Bobcats Trump Trojans “49-14”

The Gilmer High School Bobcats football team took part in its second scrimmage of the year, with a trip to North Hall to take on the Trojans. The scrimmage featured a first half played with a game time clock and complete game play minus kick-off returns. Each team started drives on its own 30 yard line. The third quarter featured red zone work, and the fourth quarter saw the junior varsity and freshmen players getting playing time. The Bobcats went full beast mode on the Trojans, “winning” 49-14.The first half saw the Bobcats hit the ground running, despite opening with a 14 yard pass to Garrett Rigdon from starting quarterback, Chris James. James and company engineered an 11 play 70 touchdown drive that finished with James’ one yard touchdown plunge, that gave the “Cats” a 7-0 lead after an extra point from Rodrigo Casas.

The “Cats” collapsed on the defensive side of the ball, as a fourth down stop by from the combined efforts of Noah Wilson and Noble Zuchslag gave Gilmer the ball on its own 45 yard line.

James immediately jumped on the Trojans’ defense with a 45 yard bomb to Thaddeus Bowers that set up first and goal from the North Hall 10. Victor Ramirez scored on a 10 yard run and the “Cats” led 13-0 with 3:39 left in the first after a missed extra point attempt.

The Gilmer defense dominated again, as Rigdon’s interception on the third play of the drive set up a first down for Gilmer at the Bobcats’ 49. The “Cats” capitalized, as James connected with Bowers for a 32 yard touchdown pass on fourth and seven. With 16 seconds left in the first quarter, Gilmer led 20-0.

The second quarter saw the Trojans cut into the lead on the opening play of the quarter, as a 66 yard touchdown run cut the lead to 20-7. The Gilmer offense responded with another 70 yard touchdown drive that ended with James’ second rushing score of the scrimmage.

With the Bobcats leading 27-7 the defense forced another short drive and the Gilmer offense once again took the field with 5:58 left in the first half. 33 seconds later, the lead was 33-7 after Russell Cochran’s 69 yard touchdown run followed by a missed extra point.

The score remained the same throughout the half and into the third quarter. The third quarter consisted of both teams working on red zone offense/defense with each team starting each possession on the opposing team’s 25 yard line.
The Gilmer defense managed to give up only one touchdown in the entire half, despite the designed close proximity of the North Hall offense to the end zone. Conversely the Gilmer offense scored 10 more points in the quarter, a field goal from Rodrigo and a third rushing score from James.

James’ score came with 15 seconds left in the quarter and saw him break multiple tackles and end the run with a punishing authorative lowering of the shoulder to level the would be defender into the end zone.

The fourth quarter featured the junior varsity and freshmen players getting valuable game time experience.