The Gilmer High School Bobcats football team faced off with the Dalton Catamounts for the second time in the 2013. The rematch was for the Region 7-AAAA Championship. Dalton took the first meeting 31-0 at Dalton, the Bobcats’ lone loss on the season. The Bobcats, hosting the game due to a yearly rotation between North and South Sub-regions, was looking for revenge against the Region rival, especially after rumor spread that the Championship Trophy had been delivered pre-game to Dalton by the G.H.S.A.; a rumor confirmed when Dalton delivered the trophy to Huff Mosley Field. Despite the extra motivation, the home team “Cats” could not pull out the win, as the Catamounts claimed the championship with a 24-10 win. The loss by the Bobcats gives Gilmer second place in the region and a home playoff match up with Troup County, the third place team from Region 5.The game began with the Bobcats receiving the opening kickoff with the first possession of the game starting at the Gilmer 29 yard line. After a three and out by the offense, followed by a punt, the Catamounts took over on the Dalton 48 yard line.

Five plays later, Kelvis Rhodes raced 20 yards into the end zone, putting DHS up 7-0, after a successful extra point, with 8:21 left in the first quarter.

The Bobcats took over the next possession at the Gilmer 26 yard line. Tyler Bertolini busted up the middle for a 20 yard gain that gave Gilmer first and 10 at the Gilmer 46.

On third and five from the Dalton 49, Johnie Flakes took a handoff to the left, shook two Dalton defenders, and cut back all the way across field for a 32 yard run that put the Bobcats in the red zone at the Dalton 17 yard line.

The Bobcats’ drive stalled at the nine yard line, forcing Manny Lopez onto the field. Lopez connected on a 26 yard field goal, cutting the lead to 7-3 with 4:34 left in the first quarter.

The Catamounts returned the short kickoff back to the Dalton 45 yard line. On first and 10, DHS quarterback, Payton Veraldi, scampered 21 yards for a first down at the GHS 31 yard line. After a five yard carry by Rhodes, Austin Cole, set up a third and long with a tackle for a loss.

Corey Waters dropped a sure pick on third down, forcing a fourth down Dalton conversion attempt.

The Catamount converted with a diving reception that set up a first down on the GHS 20 yard line. Four plays later, Tyler Noland scored from six yards out. With 2:13 left in the first quarter, Dalton led 14-3.

Disaster seemed to strike on the ensuing kickoff as Dalton dived on a fumble, recovering it at the Gilmer 26 yard line; however, Chris James forced a fumble on second down that Cole recovered to giving the Bobcats back the ball at the GHS 18 yard line.

The drive ended in a punt that kicked off the second quarter, and put the Catamounts at midfield. After two straight first down runs put the Catamounts on the Bobcats’ 22, Jake Ingram crushed Noland for a loss.

Two straight procedural penalties set up second and 21; however, a quick screen to Peter Sigmon, saw him run 32 yards into the end zone, resulting in a 21-3 Dalton lead with 9:27 left in the first half.

The ensuing kickoff went out of bound, giving Gilmer good field position at the Bobcat 35. Aided by two personal foul penalties on the defense, the Bobcats picked up one first down, but could not move the ball afterward, resulting in a punt for a touchback that gave DHS the ball back with 6:55 left in the half.

Despite a holding penalty on first down, Veraldi picked up a first down with a 33 yard scamper that sparked a drive all the way to the Gilmer 16 yard line. There Cole picked off an attempted screen pass and returned it to the Gilmer 45.

Two plays later, Thaddeus Bowers, set up a first down on the DHS 30 with a 20 yard reception. On fourth and five from the 26, James connected with Waters for a first down on the DHS 15 yard line.

Another fourth and five, saw James connect with Bowers, this time for a 15 yard touchdown that cut the lead to 24-10, after a successful Lopez extra point, with 1:16 left in the half. The score remained the same through the end of the first half.

The second half saw neither team able to score, as the defenses of both team forced multiple punts and gave up no points. The game got quite chippy with both teams picking up multiple personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

As the game wound down, and the Catamounts claiming of the Championship became inevitable, the home team fans began to file out, prompting this controversial video recorded by FYN CEO, Brian K. Pritchard.

Pritchard has since apologized to any people whom he may have offended.

https://gilmer.fetchyournews.com/archives/4781-Bobcats-I-Apologize.-My-Bad.html

The Bobcats will host Lynn Kendall and his Troupe County Tigers on Friday November 15th. It will be the first time GHS has hosted a playoff game since 1997, the year current Bobcats head coach, Wesley Tankersley, was a sophomore at GHS.

The Tigers boast a record of 6-4 with a four game win streak, including a 47-20 win over Shaw in the Region play in game. It was third time in five games that the Tigers put 40plus points on the scoreboard.