The Streak is Over

Ellijay, GA — Think back if you can to November 6, 2015. The world was a much different place. President Donald Trump was four months into a candidacy that many considered to be a giant publicity stunt. 800,000 people had just packed the streets of Kansas City, MO to celebrate their first World Series championship in 30 years. The Georgia Bulldogs football team was 5-3, coming off an embarrassing loss in Jacksonville. Many wondered how much longer Coach Mark Richt would be around. Meanwhile, Nick Saban’s Alabama (with DC Kirby Smart) was steamrolling through the SEC en route to their fourth national title since his arrival. November 6, 2015 was also the last time the Gilmer Bobcats were victorious on the field of play.

A lot has happened since then. Four different Head Coaches have roamed the sidelines for the Bobcats since that night, all with the same result. 31 consecutive losses. That changed Friday night at Huff Mosley Stadium in Ellijay where the Gilmer Bobcats unleashed four years of frustration on the outmatched visitors from Towns County.

The outcome wasn’t full of suspense, it was 56-6 at halftime. Towns added a second half, running clock touchdown to make it 56-12 when the final buzzer sounded. However, the final score was secondary to the moment. The eight first half touchdowns were something we haven’t seen from Gilmer since… maybe ever. But the lasting images won’t be the dominant on-field performance. It will be the players, all of whom were in middle school in 2015, dumping the Gatorade bucket on their coach. It will be the students, loyal throughout the losing streak, being held back by deputies and school officials before finally getting the green light to rush the field. It will be the sight of the players rushing the field after their postgame meeting inside the field house, embracing their classmates and cheerleaders. It will be the parents, who endured the frustration and constant change, with tears in their eyes taking postgame pictures on the field, thankful this night had finally come to be.

As for the game itself, one could pick out multiple players of the game. Kobe Stonecipher built upon his impressive week one performance with multiple touchdowns. Quarterback Spenser Smith scored on the ground and through the air. Fullback Ashton White was a work horse, adding a touchdown of his own. The defense lived in the backfield all night and forced Towns into mistakes that led to turnovers. The only bright spot for Towns were the Oakes brothers, Quarterback/Safety/Punter Kyle and Receiver/Running Back/Kick Returner/Cornerback Garrett who were quite impressive in defeat.

It’s been said that the character of a man is built through adversity. How they respond in the face of failure. For the Gilmer Bobcats it’s been a brutal four year lesson in adversity. I think back to the names and faces, guys like David Smith and Avery Bertolini running the Triple Option, then turning around to play play defense. I think of Blake Buntin returning kickoffs, 8 or 9 per game in some cases. They kept coming back, week after week, knowing full well their chances of success were dim. It all led to August 30, 2019 and the sweet taste of victory. It led to the chance for us to say this… the Gilmer Bobcats are 1-1 and look to get a game over .500 next week when they travel to Gordon-Central.