metalhead10

Thanks for the great pictures from the game. Fantastic job!! Haven't had time to post but briefly on Saturday, but I need to say this: I have never been happier to be so WRONG and to have to EAT CROW however the Gilmer coaches want to serve it to me. I've been hard on them and the defense all season long, with good reason I think, but the performance they put on in the game on Friday was Spectacular. The game plan/scheme for all the games after the Sunnyvale debacle was right on point and the Coaches and Players really came through and executed. Still can't believe that we were able to win State with this defense. Everyone knew that the offense was Fantastic and one of the best offenses we have ever fielded, but that defense just wasn't there. The coaches realized this and worked and rearranged the defense and the kids playing on defense and eventually came up with a defense that was able to win a State Championship. Beating Carthage in Tyler was so sweet, but it would not have mattered if we had not won it all, and by God, that is exactly what the Gilmer coaches and players pulled off. With my hat in my hand, I say, Congratulations to the Gilmer coaching staff and all the kids who contributed to this great Championship. Y`all really amazed me on Friday. Now let's really make it a special run and repeat as State Champs in Track next year! Can't wait for realignment to come out and see what region and district everyone ends up in. A lot of great teams moved into 4A DII, so it's going to be tough sledding next year in the playoffs. And I wouldn't put it past the UIL to put Gilmer and Carthage in the same district, just because. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year....been a lot of good that happened this year and some absolute tragedies that occurred......Here's to 2024 and a fresh start!

Just poking at you...... I know you know and love your East Texas High School Football, just like me.....just kind of a strange way to put it......"Admirable performance"............. Thank you for the kind words and support.

"Admirable"?

I know y`all been having fun with 89Falcon, and he's trolling, but #99 for Bellville is an awesome player. Any team in Texas would want him on their team. I'm looking forward to seeing him play in person on Friday........The same way that Bellville fans should be looking forward to seeing #1 for Gilmer play in person. You won't likely see speed like #1 has anytime again soon, and just like #99 for Bellville, any team in Texas would want #1 from Gilmer on their team. Two fantastic athletes. Bellville runs their offense exceptionally well AND unlike a lot of slot/wing T offenses, they have some RBs who are darn good athletes and have some good speed. Seems like a lot of slot/wing T offensive teams rely on perfect execution and timing to get yards (Liberty Hill in 2007 was an absolute machine), Bellville has this and good athletes on top of it. They are going to move the ball and score some points on Gilmer, that's a given. They will probably score a good amount of points to be honest. That being said, I watched the Bellville/Wimberley game and it was a great one. I love the Wimberley QB. He' built kind of like a fire hydrant and doesn't really look like much, but I would take him on my team any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Great effort from that kid. He was 24 for 31 passing for 275 yards and ran the ball 40 times for 200 yards.....And he does not have one single receiver/running back that could start for Gilmer and he wouldn't be the starting QB for Gilmer either. That's not a knock on the Wimberley kids, it's just that Gilmer is exceptionally talented at the skill positions. If the Gilmer coaches implement the right game plan Gilmer, it should have the Buckeyes scoring a lot of points, and I do mean a lot of points. So as has been the story of this unexpected season from the Buckeyes, they will have to outscore Bellville, and the right game plan will do just that. Gilmer seems to ALWAYS struggle with slot/wing T offenses, so it's going to take a near perfect effort from the Buckeyes, but they have come this far, why not win just one more game that they are picked to lose. Safe travels to everyone.

Yeah, Greg Tepper can be a bit annoying. Especially when he says Bellville Bray-Ma's......... I think he's a Midwesterner transplant that lives in either Austin or DFW. That being said, Bellville should be the favorite. They have the record/stats/players/wins to earn that. And the offense they play almost always gives Gilmer teams headaches. We will see if the Gilmer coaches can come up with a great game plan/scheme for the third week in a row, pull off yet another upset, and finally bring home another State Championship for the Buckeyes.

Great Job Gilmer Coaching Staff!! Wasn't expecting to win by that big of a margin, but the Gilmer Coaches put it on GR. I really liked that they put Will back in to burn GR one more time when GR was acting a fool and still trying to extend the game.

Great Job Buckeyes!!! I had confidence we would win, but the GR passing attach was a legit threat. #3 for GR is a fantastic TX high school football player....I'd take that kid on my team every time. #24 on GR was a tough S.O.B. also. That being said, this game should not have been even as close as it was. GR should have accepted the defeat, run the ball up the middle, let the clock run, and Gilmer would do the same. Just get it over with and nobody gets hurt. But GR has to push it, so Gilmer puts in Henderson for one run for a 50 yard TD to remind them of their place. GR coach is darn good, no doubt, but the way he handled the second half of this game was not the way I have seen other classy coaches handle it.

Gilmer needs to run the darn ball down their throat. And it's pretty easy to figure out GR offense, if #24 isn't in on offense, then there is a 95% chance they are going to #3. We shall see.

If the Gilmer coaches come up with the right game plan/scheme and the Buckeyes execute it, the Buckeyes win. If they don't, it will be like when we played Sweetwater in 2016 in Waco. Glen Rose will pick us apart even though we are more athletic and have more speed. Caveat, didn't matter who won that game, WOS was the best team in 4A in 2016. Glen Rose is a very well coached team and disciplined. We have them out matched for athletes and speed. It's up to the coaches to come up with the right game plan and make the adjustments needed. And it's up to the Buckeyes to make the plays on defense which they have shown they can, when it counts. The Buckeyes showed some resilience on defense against Carthage, despite the struggles all year. And let's not forget, Carthage still scored 44 points, but the Buckeyes won. Glen Rose is going to score some points, simple as that. Their passing attach is fantastic and they just keep coming with it. Thankfully, they don't have a running QB, which is a HUGE advantage to Gilmer. Glen Rose defense won't be able to keep Buckeyes out of the endzone, but they will be able to get some stops. They are that disciplined. I think it it's a close game till the 4th quarter when Gilmer goes up by 10+ points and the game is over. If the Gilmer coaches do their homework and the Buckeyes execute it without any turnovers and hopefully without any referee problems (the refs have been all over the place this season) Gilmer wins. Safe travels to all .

Nope. Born, raised, and played for Gilmer. Been to hundreds of Gilmer games over the decades, I just call it like it is. The defense has allowed more points than any other defense in Gilmer's history as far as I know. They coaches have made some huge mistakes during the season, like getting out coached and schemed and almost beat by Sunnyvale, a team that should have been beaten by 3 or 4 TD's. But, they do get some credit for continuing to work and adjust and they proved that they can scheme a good game against a great opponent. I gave them a 5% chance of winning Friday, and that was only if Carthage played terrible and Gilmer played lights-out and got some breaks. I was wrong and I'm glad I was.

Already said I have been very critical of the defense and the coaching this year, and rightfully so, but they deserve credit for grinding away and getting better, although still nowhere as good as they should be. Maybe you should learn to read before running off at the mouth.

agree with everything you said. As they grew they let Aron Bell go back to being middle LB and he has been doing a great job.

That was 2006 when L.E. put it on us in the first round and won state. 2005 we got beat 61-58 by Canton, which I believe was the last time we have lost at Rose Stadium. I got to say this, I have been very critical of the Gilmer defense and coaches this year and I think rightfully so, but they deserve credit. They have worked and worked and pulled off a shocker last night. They have adjusted the defense throughout the year and it still ain't that great, but it won last night! I don't get how our coaches completely get out coached and schemed by a team like Sunnyvale, who we should have beat by multiple touchdowns, but barely beat by a last second field-goal, and then turn around and coach and scheme as good a game as they did against one of the greatest duos of all-time in Coach Surratt and Coach Preston. That shows that Metzel and his staff CAN do it, but WILL they do it. Guess we will see next week if they are on top of things, or if this really was just a "lightening in a bottle" type game for Gilmer against Carthage. Hope they got it figured out and beat Glenn Rose. And for Carthage, as always, what a pleasure to play such a class program. Y`all are the cream of the crop. Coaches, Players, Fans, etc.......just top notch. Y`all are going to be scary next 2 years. I can't wait to see how good that sophomore RB is as a Senior, that kid has it. Same thing with Jett. And #70 for Carthage is a hell of a player. I think he played almost every snap on the o O-Line and D-Line.....that's impressive.

Thanks.

What a great group of kids

And I thought Carthage had a couple of sophomore linemen starting, Am I wrong on that?

Agree with you for the most part. I think they have had some freshmen play a little more than that, but just the fact they are on Varsity and getting ANY playing time is amazing. Such a talented group of kids for Carthage for the next 2/3 years!

I'm born and raised in Gilmer and played for Gilmer. Got a job in Carthage this year and moved here. Just like most small East Texas towns, Carthage is fantastic. I've been treated like an old friend by people I would meet for the first time. As far as criticism for bad fans......... What's the old saying, every town has the village idiot......All East Texas towns have them, Gilmer, Carthage, Gladewater (more than most in Gladewater), etc......... As far as this game. I've been to 3 Carthage games this year and the rest of the time I was at the Gilmer games. Both teams have gotten better............. Here's the thing, Carthage is loaded with Freshmen and Sophomores. This is the youngest team they have fielded since the Surratt Era, and they have done nothing but get better all season. Gilmer has a darn good offense. TONS of Speed and Athleticism, EVEN for Gilmer. These guys are fast and athletic. Problem is the Gilmer Defense is non-existent. It has definitively gotten better, but against weaker opponents. Here is what I think it boils down to, Gilmer has to play their best game and Carthage has to play their worst game with multiple turnovers for Gilmer to have a CHANCE to win. If that doesn't happen and both teams play to their capable abilities, Gilmer may be able to have the game somewhat close in the 3rd Quarter, but there is no way that I see that the Buckeye defense can stop the Carthage offense. That Bulldog O-Line is just to big and good, even thought they are so young. Carthage should win this game, and unless Gilmer is able to break some long plays, we won't score 21 points. If Carthage wins State this year, I think Surratt has a VERY good chance of going undefeated the next two seasons and winning two more Championships. that could be 4 straight undefeated seasons and championships. But as all the Carthage fans know and most of the Buckeye fans know, Surratt is focused on Friday and Friday only. That's just part of why he is so damn great. Looking forward to it on Friday. My Carthage co-workers have been so great and we have had a blast this season talking about football. I hope whoever wins this game wins State. Simple as that. See y`all there.

No trigger. Very cool that you are volunteering to give names and phone numbers here on Smoaky........... Let's have them...... Post them right here....... Names and Phone numbers........list them and I'll check your sources........... Looking forward to it.

You are so full of poop and you know it. All your holier than thou crap is just that with regard to Carthage. Jeff Traylor and Scott Surratt are cut from the same cloth. In the playoffs, they will play their starters, period. Maybe give them a punishment for half a quarter or something, but, WINNING is what matters. Period. Same reason the QB from Aubrey will play against Gilmer on Friday after suffering a massive concussion that should keep him out at least two games. He'll be back this Friday, because they want to win.

I agree with you, Carthage will grind PG down and win. The kid PG has at QB came from LE when he was in 9th or 10th grade, I can't remember. He's been hurt and had injuries every year that he has been at PG. As far as I remember this is the first season that he has played the entire season without missing a lot of games due to injury. He's a heck of an athlete, but not a QB. They just put him back there and let him go, he's that good of an athlete, and has a good football IQ.....

Hate to agree with you, but I think you are right. Gilmer will have a snowball's chance in hell against Carthage or PG. That Carthage vs. PG game should be a darn good game. If any of you are close, I would encourage you to show up and support East Texas High School Football and go to this game. It's going to be a good one and will likely decide who wins State in 4A D2.

Thank You so much for the information!!!

Very good idea. That would work for both teams!

thank you.