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.

Northeast Texas 2A Players to Watch in 2009

Nate Jeffery - RB - Caddo Mills
Payne Schulke - DB - Prairiland
Zach McLemore - WR - Prairiland
Chase Stogsdill - OL - Prairiland
Tanner Connot - LB - Prairiland
Randall Sessums - DE - Prairiland
Brandon Graham - LB - Prairiland
Jeremy Eddington - QB/DE - Paris Chisum
Zach Millsap - WR - Paris Chisum
Kolton Porter - LB - Paris Chisum
Sloan Moss - DB - Paris Chisum
H.B. Rosser - QB - Clarksville
Keyondrion Harris - LB - Clarksville
Ryan Kennedy - DL - Rivercrest
Deonta Henderson - WR - Hooks
Ty Lewis - TE/DE - Redwater
Richard Pittman - RB - Union Grove
Andy Hounsel - WR/DB - New Diana
Travis Barton - QB - New Diana
Terry Newsome - RB - New Diana
Beau Brewer - DB - New Diana
Hunter Jenkins - DL - New Diana
Josh Davis - DT - San Augustine
Austin Lunsford - OL - Garrison
Scooter Ross - RB - Garrison
Dedtrick Smith - RB/DB - Frankston
Chris Jones - WR - Daingerfield
Tyler Boyd - QB - Daingerfield
Donald Bryant - OL/DL - Daingerfield
Scott Irvin - DB - Daingerfield
Josh Evans - LB - Daingerfield
Garrett Hughes - WR/DB - Daingerfield
Floyd Chism - WR - Daingerfield
Joe Lafayette - WR/DB - Daingerfield
Chris Robertson - DE - Daingerfield
KoKo Smith - RB - Daingerfield
Steve Edmond - DL - Daingerfield
Jerome Whetstone - DB - Pewitt
D.J. Burleson - RB - Pewitt
Sean Gulley - OL/DL - Pewitt
Jerry Braddock - LB - Pewitt
Grant Cason - OL - Pewitt
Jacob Morton - TE - Pewitt
Lavocheya Cooper - RB/S - Arp
Michael Wade - RB/DB - Arp
Clint Copeland - WR - Arp
Jamie Warren - DT - Arp
Dusty Taliaferro - C - Arp
Kendall Scott - LB - Arp
Tywan Scott - WR - Arp
Seth Stroupe - RB/LB - Arp
Connor Sharp - QB - White Oak
Junior Hamilton - RB - White Oak
Jackson McCurdy - RB - White Oak
Adam Thompson - LB - White Oak
Skylar Barnes - DE - White Oak
Austin Tubbs - QB - White Oak
Ben Adams - OL/DL - White Oak
Damon Gray - DB - Jefferson
Trevor Murphy - TE/DL - Jefferson
D.J. McDonald - WR - Jefferson
Clarence Lee - WR - Jefferson
Destin Mosley - RB - Jefferson
Devin Figures - S - Jefferson
Chris Anthony - DE - Jefferson
Keenan Marshall - DL - Jefferson
Dallas Moore - DB - Jefferson
Trent Smith - QB - Jefferson
Dominique Smith - DB - West Rusk
Josh Medord - S - West Rusk
Santos Gonzales - FB - West Rusk
Jonathan Brewer - LB - West Rusk
Johnny Fauver - LB - West Rusk
Chris Savala - LB - West Rusk
Der'rick Thompson - WR - Troup
Derrick Cassell - WR/DB - Troup
Ryan Nichols - QB/DB - Troup
Ryan Whittemore - LB - Harmony
Erik Hebert - DB - Harmony
Colby Seahorn - TE/DL - Harmony
Jonathon Hanson - OL - Harmony
Jordan Argabright - WR - Harmony
Luke Laminack - RB - Harmony
Kolby Hogan - LB - Harmony
Brandon Lindsey - LB - Hughes Springs
Nolan Stricklin - LB - Hughes Springs
James Dufner - DL - Hughes Springs
Davuntae Hatten - RB - Hughes Springs
Chris Scaggs - OL/DL - Hughes Springs
Aaron Roach - TE/DL - Hughes Springs
Brent Giddens - TE/DB - Hughes Springs
Greg Gaston - RB/LB - Linden Kildare
Colton Watson - WR/QB/P/LB - Linden Kildare
Rodney Sutton - DB - Elysian Fields
Stanley Roquemore - DL - Elysian Fields
Tyler McKee - RB - Elysian Fields
Austin Delk - QB - Elysian Fields
Santos Duran - TE - Elysian Fields
Pat Faulk - QB - Kerens
Connor Lloyd - WR - Harleton

Big Frank's Football

Big Frank's Football? I know, right? Does the world really need another amateur blogger?

No, probably not.

NorthEast Texas is a hotbed for high school football. Some of the best athletes, coaches, and programs in the state are right here in my backyard. Every fall, communities all over NorthEast Texas roll up the streets and head to the football stadiums on Friday nights to witness some of the best high school football in the country.

I go to a lot of high school football games. I try to find a really good matchup between two of the better teams in the area and make it to that game. For the most part, I follow Texas 2A football. But, during the year I always seem to make it to a few 3A and 4A games and the occassional 5A game.

Everybody knows the only thing better than watching a good football game, is talking about it. And, noone likes to talk (or write) about it more than me. I am a member and frequent poster on David Smoak's high school football website, Smoaky.com ("SDC"). Smoaky has a great thing going with the website and it is a lot of fun. Tiger Nation has an "online army" over on SDC and loves to mix it up with other football fans. You will recognize me on SDC as franksnbeans. Hence, "Big Frank's" Football.

The purpose of Big Frank's Football is really just to have my own sounding board for my opinions and thoughts on the teams and players I have seen play. I understand my opinions and thoughts matter about as much as Jessica Alba's IQ, but I thought it would be fun to write them down nonetheless. Besides, idle hands are the devil's workshop.

Another purpose of the blog, is so that I can post pictures of the games I attend. I have always wanted to do this and have recently entered the world of SLR Digital Photography with the purchase of a Canon Rebel XSi. I am hoping to get some really nice pictures to share with everyone. And, when I say everyone, I mean the six or seven friends and family members I can convince to read my blog.

During the offseason, I will write about some of the best players and teams in East Texas for the coming season. I also intend to write about some of the most highly anticipated games of the 2009 season. I will have a weekly poll question. (See the poll question regarding the best runningbacks in East Texas for 2009). And, I will update the video bar at the bottom of the page as often as possible with Texas High School football related videos. (check out the videos of Nate Jeffery from Caddo Mills below).

During the season, I will write mostly about the next game I plan to attend or the game I attended the prior week. With any luck, I will be able to post a slideshow of the game photos, as well.

If you have read this far, you must be a real high school football fan or just sick in the head. Please take time to vote in the poll and comment about the blog. I would appreciate any suggestions or constructive criticism you might have. Also, if you have a topic that would make a good poll question or blog subject please let me hear it.


Thanks!

Big Frank