The Gilmer High School Bobcats football team hosted, region rival, the Pickens High School Dragons. The 28-13 home team victory, in which the fans of both schools were invited to wear pink in honor of breast cancer awareness month in a “Pink Out,” became secondary when, following a great abundance of “chippiness” between the teams (left mostly unchecked throughout the contest by the referees) a fight broke out with 18 seconds left in the game on the Pickens sideline. The fight which lasted approximately six seconds; resulted in nine players being ejected, which entails the players sitting out of the next contest as well (Murphy/Gilmer and Allatoona/Pickens), and rampant rumors from hospitalization of a player to coaches getting arrested.The game was mostly a defensive battle between the two teams, with neither team scoring in the first quarter, and both teams trading punts like sports cards. The first score of the game belonged to Gilmer.

Cats Pitching a Shutout
(Photo by Lisa Pritchard)

On the first play of the second half, after a successful Gilmer ground game pounded the Pickens defense, Cameron Kephart’s 21 yard scamper, followed by a Manny Lopez extra point made the score 7-0, in the Bobcats’ favor.

The Dragons’ offense went three and out and punted back to the Bobcats. After several penalties the Bobcats were faced with a third and 20. Marlin Hensley connected on a 48 yard bomb to Colt Henderson, which gave Gilmer a first and 10 on the Pickens 38 yard line. Hensley would later score on a 28 yard scamper with 4:47 left in the first half. Another Lopez point after made the score 14-0.

Kalyn Brooks returned the kick off to the Pickens 40 yard line. The Dragons Came out throwing the ball, with quarterback Tanner Brumby, connecting with receiver Ryan Neill for a first down on the Bobcats 35, followed by completion to Jake Ledbetter at the Gilmer 25.

On the next play, Caleb Teague and Austin Sprayberry combined for a Brumby sack; however, the Dragons answered back with another first down reception by Neill, which gave Pickens the ball on the Gilmer 13 yard line.

Bobcats in Hot Pursuit
Photo by Lisa Pritchard

The Gilmer defense seemed to hold strong, with Kephart breaking up consecutive passes on second and third down; however, a Gilmer penalty gave Pickens another chance, and Brumby took advantage hitting Ledbetter with a bullet in the end zone, with five seconds left in the half.

Titus Henderson, who was shook up on a previous play while playing receiver, was unable to kick the extra point, and the two point attempt was unsuccessful.

The second half opened with a Pickens possession that ended in a punt in three plays. Kephart returned the punt to the Pickens 42 yard line; however, the Dragons’ defense got hot in the third, holding the Bobcats to four plays on the drive.

On the ensuing possession, Brooks broke a 21 yard run into Gilmer territory; however on the next possession, the Bobcats’ Cody Richards pounced on a Pickens fumble and Gilmer took over once again.

Once again the Dragons’ defense brought the heat, and the “Cats” were unable to move the ball. Pickens took over on offense, on its own 35, with 4:20 left in the third, still down 14-6.

It was the Bobcats’ defense turn to roar forcing Pickens to punt after three plays. The Bobcats began to the move the ball as the third quarter began shrinking. Following a Kephart first down run that gave Gilmer the ball on the Dragon 35, Johnie Flakes flew down to the Pickens 25 yard line. The third quarter, mirroring the first, ended with neither team adding to the scoreboard.

The Colt Henderson eventually scored on third and goal to give Gilmer a 21-6 lead, after another successful Lopez extra point.

The Bobcats squib kicked to ensure a short return. On the first play of the possession, Gilmer was called for a late hit on Brumby and Pickens possessed the ball on the Dragon 48 yard line; however two consecutive stops by Richards, a tipped screen on second down and tackle for a loss on a reverse attempt on third down, ended the Pickens possession.

At the Line of Scrimmage
(Photo by Cheryl Duncan)

The Bobcats were able to pick up one first down; however were still forced to punt the ball back to Pickens. The Dragons offense lacked fire, eventually failing on fourth and forever with just under four minutes left in the game.

On the first play of the ensuing Gilmer possession, the Bobcats sealed the victory with some “trickaration.” Henderson completed a half back pass to Connor Webber for a touchdown, effectively sealing the win for Gilmer up 28-6 with 3:41 left in the game.

The Dragons refused to lie down, eventually scoring on the next Pickens possession with 28.6 second left in the game.

On the kick off following the score, Henderson returned the kick off on the Pickens sideline, and fumbled. Coach Sewell described the scene that unfolded thusly, “our kids were hollering ‘ball ball ball’ on of our kids hit him [Henderson] and then it was on.”

The aforementioned fight and subsequent ejections followed. The Pickens sideline coaches, and several players, immediately began trying to quell the ruckus and “trying to get kids off of kids” said Sewell. The Gilmer High School Principal, Erick Hofstetter, echoed the sentiments of Sewell.

Hofstetter felt that the Pickens sideline did an excellent job of keeping the situation contained and not letting it escalate into a melee, considering the fact that the location was the Pickens’ sideline, there could have been 40 plus green jerseys involved. He also acknowledged the fans of both schools for keeping their composure as well.

“I want to thank the fans for not getting involved, the players [that didn’t get involved], thank our kids for their leadership and their team as well.”

Each team will be short handed next week, as the G.H.S.A. rulebook states specifically that athletes removed from a contest much sit out the entire next contest; however they are not banned from the event, but they may not dress out with the team. Pickens will miss five players, and Gilmer will miss four. The junior varsity game between these two teams, originally scheduled for Thursday October 20th was cancelled as a result.