Gilmer Buckeyes

The 2009 edition of the Gilmer Buckeyes is getting ready to suit up for two-a-days. The junior varsity and varsity will both report at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, to the Field House at Buckeye Stadium. Team meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. and the first practice starts at 6. On Tuesday, Aug. 4, the freshmen report at 8 a.m. to the Field House, with practice set to begin at 9.

By MARY L. KIRBY Kenny Pettway, Gilmer High Class of 2000 and National Football League defensive lineman, conducted his third annual Kenny Pettway Football Camp at Buckeye Stadium Friday. He was joined by five other professional players, Gilmer Buckeye coaches and former players in coordinating drills for some 80 youngsters. Among those helping Friday were also three former Gilmer quarterbacks, Bran Webb, Olan Johnson and Derek McKenzie. After conducting drills for both offensive and defensive skills, the young people heard from some of the athletes attending the camp. Buckeye coaches Max Low and Ryan Pate, who helped at the camp, well remember Stephan Hodge, the sixth-round draft pick for the Dallas Cowboys who came along with Jason Hatcher of the Cowboys. Gilmer faced Hodge, who played for Tatum in the playoffs in both 2003 and 2004, and was happy to come away with wins over Tatum both years. After four years at Texas Christian University, Hodge goes to camp this month to seek a job ...

Oklahoma running back Justin Johnson will transfer to Abilene Christian University to this fall, according to a report in the Oklahoman on Friday. The Oklahoman said Johnson, who played for Gilmer when the Buffaloes beat Wylie in the 2007 high school playoffs, told Tyler radio station KTBB on Thursday that he plans to transfer to ACU. Also Thursday, OU coach Bob Stoops told the Oklahoman during the Sooner Caravan in Dallas that Johnson was leaving the Sooners. Blogger's Note: If Gilmer plays Abilene Wylie again, we must emphasize the fact that we are not named the Buffaloes!

Gilmer free safety Braylon Webb has given his verbal commitment to play for Gary Pinkel and the Missouri Tigers. Webb, 6-1, 190, 4.5, recorded 68-tackles, 4-Interceptions, 2-FR, 1-QB pressure, 5-passes broken up, 2-sacks, and was named to the Class 3-A all-state team and was a member of All-Smoaky.com. Buckeyes head coach Jeff Traylor told KTBB's David Smoak, "Braylon committed right after our 7-on-7 game on Thursday night, and let me tell you this is one of the best kids you'll ever know." Webb is the 22nd East Texan to give a verbal commitment to the Class of 2010, and could join Gilmer graduate Daniel Jenkins who is currently a redshirt freshman on the Missouri roster. http://www.smoaky.com/news/View.php?ArticleID=1946

July 13-16 - 6:00pm - 9:00pm Camp Hosted at Gilmer Buckeye Stadium Jeff Traylor has coached the Gilmer Buckeyes to 8 consecutive undefeated district championships and 2 state final appearances, including 1 state championship in 8 years. He is joined by Matt Turner and Alan Metzel from that championship staff. Nike sponsors the camp and provides topquality Nike gear including gloves, balls, shirts, etc. as give-a-ways. http://etpassingacademy.com/

Countdown To

By JOE DODD The Gilmer Buckeyes’ varsity blanked the Pittsburg Pirates 39-0 in the championship game of the 9th annual Buckeyes’ 7-on-7 tournament to win the title for the first time in three years. “It was really a good day for us, although we struggled all day,” said Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor, who saw his team dominate their first game; lose their second game; then win in overtime of their third game to make it out of pool play. Gilmer started the day with an impressive 61-18 thrashing of Class 4A Pine Tree. Buckeyes’ quarterback Darian “Stump” Godfrey threw touchdown passes on Gilmer’s first six possessions before giving way to backup Luke Turner, who threw touchdown passes on the Buckeyes’ final two possessions. Godfrey connected with Turner on the first score, before consecutive touchdown passes to Tristan Holt and Paul Chesnut were sandwiched around a scoring strike to Ben Griffith. Turner’s touchdown passes went to Gus Osborne and Tevin Godfrey. The Buckeyes’ other score ca...

Manuel Johnson brought his former coach, Jeff Traylor, some souvenirs from his collegiate career Wednesday. The Dallas Cowboys draftee brought jerseys from the University of Oklahoma, the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl. On two of the three, Johnson wore the number one. “I never allow anyone to use number one here,” Coach Traylor mused as he looked at the East-West Shrine Game jersey, “and that is the number he wore.” Many fans of the Gilmer Buckeyes, though, would be quick to acknowledge that if any alum of the school deserved to wear that numeral on his jersey, it would have to be the young man who led the Buckeyes to an undefeated 16-0 season and the state championship in 2004. As a rookie with the Dallas Cowboys, Johnson has the number 87, his first 2-digit number. “Yes, and I do not like it either,” Johnson commented. Recently, the Upshur County native went to his first workout with fellow Cowboy draft picks. Johnson was picked in the seventh round. On the second of the ...

By MARY L. KIRBY The phone rang in the other room, and everyone held their breath. “Hey, Daddy, I’m going to be a Dallas Cowboy!” came the shout from Manuel Johnson. Minutes later, about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, the ESPN2 channel flashed the message across the bottom of the screen: “Dallas Cowboys, Round 7, Number 229, Manuel Johnson, Oklahoma.” Whoops and hollers went up in the home of Eleanor Johnson on FM 2263 in the Long Pine Community. Lula Johnson started videotaping the reaction of her brother, Manuel Johnson, Sr., while her mother, Helen Johnson, stood in the doorway taking it all in. Manna Johnson, Reyven Osborne and Landon Osborne all joined in the celebration of the success of their cousin, Manuel Johnson, Jr., only the second National Football League draft pick in history from Gilmer High School. Kenneth Pettway, the first GHS pick, was selected in 2005 by the Houston Texans in the seventh round out of Grambling State. He has spent four years in the NFL, playing for the Texans, Ja...

GILMER, Texas — It’s every little boy’s dream…at least the ones who grow up in East Texas. Be the star quarterback of the high school football team. Lead your team to a State Championship. Win the State’s Most Valuable Player Award. Go off to a major university on a football scholarship and score touchdowns on national television. Then get drafted by The Dallas Cowboys. Most guys don’t even get the privilege of experiencing the first two sentences of this paragraph. Then again, as anybody from Gilmer, Texas will tell you…Manuel Johnson is not “Most guys.” One of Gilmer’s favorite sons, the All-State Wide Receiver, 3A State Player of the Year and State Champion, turned star Oklahoma Sooner Super Star, has now reached the stratospheric highlight of his athletic career…selected in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. To put it mildly, he is “Living the Dream.” And once again, Manuel Johnson has invited his home town along for the ride. For those who really know Manuel, he’s about as ...

Oklahoma WR Manuel Johnson rounds out the Dallas dozen. The Cowboys took Johnson with the 229th overall pick, their 12th pick of the day. The 5-11, 189-pound Johnson could stick as a slot receiver. He had 42 catches for 719 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior despite missing one game with a dislocated elbow.

By JOE DODD The ranks of former Gilmer Buckeyes playing at the college level received a boost Wednesday when seven Gilmer seniors signed letters of intent to continue their athletic careers after graduation from high school. “That puts us in the sixties. I don't know the exact number, but it's at least up in the mid sixties of kids that have furthered their education by playing in our program,” said Gilmer head football coach and athletic director Jeff Traylor, who watched his ninth class of seniors sign letters of intent. Dakota Hagler, named to the Texas Sports Writer's Association's All-State first team last week, signed with Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. Hunter Harrison and Josh Thompson signed with Louisiana College in Pineville, La. Prentess Bell, Zack Jones and Jonathon Rockwell signed with Lon Morris College in Jacksonville. D.J. Stanley signed a baseball scholarship to attend Texarkana College. Traylor praised his seniors and the people who helpe...

By JOE DODD Six Gilmer football players were named to the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) Academic All-State Team for the 2008 season. The team is selected by a point system that awards points for GPA, class rank and ACT or SAT score. Seniors Adam Martin and Jared Harborth were named to the Elite Team, representing the highest point total that can be achieved. To earn Elite team status, a student-athlete must have a GPA of 92 or above through his high school career, be a member of the team in good standing, and be of good moral character. Senior Hunter Harrison was named to the 2nd Team, while seniors Tyrone Fort, Hayden Holmes, and D.J. Stanley received Honorable Mention. “This is really what high school sports is supposed to be about,” said Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor. “It's just a great testament to how many hours those kids practiced and still studied and kept their grades up. For us to have that many kids on the team is a great reflection of what kind of paren...

By JOE DODD Gilmer senior offensive lineman Dakota Hagler earned first team honors in the Associated Press Sports Editors Class 3A All-State Team released this week. Four other Buckeyes received honorable mention accolades. Hagler helped the Buckeyes to a 12-2 record this season, leading Gilmer with 110 pancake blocks, while grading out at 95 percent on his blocking assignments. “I was happy for Dakota,” said Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor. “It’s a great honor for him, it is well deserved.” Hagler started on the offensive line as a sophomore before switching to the defensive line his junior year. Coaches then asked Hagler to move back to the offensive line his senior season. “He’s just a very unselfish team player. He’s always played wherever we needed him to go. He’d much rather play defense, but he just did what was best for the team. He was a team captain and had a great career at Gilmer.” Honorable mention nods went to senior defensive lineman Jonathan Rockwell, junior quarterback ...

By JOE DODD The Gilmer Buckeyes placed 29 players on the District 17-3A All-District team released this week. Stump Godfrey, Mikey Wilson and Gus Osborne received superlative honors, while 17 Buckeyes made the first team and nine more made the second team. Six other Gilmer players were named honorable mention. “When 35 of your kids get some kind of recognition, that's one heck of a year,” said Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor, who was honored as Coach of the Year along with his staff. Godfrey, the Buckeyes' junior quarterback, shared district MVP honors with Chapel Hill running back Matthew Tucker. Godfrey passed for 2,883 yards and 34 touchdowns, while running for 885 yards and 18 touchdowns in leading the Buckeyes to a 12-2 record. Wilson, a junior linebacker, was named co-defensive MVP with Chapel Hill nose guard Kadarius Reeder. Wilson had 144 tackles for the Buckeyes and led the team in turnovers, collecting four interceptions and three fumble recoveries, to help the Buckeye...

Don't anyone get alarmed at the headline. This isn't about Coach Jeff Traylor. We can only hope that a similar story will be written about him in the year 2050 or so.

From the Longview News-Journal: Bulldogs outduel Buckeyes in playoff showdown Final - Carthage 31, Gilmer 28 From the Tyler Morning Telegraph: Carthage Holds Off Late Gilmer Rally From The Gilmer Mirror : Carthage ends Buckeyes' season in 31-28 thriller By JOE DODD Carthage Bulldogs' running back Dwight Smith ran over and around the Gilmer Buckeyes for 217 yards and three touchdowns, as the Bulldogs ended the Buckeyes' season with a 31-28 win in the Class 3A Division II Region III Final Saturday night at Homer Bryce Stadium on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. “It was just a great game between two teams and they just happened to win tonight,” said Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor, who led his team to a 12-2 record this season. Before an estimated 12,000 fans, Smith led the Bulldogs to a commanding 17-point halftime lead over the Buckeyes, then scored the final Bulldogs' touchdown to help hold off a furious Buckeyes' rally in the second h...

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...

From the Houston Chronicle: Bellville falls to Giddings in Division II Region IV final From the Austin American-Statesman: Berry is Giddings' shoelace ace in win over Bellville From the Tyler Morning Telegraph: Gilmer, Carthage Face Off From the Longview News-Journal: Buckeyes, Bulldogs at a glance From KETK Tyler: Gilmer QB has them Stumped Darian 'Stump' Godfrey Wins and Wins From KYTX Tyler: Longview, Gilmer Will Have Their Hands Full in State Quarters From Dave Campbell's TEXAS FOOTBALL: Class 3A Round Four Games to Watch Gilmer/Carthage prediction from TexasFootball.com From KLTV Tyler: Buckeyes meeting high expectations again From the Panola Watchman: 3A game of the year approaches Bulldogs crush the Tigers dreams Sports Snapshots From The Gilmer Mirror : Buckeyes face Bulldogs at SFA Listen Live Saturday night Dec. 6 The Gilmer Buckeyes (12-1) will take on the Carthage Bulldogs (11-2) in the Class 3A Division II Region III Final (aka state quarterfinal round) on ...