Gilmer vs. Marist: Tale of the Tape

Featured Stories, Team FYN Sports

The Gilmer High School Bobcats football team, after a 26-22 defeat of the Troup Tigers in the first round of the playoffs, will face the Marist War Eagles in the second round, at Marist. The matchup is a rematch of last year’s first round game, in which the Bobcats got lambasted 56-0. FYN was able to speak with both team’s head coaches about the upcoming rematch, and they agree that this year’s game should be much different than last year’s contest.Marist head coach, Alan Chadwick, expressed nothing but respect for Gilmer’s coach, Wesley Tankersley, and the Bobcats program.

“We know that they’re a physical team and well coached. They’re disciplined and they get after you. We expect to be in a physical tough game when they come down on Friday.”

Tankersley had similar things to say about the Marist program as well.

“Marist has a great football program and they have for a long time, and they’ve got a heck of a record in the playoffs, and really throughout their time.”

Both teams come into the second round match up with identical 9-2 records. Marist suffered back to back losses to Thomas County Central and Lovett respectively and now sit in the midst of an eight game win streak. Both of Gilmer’s losses came at the hands of Dalton High School.

The Marist War Eagles have scored 50 touchdowns on the season, conversely Gilmer has scored a total of 34. Both teams prefer to get yards on the ground as opposed to the air.

Marist has 3476 rush yards on the season for an average of 316 per game, while Gilmer has 2490 rush yards on the season for an average of 226 per game.

Neither team has more than 700 passing yards, with Marist possessing 635 and Gilmer 671.

Tyler Bertolini, and Johnie Flakes have the majority of the carries and yards for the Bobcats, 1013 yards on 190 carries for Bertolini and 903 yards on 131 carries for Flakes, with 5.3 and 6.9 averages with nine touchdowns and 13 touchdowns respectively.

Conversely, Marist has three different players with 500 plus yards on the ground. Chadwick spoke about some of the keys to his team’s success.

“The kids all want to compete and the chemistry is absolutely phenomenal. Our kids work hard every day, and I’m blessed to have a tremendous coaching staff that I’m just luck to have.”

On defense the War Eagles have sacked the quarterback 23 times and forced 11 interceptions, while the Bobcats have 14.5 sacks and 17 interceptions on the year.

Tankersley talked about having to contain the big play offense of the War Eagles while also executing on offense against an extremely good Marist defense.

“They’re a well-rounded football team. They don’t have a lot of weaknesses. I think you got go in, execute your game-plan the best you can and be as focused as you can and hope that they make some mistakes along the way as well,” and also, “I think the big thing for us is trying to make them drive the field and not give up the big play will be a big thing for us.”

With each team’s coach focusing on this year’s game and not the blowout of last year’s game, one can expect a different football game in the second round match up.

The Bobcats take on the War Eagles at 7:30 pm Friday, November 22, 2013 at Marist High School.

Back to Top