
The Buckeyes were all business to start the game, even winning the coin flip. “The referee didn’t even ask if we wanted the ball; they knew we wanted the ball,” said Godfrey, who gladly accepted the official’s decision.
Holt set the pace with a nice 34-yard return before Godfrey and the offense took the field. five plays later, the Buckeyes faced a 4th down-and-6 at the Jasper 33-yard line. After a Gilmer time-out, Godfrey calmly lofted a screen pass to Osborne, who broke a couple of tackles and followed his blockers for a 10-yard gain.
On the next play, Godfrey handed the ball off to Braylon Webb on a receiver sweep. Webb pulled up and fired a strike to Tevin Godfrey from 23 yards out for the first touchdown of the game. Adan Olivares kicked the first of his seven extra points for a 7-0 lead with 9:17 to play in the first quarter.
“I thought the opening drive was big,” Traylor said. “That 4th down-and-6 was a big pick-up. Then what a great throw Braylon made to Tevin.”
Gilmer’s kickoff team pinned Jasper at their 13-yard line on the ensuing kickoff, then the Black Flag Defense kept the Bulldogs in check, allowing only 26 yards in eight plays and forcing a punt from the Jasper 39-yard line.
The Buckeyes’ offense took over at their 35-yard line and covered the 65 yards in seven plays, with Godfrey hitting Luke Turner with a 14-yard touchdown pass for a 14-0 lead with 4:29 left in the opening quarter.
Jasper started their second possession with the ball at their 13-yard line again, thanks to great coverage by the kickoff team. The Gilmer defense did their part again, holding the Bulldogs to only a yard on three plays, forcing another punt, which rolled dead at the Jasper 48-yard line.
Godfrey took over on this drive, gaining 28 yards on the ground and connecting with his cousin, Tevin Godfrey, on a 17-yard pass, before diving into the end zone for a 21-0 lead with only 1:29 to go in the first quarter. The touchdown was Godfrey’s 46th rushing touchdown of his career, passing Justin Johnson’s previous school record of 45.
“When we got up three possessions, that was really a big turning point in the game,” said Traylor, who didn’t want a repeat performance of Gilmer’s 8-7 halftime lead in the season opener against these same Bulldogs.
Jasper head coach Mike Bickham admitted that the Bulldogs wanted to control the football and keep the Buckeyes’ potent offense off the field. “Like Mike Tyson said,” quipped Bickham. “Everybody’s got a plan until they get hit in the mouth.”
To their credit, the Bulldogs fought back on their next possession, putting together a 13-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard touchdown run by Jarrodd Adams with 7:28 remaining in the second quarter. Juan Mijares’ extra point made the score 21-7.
Another nice kickoff return by Holt, this time for 29 yards, gave Gilmer the football at the 40-yard line. On the next play, Osborne took a hand-off and turned the corner around the right side and rambled down the Gilmer sideline 60 yards for the touchdown and a 28-7 lead with 7:07 to play in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs and Buckeyes traded punts on the next three possessions, before Gilmer scored another knock-out blow with only 32 seconds to play in the first half. Godfrey hit Holt on a wide receiver screen that Holt took 67 yards for a touchdown. Chris Miller’s 2-point conversion run was good, giving Gilmer a daunting 36-7 halftime advantage.
Jasper made one last valiant effort to get back in the game, scoring on the opening drive of the second half, when Bulldogs’ quarterback Sam Alvis ran it in from five yards out to make the score 36-14 with 8:07 to go in the third quarter.
Once again, the Buckeyes responded with a knock-out punch as Osborne went 66 yards on the next play to push the lead to 43-14 just 20 seconds after the Bulldogs’ score.
Gilmer’s quick strike stunned the Bulldogs into a catch-up game plan that they weren’t prepared for. On Jasper’s first play of their next possession, Gilmer’s Harvey Horton intercepted an Alvis pass and returned it to the Bulldogs’ 15-yard line.
“They kind of got into a little panic mode and they started throwing the ball a lot more so it gave us the opportunities to make plays, and we did,” said senior safety Paul Chesnut.
The Buckeyes wasted no time in capitalizing on the Jasper mistake, as Osborne picked up his third touchdown of the game on the next play to give Gilmer a 50-14 lead with 7:25 left in the third quarter.
“It was Gus’ time to shine this week. It’s been a different back all year long,” praised Traylor about the Buckeyes’ stable of running backs.
Osborne was quick to credit his teammates. “Hats off to my offensive line and receivers,” said Osborne. “I told the offensive line before the game that if they would give me a seam I could go.”
Traylor was thrilled with the offense’s performance. “Our blocking was so incredible. Jacob Jenkins and Beau Blair played as good as they’ve played all year. Our receivers just dominated the point of attack,” Traylor said.
Jasper’s Bickham agreed with Traylor. “They block better downfield than anybody I’ve ever seen,” praised Bickham.
“It’s about being selfless and wanting everybody else to do well. We take pride in the little things like blocking,” explained Holt, who added. “It makes it easier because you know that if you block long enough, our backs can go.”
Jasper’s next drive ended at the Buckeyes’ 31-yard line after Gilmer’s defense stopped the Bulldogs on 4th down. Vance Green picked up 43 yards on 2 carries and Marlon Granville added 6 yards on the next 2 rushes to take the football to the Jasper 20-yard line. On the next play, Godfrey fired a bullet under heavy pressure to Daniel McLaren who scored with 5 seconds remaining in the third quarter to push the Buckeyes’ lead to 57-14.
The Bulldogs ate up most of the clock in the fourth quarter with a 14-play, 75-yard drive punctuated by a 4-yard touchdown run by Ben Armstrong to end the scoring at 57-21.
“When you’re out-manned; you’re out-manned,” said Bickham, who saw his Bulldogs lose for only the third time this season. All three losses came against top-ranked Gilmer or 2nd-ranked Carthage.
“They’re a good team. We just played real well,” said Traylor, who credited the thousands of Buckeyes’ fans who filled the stadium more than an hour before the game. “The crowd was amazing! Wow! I think the crowd had as much to do with the win as anything.”
As happy as Traylor was with the crowd, he was more excited about his team’s improvement. “I think we got better this game,” said Traylor. “That’s what I’m excited about. I think we’ll keep getting better as we keep winning and playing good teams.”
Senior linebacker Mikey Wilson promised Buckeyes’ fans that this team is not satisfied by burying the ghosts of the 2006 team. “We have a bigger focus than that,” said Wilson. “We’re not just a team that wants to advance past one round in the playoffs. Our goal is to win state this year.”
STATISTICS
Jasper Gilmer
16 First downs 19
48-142 Rushes-yds 27-299
12-23-0-1 Passing 13-18-4-0
101 Passing yds 229
243 Total yds 528
0 Fumbles lost 0
32:37 Time of possession 15:23
4-30 Penalties-yds 5-36
SCORE BY QUARTERS
1 2 3 4 T
Jasper 0 7 7 7 21
Gilmer 21 15 21 0 57
Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
BUCKEYES Ben Griffith (19) and Mikey Wilson (34) wrap up Jasper’s Jarrodd Adams (8) as Tristan Holt (3) looks on.
Mirror Photos / Mary Laschinger Kirby
GILMER QB STUMP GODFREY goes airborne to score the Buckeyes’ third touchdown of the first quarter during their 57-21 bi-district win over the Jasper Bulldogs at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium in Tyler last Saturday. In photo above that, Gus Osborne scores his third touchdown of the game on a 15-yard run in third-quarter action, aided by a block from Tristan Holt. In photo above that, the Gilmer crowd on the home side of the stadium has much to cheer about on the picture-perfect autumn afternoon. The Buckeyes (11-0) advance to play Waco La Vega (7-4) at Mesquite Memorial Stadium in Mesquite. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Saturday.
From KJAS:
No.1 State ranked Gilmer defeats Jasper 57 to 21
From the Jasper Newsboy:
Gilmer ends Jasper's season Buckeyes jump out early, cruise to victory 57-21
From the Beaumont Enterprise:
Gilmer too much for Jasper again
From the Houston Chronicle:
Box Score
From KETKnbc:
Gilmer Continues Perfect Season (1:50 in)
From KLTV (2:00 in):
From KYTX CBS 19 (1:00 in):
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