The number one running back prospect in the state of Georgia is Cedartown’s Nick Chubb. Some recruiting services have him ranked as high as the number four overall prospect in the country and number three in the state. Chubb rushed for a state record 2,721 yards rushing along with 38 touchdowns on 312 attempts. That’s an average of 8.7 yards per carry and 3.8 touchdowns per game; however, in last’s year game at Gilmer High School, Chubb was rocked, as the Bobcats held him to 76 yards rushing and zero touchdowns.Gilmer head football coach, Wesley Tankersley, talked about facing the UGA signee and about how his defense played against him.

“Really the best thing we did was just tackled good. We really did. I think we tackled really well in that game, and that was probably the biggest thing. We didn’t allow many big plays. The longest play that he had from scrimmage was about 20 yards. The tackling at the line of scrimmage was a big thing for us.”

Tankersley also talked about how his offense playing well was able to keep Chubb off the field and help the defense out.

“The type of offense we have too. We had a great night on offense that night too, so we were able to keep him off the field quite a bit as well, so that obviously helps out as well. I think it was a combination of those things.”

Chubb currently has 2115 yards on 200 carries with 29 touchdowns, through eight games, for an average of 10.58 yards per carry and 264.45. The Bobcats currently has 2,004 yards total rushing yards combined. Tyler Bertolini leads the “Cats” with 823.

Last year despite all of Chubb’s success on the ground, the Bulldogs finished 6-4 and missed the playoffs. This year the Bulldogs are 8-0 and looked poised to make a run in the playoffs. This year the “Cats” will face Cedartown on the road, and on “Senior Night.”

During last year’s Rising Seniors Bowl All Star Game, Chubb told Tankersley, an assistant coach during the game, often that he had the Gilmer game circled and was looking forward to dogging the “Cats.”

“He’s a great running back and I worked with him during the offseason at the Rising Seniors Bowl. He was on our team, and I know that game’s been circled on his calendar for a year now.”

When asked directly if Chubb had specifically mentioned the Gilmer game to Tankersley, he replied,

“Yes, he reminded me. He told me that the game was marked down on his calendar.”

The Gilmer defense seems unfazed as chants of “Chubb” who could be heard coming from the purple people immediately after Gilmer’s defeat of the River Ridge Knights.

There is no doubt the “Cats’” defense has its work cut out for it, as the Bulldogs boast 804 non Chubb yards on the ground as well as a quarterback, Harrison Barnett, who has a 2-1 touchdown to interception ratio (6-3), and has completed 55% of his passes.

The question for the Bobcats this week is can the “Cats” rock Chubb and win the game for a likely rematch with Dalton for the Region championship?