buckeyefandom

NFHS has picked up the game. I don’t know if they will send their own crew or use Prosper’s in hours video. Gilmer broadcast is audio only and available on www.GilmerBuckeyes.com

Last team to beat Gilmer in a true shootout was a guy named GJ Kinne in Canton in 2006 I think? That was a state playoff record doe points scored at the time if I remember. I don’t expect that kind of game Friday. That may keep us all there until Midnight! I especially agree about all 4 teams left being capable of winning it all, but Gilmer seems to be the strongest of the bunch offensively. Whataburgers are open 24/7. So we’ll be good from here to Christmas! Can’t wait to see what happens. Good luck to all four great teams.

Good stuff indeed! Much appreciated. From what I have seen on film for Celina (Argyle and Melissa games included… but they were very early in the season) It seems the Celina QB can throw from a clean pocket pretty well. But it makes sense now that you say he is a baseball player. Once Argyle got pressure and he started turning it over, Celina closed ranks and went to a straight power running game… lead left and lead right out of that 3 back set they run to the power side of an unbalanced line. That is just smash mouth football, and if I was Celina that is what I would use as my first line of defense, keeping Gilmer’s offense off the field by running clock and moving chains. If Celina does that, they need to keep it a 1 score game at least and stay out of catch-up mode. I do think Celina can throw the ball against Gilmer if the QB has time, but I would think that would be only in “have to” situations. And the more they have to, the more the game tilts towards a shootout. That favors Gilmer. It is “pick your poison” trying to stop Gilmer’s offense. I don’t think this will be the best defense Gilmer has faced. But that is not saying Celina doesn’t have a good defense. I just don’t think Celina has faced an offense like Gilmer. Winning the battle in the trenches is a threat to Gilmer if it keeps the ball out of the offense’s hands and limits the possessions. Let’s just say the more Celina can run the ball and move the clock, the better chance they have to win. If Gilmer gets the ball (coin flips, turnovers, special teams, etc.) I don’t think Celina will stop Gilmer from scoring. So for me it comes down to the same old story we have always seen back to 2003. Can Celina keep Gilmer’s offense off the field. That seems to be the strategic formula Celina should follow. Gilmer has won 95% of their games since 2000 when scoring 30+ points. Less than that they are .500. I think that is the real “game” for any team left that can beat Gilmer. That 2014 could score against anybody at any time. That was their best defense as well. Even in the 2014 State Championship game, WOS played a perfect first half and limited Gilmer’s opportunities. In the second half, adjustments were made defensively and WOS collapsed. This year’s offense for Gilmer is very comparable. No knock on Carter or KB or Blake or anyone on that team. Obviously it was loaded talent wise. But Gilmer leaned a lot on that talent then and was fortunate nobody ran out of gas beyond the “Big 3”. This year the talent levels and speed are comparable, and spread a lot wider and deeper throughout the entire roster. In 2014 you could point to 4 guys and say “D1 Talent”. In 2021 you can point to more than that, but they are not all Srs. No question the water is as deep as the Buckeyes will see it with Celina and then whoever is next if Gilmer wins. But the Carthage teams Gilmer faced last year outmatched Gilmer on every front. The Carthage defense and team they played this year did not overmatch Gilmer. But they did outplay the Buckeyes for 3 quarters. And I can’t see that Celina, even playing Argyle saw the same caliber of speed and athleticism Carthage or Gilmer or WOS rolls out. Not the film I watched. I think Celina even had issues with Paris athletically, they just were not skilled enough as a team to score consistently on Celina. Regardless, the information is outstanding and highly appreciated! And I agree 100% with your assessment of it coming down to Celina winning in the trenches enough offensively to eat so much time they limit Gilmer’s snaps. PG is a “power team” that has seen a lot of Gilmer the past 5 years and figured out the formula for beating Gilmer. Last week they held Gilmer to 36 total offensive plays and won ToP 3:1. But the score was 22-0 at the half and the game was over. PG is huge (bigger than Celina) and very athletic. But I think Celina is a much deeper, better and more complete football team right now than PG. It will be interesting to see if Celina commits to ground and pound or tries to go toe to toe with the Buckeye offense. I think both teams on the other side of the bracket are rooting hard for Celina to win. All the “C Teams” left play the same style as Celina. That is what makes watching Gilmer compete against the best teams in the state with their philosophy so interesting. MikeHoncho… this is the internet. Works like your TV. If you don’t like what’s on, just change the channel. Rightly said, for Celina to win, they will need to make the most of their opportunities, get a few turnovers and limit Gilmer’s possessions. They also need to have a Grey start and play from in front on the scoreboard and ground and pound. For Gilmer, they need to do what the 2014 bunch did and have the great start (winning the coin flip wouldn’t hurt) and get out to at least a 3 drive 1st quarter, scoring on 2 of them. If Gilmer gets a 2 possession lead, Celina is going to feel pressure to throw and get back in it. They should avoid that temptation until they absolutely have no choice. It’s the semis! This is why they play them on the field!

I picked Carthage too! I wasn’t taking a shot at @MattStep. Far from it. I was pointing out that historically, they watch film and do their homework. I know PigSkinPrep does too. And their track record is usually pretty good. And they are both double digits in opposite directions? That makes no sense! So what is the reasoning? I stick to the logic and stay off the emotional trains, whose tracks do run on Smoaky which I am ok with too. But people I know and respect having options that different for teams they know well is worth exploring. I have seen who Celina has faced the last 7-8 weeks. I look at those scores and say that’s about right. Celina can’t control where they are or who they play. They beat the teams they needed to and here they are. Again. Facing Gilmer. Who is every bit Gilmer they have ever been. Celina (on film) is who they have traditionally been as well with a few exceptions (mainly their QB who throws well with a clean pocket, has turned it over when he gets hit, and is not the athlete with his legs past Celina QBs against Gilmer has been). But Celina is big, strong, play hard, tackle well and are fundamentally sound, and execute their scheme pretty well too. Really good team! Deserves to be here. But now they run into Gilmer again and history tells us Celina defenses have a hard time handling a fast, skilled, spread offense, especially with a really good QB running it. Gilmer may have the best combination of exactly those things they have ever had. Gilmer is bigger in the trenches than Celina thinks, and better in those critical roles than ever as well. So somebody who knows Celina explain to me why an offense that has put up 199 points against this defense since they first squared off is going to shut it down this time? All football this deep in the playoffs comes down to three things: Trenches, Turnovers and QB Play. I think Gilmer holds its own on the first, wins on the second and wins hands down on the third. The Buckeyes have averaged a point for every offensive play they run. If Celina can’t keep the ball away from them, they have to stop them cold. If both teams come out and play good ball, I don’t see how that is going to happen. Somebody convince me…

Agree 100%. There are no teams left standing since Thanksgiving that are not really good teams. And Celina is certainly one of them. And yes, we are talking about 15-18 year old kids. Gilmer has been on the wrong end of some “not ready to play” moments, one in the semis against a Region 1 team in Sweetwater (Gilmer people drive miles out of their way to this day to avoid Waco, Texas. So agree whole heartedly. Anybody can beat anybody at this point. That said, Gilmer (with this same offense) and Celina (with this same defense) has put up 199 points against them. I simply question why on earth Celina would keep doing the same things defensively again and again. 2014, 2015, 2016 Gilmer (and Coach Metzel specifically) put up 67, 44 & 43 points with essentially the same caliber kids playing the same defensive concept (6 man box, man free underneath). And my take on that is with this Gilmer offense, Celina should be prepared to score 55+ to beat Gilmer. And with Celina’s offense, IDK if they can do that against Gilmer’s defense. Now. If the Cats come out in cover 2 or 3, maybe they can keep the vertical damage to a minimum and keep that speed in front of them. But history shows Celina is a man free team who will do what they do, thinking they can stop anybody doing it. In 2015 they beat Gilmer 49-44 but they never stopped the offense. And I don’t think they have the offensive horse power to survive a shoot-out. Now if somebody from the Celina side wants to actually talk football, and make some logical arguments as to why Celina can do what they do and stop Gilmer, I would love to hear it. It’s what I am begging for… to learn something new I don’t know about this year’s team. I have seen all their game film. And they have not played anybody even remotely close to the offensive style and skill and speed of Gilmer. Paris was probably the closest thing, but not really. I love the passion of “Celina by 3TDs”. But explain why you think that is the case from a football perspective. So far, I am not learning anything new about the Bobcats. That sucks.

Says the same guy who had Caddo Mills beating Gilmer by 3 TDs a few weeks ago. I think TCU44 is really Jenn Psaki. (If I say it enough times and loud enough, SOMEBODY will believe me) It’s called a track record bro. And you really don’t have one. Sorry. Try 60 Minutes. They love propaganda.

@MattSteppalso had Carthage as his favorite to win it all again earlier this year, didn’t he?

Now you think Dave Campbell’s is a non profit too? @MattStepp watches film too, and then he SELLS SUBSCRIPTIONS! And after all these years I think he has learned the difference between Region 1 and Region 2. How many times have Dave Campbell and PigskinPrep picked opposite teams with a 20 point delta? Everybody turn on CNN and listen closely. They have some really important “News” to share!

Follow the $. How many Dave Campbell subscriptions do you think they sell in Upshur County, as opposed to that $$$$$ Area in the Metroplex? Dave Campbell, the UIL, they are ALL the “New NCAA”. How much money are they making off of high school kids!?!?! Watch the film. Coaches have. And you don’t have to be a coach to see what you see.

2016 Celina Gilmer Highlights

Here ya go… This was a huge transition year for Gilmer after 14 years of Coach Traylor left in 2015. This Gilmer team was one of my favorites, not because they were immensely talented, but because they played above their heads and with a lot of heart and were the first team to get back to the semis following a state title. Gilmer’s team speed was way down and they won a lot of close games, even beating Carthage by only 1 point if I recall in Longview that year. I think that 2015 Celina team was very similar to this year’s team as well, except the QB is not nearly as athletic now. I think the 2014 Celina QB was better than both. And maybe that 2014 Celina team would have had a better chance against WOS than the 2015 did the next week. This 2015 Celina / Gilmer bout was a GREAT GAME, which came down to turnovers and Celina getting a critical strip on DeMarco (Boyd, who went on with his brother Kris to Texas. Kris was #21 on the 2014 team, now with the Vikings). This 2015 Celina team is exactly the kind I expect to see Friday. The Gilmer team Friday is a lot closer to 2014 than 2015. Especially in the team speed department. And the QB now is on another level all together than 2014 & 2015 both. Heck, the QB you’ll see from Gilmer Friday is probably the best they’ve ever had. And given 2009 Mr Texas Football, MVP and State Champ Stump Godfrey from Gilmer, that is saying something. Stump himself is on faculty at Gilmer now and is very, very tight with both #11, and his brother, Freshman QB who wears Stump’s #10. He mentors a lot of the kids including the Gilmer QBs on and off the field, and will be on the sidelines. The “Championship Shadow” in the Gilmer Field House with former Buckeyes coaching now is special. Having “Buckeye Legends” on the sidelines with the kids is like having their own private stable of Super Heroes on their side. The influence they have on the Gilmer kids on and off the field is amazing. People forget that Coach Metzel and a lot of these Gilmer coaches have been here for decades. Celina is the same way. Coach Metzel was Stump’s QB Coach in 2009, and they are also very, very close. That “Big Brother” influence from current coaches who are former Buckeyes and wear State Rings themselves is one of the key reasons Gilmer is Gilmer. It is a real “Family” chemistry and some special men leading in the Field House. They are shepherding more than just a Championship Football Tradition.

China Spring is playing Cuero. Nobody from Gilmer is worried about anybody but Celina. Gilmer is the only NON “C” team left. 1 at a time.

Let’s see TCU44. What was your “Football god has spoken” prediction for Caddo Mills vs Gilmer? Mr “Gilmer season ends tonight! - football god” predicted Caddo Mills 45 Gilmer 20 ACTUAL SCORE Caddo Mills 31 Gilmer 68 They can test for numeric dyslexia now I understand? Until you can get some help, you may want to avoid algebra, the IRS and this prediction thing with high school football scores. Numbers may not be your thing.

Guilty of Attempted Humor. Kent State Flashes…. Worst D1 football program in history. Santa… lights up Christmas Trees. Coin Flip… win it, take the ball, steal a possession, plays, and likely points from Gilmer. Lose it, and you may find Celina down 14-0 with 8:00 still left in the 1st Quarter. See link below: Onside Kick to try and keep the Gilmer offense on the sideline (see link above. Celina tried several). The 2014 Celina team was touted as a big, physical, hard hitting and athletic team. Which they were. And the score was 33-0 at the end of the 1st quarter. This year’s Celina team is not as (fill in your complimentary adjective here) as 2014 in my opinion after watching the film. They are plenty good. They won their region and they should be as a Final Four team. But I think the 2014 Celina Team was really, really good. Gilmer has more size now than they did in 2014. Especially up front. They are more polished at QB and at the skill positions, the speed is on par as well. That 2014 team had #21, #9 (both Minnesota Vikings now) and a QB who was D1. They had lost one of their best friends (and best players) the summer before and they were on a mission. This year’s Gilmer team is very comparable, but a higher skill level offensively and bigger in the trenches. The past 5 weeks they are hitting their stride. Most Gilmer fans would tell you they still have not seen them play their best game. I have watched all the Celina games. Really good team, but not the best Celina team we have seen over the past decade. This year’s Gilmer team is Top 3 ever, and still lots of room to improve. Some of Gilmer’s best games historically have come against Celina. The schemes and matchup just favors the Buckeyes in terms of who they are and what they do. With 8 quarter (best case) for either team left in the season, you bring your best or you go to the gym. As it should be. Be a fan, back your team, support your kids and root your heart out for them. They deserve it. It is an incredible accomplishment to get here.

Uh…. Where did my post say THAT!?!?!?! Wait a minute…. Did I offend with my previous Kent State comment? Apologies to any KSU alumni (including yourself) who may have found my references to the Fine Flashes Football Program offensive. Allow me to be more specific in my implication. If Celina thinks they can have success with that man-free based scheme (which is all I have ever seen them do in 20 years), they had better be practicing coin flipping and on side kicks all week. Because this QB will treat man-free coverage like Santa treats Christmas Trees.

UCONN has given us a final score! Awesome. Let’s see. What is your record now predicting Gilmer games? (A friend of mine at Kent State may have a position for you at their school paper.)

You’re telling me? What are you telling me? Are you telling me history doesn’t matter when the exact same offenses and defenses with the same athletes (and literally the same gene pools in some cases) And the exact same coaches are going to be dramatically different this time? I watched the 2003 game live. Same story. “Title Town” was too big for lil ole Gilmer. The lesson was taught 18 years ago. Guess this is the “Last Class” opportunity to learn why bEastTexas is always repped at AT&T in the end? I am literally sending you film and asking simple and logical questions. I can’t spell it out any more clearly. But given your previous posts and predictions, Gilmer has been beat and is in the 3rd week of basketball season already, right? I guess we’ll see shortly if you finally get one right. You know what they say about broken clocks. (Go Huskies )

I think Smoak should institute a rating system next to posters names so we can see how their predictions have actually worked out. If we did, TCU44 should maybe change his handle to UCONNftbl44 I say this game lands at Celina 28 Gilmer 43 You have Celina by how many TDs? Let’s see who is closer on Saturday morning. They say history is the best teacher. So go look at this matchup since 2003 and ask yourself: 1) What (style) offense and defense was run in those games? 2) What was the caliber of players running those offenses and defenses? 3) Who were the actual coaches responsible for calling those games? I think it was Einstein who stated the definition of insanity as doing the exact same thing over and over again, but expecting a different result each time? Maybe Einstein watched film too ? Here’s a reminder: See ya Saturday morning. I understand those Huskies do play pretty good .

It is the Final 4. Every team left standing is good up front. And every team left is good enough to have a shot at winning it all. As our Gilmer Guru of stats points out every game, every year… Gilmer has a formula too: Since 2000 when Jeff Traylor (native to Gilmer and knowing the landscape) brought the spread offense to the Buckeyes and the concept of getting speed and athletes the ball in space, Gilmer is 217-12 (that is a 95% winning %) when scoring 30 or more points per game. When scoring less than 30 points per game, Gilmer is 37-33 (53%). That says it all. Alan Metzel has won 27 games and he is still only in his second year as HC. But he has been a critical mind for Gilmer’s offense, executing this formula for 20 years now. Coach Metzel is not “in” Gilmer. Coach Metzel IS Gilmer. I expect Celina to try and be Carthage in this game, just with an Orange C instead of a red one. They will try to control the LoS and make Gilmer stop their run game offensively. Defensively they will try to get penetration with 5 guys out of a 6 man box, blitzing from all angles to disrupt Gilmer’s rhythm. They will play press man coverage underneath with safeties over the top and force #11 to beat them with his feet (which he can) or his arm outside the pocket (which he can). Anything to create pressure, chaos and disruption for Gilmer’s offense will be Celina’s plan. And then allow their own offense to be their best defense. For Gilmer defensively, they must win 1st Downs. Celina can (and will) throw the ball. But the young QB is a distributor and a game manager. The Cats are huge upfront, but not very athletic. When they get into passing downs and get pressure (as Argyle did), the QB has turned it over. This is what avalanched on them in the 2014 matchup as well. Gilmer just overwhelmed them with speed and athleticism, and before they could stabilize things, Gilmer had scored and scored and scored again. If Gilmer keeps Celina behind the chains, their odds of Celina mistakes increase dramatically. But if Celina can constantly be in 2nd and 6 or less, they will be in a position to control the game. The coin toss will be as important as anything in this game. Both teams will want the ball as much as possible so they can establish the pace and flow of the game. But in general, the higher the score, the better it will be for Gilmer. The more the ball stays on the ground with the clock running, the better it will be for Celina. I expect nothing but tight, great games the rest of the way for all 3 games left. These are games played by 15-18 year old kids. They have all worked long and hard to earn this opportunity to be playing in December. Every town should be incredibly proud of their young men for reaching this pinnacle. And you do not get this far without being a really, really good football team. We have seen Celina and Gilmer eyeing each other from across the state and then squaring off in the playoffs since 2003. Cuero is also no stranger to Buckeye fans. So there is a ton of respect and admiration for programs that have done it at this level consistently for so many years. China Spring knocked off the #1 ranked back to back champs. And they eliminated WOS last night. Some would say they have won 2 State Championship caliber games already! And the Gobblers are still standing in their way. This is uncharted territory for them, but they are on the verge of having successfully run the gauntlet of what was a much more difficult tournament bracket to win. Hats off to all 4 teams, towns, schools, players, coaches and programs. We are honored to be in it still, and we are 100% aware that any of these teams could win the next 2 and claim the ring. And that is as it should be for a Final 4! But we love our team, and we love our chances too! Let’s see what happens!

Wasn’t Johnson an LE kid? That’s the problem in Texarkana. It’s the Wild West up there. Any kid can simply transfer anytime to any school they want. And it isn’t as simple as “changing to the spread” based on one kid. I don’t know if a hawk can exchange it’s feathers with a roadrunner and still be a hawk, but I do know PG’s entire program identity is based on power football. The success they have had is built around doing what they do. Go and watch the lower level games. Carthage and Gilmer are loaded. They develop the kids they have inside the system they have and have been consistently dominant for decades. That is not going to change anytime soon. But when PG (or LE who won a State Title not that long ago as well) see their best athletes jumping the 5 miles between each other and Texas High, I honestly don’t know how you can stake the future of your program on changing your system for one kid.

We have seen this movie. Celina has not seen the speed and athleticism they will get from Gilmer. If the Bobcats think they can play press man and bring heat, they will be watching the backs of Buckeye jerseys running by them all night. They are well coached. They know #11 can carve them up in straight man. Especially with his feet. So they will play 2 safeties over the top and hope to contain Gilmer’s running game with 6 in the box. What they had better not forget is that 11 can RUN as well as the backs. Celina will do what they do and pound the rock. The Black Flag has got to get Celina off the field and create some turnovers. Celina’s QB does not like pressure (see the Argyle game). But the Cats can ground and pound with that huge O-Line. They will also play action over the top and throw deep on Gilmer outside, but they may quickly realize (like Van did) that Gilmer’s corners may not necessarily be the ones against they have seen on film. Gilmer wants a track meet. Celina wants a ground war. Historically, Celina has struggled containing the speed and athletes. The Buckeyes have embarrassed Celina a few times and posted some lop-sides scores. But when Celina has gotten Gilmer into a grind it out game, their discipline and execution has allowed them to pull it out. I think the difference in this game is turnovers and QB play. #11 for the Buckeyes shows why he is a D1 QB in this one, and takes his team to a second straight appearance at Jerryland: Celina 35 Gilmer 43

Gilmer (Home) vs. Celina (Visitor) 12/10 Friday 7 pm @ Prosper $8 pre-sale. $10 at Gate Round 5 Playoff

gilmerbuckeyes.com

It does make “RUN Brandon RUN!” Feel awkward.

Kinda confusing for us Gilmer folks when that is actually our QB’s name! So “Let’s Go Brandon” no matter what!