Just how good are the Gilmer Buckeyes?

Over the past 6 seasons, the Gilmer Buckeyes have compiled a record of 75 wins and 7 losses. The Buckeyes have suffered only two regular season losses during that same period. Gilmer has played in two state title games in the last six seasons, winning a championship in 2004. All of the success has not gone unnoticed. The Buckeyes have not fallen out of the AP 3A top ten since 2005. In 2009, Gilmer will likely begin the season at, or near, the top of the AP poll once again. So, just how good are the Gilmer Buckeyes?

Despite all of Gilmer’s recent success, there have been a few heartbreaking losses along the way. Some observers even feel that the Buckeyes have missed a few golden opportunities to capture more playoff wins and possibly even another title or two.

Jeff Traylor took over as Gilmer’s head coach in 2000. After posting some solid winning seasons in 2000, 2001 and 2002, the program really hit its groove in 2003. The 2003 Buckeyes featured Derek McKenzie at quarterback and Manny Johnson at receiver. The duo led Gilmer to a 13-1 record. Gilmer’s only loss in 2003 was to eventual 3A state champion Atlanta in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs. Although Gilmer did not make it to the state title game in 2003, the Buckeyes had served notice to the rest of East Texas – the Buckeyes were on the rise.

In 2004, Manny Johnson moved from receiver to quarterback. The position change worked for Manny and the Buckeyes. Johnson posted over 4,000 passing yards and picked up more than 1,000 yards rushing while leading the Buckeyes to an undefeated season and their first ever state title. Buckeye fans were practically foaming at the mouth.

In 2005, Manny Johnson took his game north of the Red River to play for some guy named Stoops. Jamell Kenedy took over the reigns as the Buckeyes’ quarterback and found a favorite target in wide receiver Curtis Brown. However, Gilmer suffered its first regular season loss in nearly 3 years at the hands of the Daingerfield Tigers. Daingerfield’s 26-17 win over the Buckeyes ended Gilmer’s 21 game winning streak. Gilmer regrouped after the loss to Daingerfield and finished the regular season at 9-1.

Gilmer exacted some revenge by ousting Daingerfield in the first round of the playoffs with a 42-32 win before playing one of the most memorable playoff games in the history of Texas high school football. In the Area round of the playoffs, Canton and Gilmer combined to score 119 points, third most points ever scored in a Texas high school football playoff game. Behind the play of G.J. Kinne, who accounted for 6 touchdowns, Canton eventually outscored Gilmer 61-58. Canton later lost to eventual state champion Tatum in the quarterfinals.

Despite the second round playoff loss the year before, expectations were high for the 2006 Buckeyes, even before Canton’s G.J. Kinne decided to transfer to Gilmer. With the addition of a record setting quarterback to a roster already filled with Division 1 talent like Lamar Harris, Curtis Brown and Justin Johnson the Buckeyes seemed destined to return to the state championship game. Gilmer fans literally floated around town on billowy clouds.

Kinne and the Buckeyes did little during the regular season to dampen the euphoric mood of the Buckeye faithful. The Buckeyes went 10-0 during the regular season outscoring their opponents by an average of more than 40 points a game. Kinne passed for more than 3,200 yards and the high-powered Gilmer offense averaged better than 55 points per game in the regular season. Gilmer entered the playoffs ranked number 1 in the AP poll.

Then the unthinkable happened. Gilmer faced the Liberty-Eylau Leopards in the first round of the 2006 playoffs. Gilmer came into the game as a heavy favorite, but LaMichael James, Will Middlebrooks and the rest of the Leopards had other things in mind. Liberty-Eylau used a strong running game, ball-control offense, and a pair of Gilmer turnovers to stun the Buckeyes 39-36. Liberty-Eylau went on to capture the state title. Gilmer watched the final month of the football season from home.

So it was that Gilmer entered the 2007 season with something to prove. After a long off-season, Buckeye fans and players were anxious to start a new season. Gone were University of Texas commits, Curtis Brown and G.J. Kinne. Back were standout wide receiver, Lamar Harris and star running back, Justin Johnson. For the second year in a row, Gilmer landed one of the best players in the state, when wide receiver Houston Tuminello, a former teammate of G.J. Kinne at Canton, transferred to Gilmer. Also back was highly recruited offensive lineman, David Snow. Gilmer’s record setting offense seemed primed for yet another run at some video game type numbers. The only question seemed to be, who would get the keys to the Ferrari?

Enter Darian “Stump” Godfrey. The sophomore phenom took over as the Buckeyes’ quarterback and wasted little time in proving he could fill the huge void left by Kinne’s graduation. Behind Godfrey and Johnson, the Buckeyes’ offense averaged better than 54 points per game in the regular season. For the fourth time in five years Gilmer finished the regular season undefeated.

As fate would have it, Gilmer faced Liberty-Eylau in the first round and this time left little doubt about who was the better team. Gilmer dispatched the Leopards 41-26 in the bi-district matchup. Gilmer rode their high-powered offense all the way to the state finals where they ran into the Liberty Hill Panthers. On a cold and windy afternoon in Waco, Liberty Hill throttled Gilmer 38-13.

Some Buckeye fans blamed the windy conditions and Godfrey’s banged up hand on the loss. But, the truth is, there was probably not a 3A team in the state that could have beaten the Panthers that day. Liberty Hill ran the ball at will against the Buckeyes’ “Black Flag” defense and Liberty Hill’s defense just simply did not miss tackles. The Buckeyes had reached the title game for the second time in four years but had come up short of a championship.

2008 began with a lot of questions for the Buckeyes. Gilmer’s offense, which had been so productive over the last five seasons had lost 10 starters, including Oklahoma commits Justin Johnson and Lamar Harris, Texas commit, David Snow and Louisiana Tech commit, Houston Tuminello. Gilmer’s offense had one returning starter, “Stump” Godfrey.

While the 2008 version of the Gilmer Buckeyes did not have as much “star-quality” as some recent Gilmer teams, the Buckeyes had a very balanced and talented team. In 2008, Gilmer’s offense averaged better than 45 points per game. The Buckeyes had 4 players with at least 25 receptions and 5 players with better than 200 yards rushing.

Gilmer hit a bump in the road in week 4 when they faced off against traditional 4A power Kilgore. The Bulldogs used the tenacious running of Frank Reddic and a senior laden offensive line to grind out a hard fought victory over the Buckeyes. The 28-14 loss to Kilgore ended Gilmer’s regular season winning streak at 27 games.

Despite the loss, Gilmer ended the regular season at 9-1 ready to make another deep run in the playoffs. As the playoffs began, the anticipation of a Gilmer – Carthage matchup was already brewing. After two early season losses to 4A teams Kilgore and Nacogdoches, Carthage was steam rolling teams behind running back Dwight Smith, quarterback SiDarius Blackshire and an imposing offensive line.

In one of the most anticipated games of the year in East Texas, Carthage defeated Gilmer 31-28 in the state quarterfinal round. Carthage dominated the first half with the running game and stellar defense. Gilmer made a valiant comeback in the second half but eventually fell just short. Carthage would go on and win the state championship as many people predicted the winner of the Gilmer – Carthage contest would do. The loss marked the fourth time in six years that Gilmer had lost in the playoffs to the eventual state champion.

The past 6 seasons have arguably been the best period in the long history of Gilmer football. However, some Buckeye fans have been left wondering what could have been. Success breeds high expectations. For some, anything less than a state championship in 2009 will be a disappointment. That is a pretty heavy cross to bear. Welcome to Gilmer Buckeye football in the 2000’s.

The 2009 edition of the Gilmer Buckeyes will once again be loaded. Godfrey returns for his senior year. Leading rusher Jeremy Jackson is back as well. The majority of the offensive line returns as do receivers Kedon Franklin and Braylon Webb. On the defensive side of the ball, Gilmer returns several players. Luis Castro, Marlon Granville, Mikey Wilson, Vance Green and Triston Holt all return to a very good defensive unit. In all, 18 starters return from 2008’s 12-2 squad.

So, what does 2009 hold in store for the Buckeyes? Will Gilmer make it back to the promised land, or will we be coaxing Buckeye fans in off the ledge for the sixth time in seven years? Only time will tell. But, one thing is for certain, with Traylor and the Buckeyes, it should be interesting.