Tigers Blank the Bobcats As the Streak Ends

GHS Football, Gilmer High School, Sports, TeamFYNSports

Not much went right in this one for the Bobcats as they got blanked, losing 27-0 after a big 2nd quarter by Ringgold, as their 3 game win streak is now over. Gilmer ran 42 plays and amounted just 118 yards which is less than 3 yards gained per play. Rellinger, Titus, Kiker were shut down and Gilmer could not get any momentum going on offense.

Photo from the Gilmer County Touchdown Club on Facebook

Team Notes

As mentioned, last weeks dominant trio in Isaac Rellinger, Brock Titus and Will Kiker, were nonexistent in this one. Kiker somehow managed over 100 all purpose yards and was perhaps the brightest light for Gilmer this week. Rellinger struggled going 1-4 in the air for just 21 yards and one INT and was shutdown in the run game picking up 20 yards on 10 carries. After a big game last week, Titus was only able to rack up 34 yards on 10 carries and was the leading rusher for Gilmer. Kiker did make his presence felt on defense as he led the team in tackles and senior Kendall Sanders picked up the only Bobcats sack in this one and was able to amount 5 total tackles. However, despite their performances, the Tigers balanced offensive attack rolled right through the Bobcats.

Ringgold had 191 yards in the air and another 169 yards on the ground for 360 total yards as they outgained Gilmer by 242 yards. The defense was awesome as they shutdown the big Gilmer rushing game. Neither Maxpreps nor Hudl had individual stats posted for the Ringgold Tigers.

Look Ahead

Gilmer will head into their Bye Week after a very successful non-region performance going 3-1 with a +42-point differential in those 4 games. After their Bye, they will begin region play as the host the Wesleyan Wolves (1-3). As for the Ringgold Tigers, they will travel to Lafayette to take on the 1-2 Lafayette Ramblers.

“Cardiac Cats”- Gilmer Gets First Region Win At The Buzzer

Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports

 

 

The Gilmer Bobcats have had a rough start to their region schedule this year, but they finally got things to click on Friday night against West Hall. The 26-21 victory was the first Region 7AAA win for the Bobcats this year, and the first Region 7AAA win for first year Gilmer Head Coach Paul Standard.

The “Cardiac Cats” gave everyone in Ellijay a heart attack on Friday night, but they were able to pull off the victory at the buzzer. The Bobcats took the lead with less than a minute left in the ballgame thanks to a Seth Darling touchdown, but West Hall made every second count. West Hall quarterback Nick Sturm heaved a Hail Mary pass into the endzone that was caught for the game winning touchdown, but there was a flag on the play and the touchdown was taken off the board. Gilmer would go on to stop West Hall on the next play and come away with a 26-21 victory.

More to come on this story when we receive stats.

TEAM FYN SPORTS Writer’s Player of the Week – Gilmer

Team FYN Sports

Congratulations to RB/LB Ashton White for being named player of the week for his efforts on both sides of the ball against Pickens.

 

Team FYN Sports Player of the Week

GHS Football, Gilmer High School, Team FYN Sports

Congratulations to Gilmer Freshman Quarterback Will Kiker on being named our player of the week for his efforts in their victory over LaFayette. With Quarterbacks Spenser Smith and Seth Darling out due to injury, Kiker stepped in and ran the offense. It was his first career start.

Cats Lose Lead Late on Senior Night

GHS Basketball, Gilmer High School, Team FYN Sports

Ellijay, GA — Two years ago the Gilmer Bobcats had 25 Sophomores listed on their roster. Friday night was Senior Night, only five of them remained. It was the final opportunity for Donnie Ledford, Andrew Gooch, Dylan Ellington, Luke Morgan, and Jace McClure to play in front of the home crowd at Huff-Mosley Stadium. They stuck it out. They’re four young men who have learned firsthand what it means to build character through adversity. When the others quit, or transferred away, they stayed. The game Friday night against Ridgeland was for them, as it should have been.

Bobcat Seniors Dylan Ellington, Andrew Gooch, Donnie Ledford, and Jace McClure serve as captains.

The Ridgeland Panthers came into the game with a region title in mind, winners in four of their last five games. Like most other teams on the schedule, it’s safe to assume they were caught off-guard by the Gilmer football team.

The game started with huge kickoff return across midfield by Sophomore Kobe Stonecipher. A holding penalty downfield brought the ball back fifteen from the spot of the foul. Gilmer took the great field position and had it down inside the Ridgeland 10 with three minutes barely off the clock. A 4th and 1 try from the Panthers 9 yard line failed. Turnover on downs.

The Gilmer Bobcats prepare for a 4th and 1 attempt early.

The Ridgeland offense came out aggressive, trying to get the ball down field to their standout skill players. But the Cats were well prepared. They were able to pressure Freshman QB Chase Watkins into throwing inaccurate balls (a trend that would last). The Panthers went a quick three and out.

After a long punt the Gilmer offense went back to work. A long Stonecipher run got the ball across the Ridgeland 35 yard line. On the very next play Sophomore QB Seth Darling found Junior WR Braden Jenkins for a 34 yard touchdown pass along the right sideline. Junior Kicker Adolfo Bautista’s PAT made it 7-0 Bobcats.

Kobe Stonecipher on the first scoring drive.

It took less than two minutes for the Panthers to respond. They started running the ball with Seniors Jordan Blackwell, Terrance Roberts, and his brother Torrance Roberts. It was Blackwell who took broke free to take it in for their first TD of the night. The PAT from Conner Middleton tied it up at 7 with 2:42 left in the first.

Gilmer got the ball back looking to add on. It started with another big Darling completion, this time to Stonecipher. The next play was disastrous. A reverse from Darling, to Stonecipher, back around to Gray McClure was wide open. But a fumble right after the second hand off ended up in the arms of the Ridgeland defense. But the Panthers could do nothing with it. A 45 yard touchdown run by Torrance Roberts was called back from holding. The drive ultimately ended in a turnover on downs.

Gilmer then put together one of their best drives of the season. With 4 minutes left on the clock they took it down inside the Ridgeland 5 yard line. Junior FB Ashton White punched it in from the 3 yard line with 1:03 left. Bautista’s PAT made it 14-7. It was the perfect combination of efficiency and clock management. Good teams know how to get point before halftime without leaving enough clock for a response. It’s even more important when facing an opponent, like Ridgeland, that can break big play at any time. Fortunately they didn’t with the time left. 14-7 Gilmer at the break.

Ashton White extends over the goal line for a score.

Ridgeland gambled on 4th down nearly every possession, it failed over and over again. The first drive of the second half was no different. The Gilmer defense once again bent, but did not break — getting a major stop to start the third.

The offense picked up right where it left off. The committee of Gilmer running backs worked it down field. Then, what seemed like it would be the lasting image of the game, the Cats went for it on 4th and medium from their own 35 yard line. Darling dropped back to pass, rolled to his left and then took off down the sideline. He could have driven an 18-wheeler through the gap that opened between the sideline and every other player on the field. It was a huge conversion, and a back breaker for the Ridgeland defense.

Darling runs free on a big 4th down.

A few minutes later Stonecipher took it in from six yards out to give the Bobcats a commanding 21-7 lead following Bautista’s PAT. It started to feel as if Gilmer was going to get the signature win we’ve all thought could be coming. Everything seemed to be falling their way. Even their turnovers turned into no points. The feeling on the sideline was confident.

Unfortunately, the Ridgeland offense decided the 3:30 mark in the third quarter was the time for them to wake up. More importantly, it was time for the Roberts brothers to wake up. Having lost Jordan Blackwell for the game, the running game became the Terrance and Torrence show. The Panthers abandoned their shotgun, throw it around strategy and settled into what seemed to me like the old Split Veer. Just like the famous “it’s like Novocain, just give it time” offense from Remember the Titans. It took less than a minute for them to get down the field and pull within seven points.

The Bobcats got it back looking for another marathon drive. They held it into the start of the 4th quarter but were eventually forced to punt. Ridgeland got it back and picked up where they left off. Roberts left, Roberts right, Roberts up the middle. Which one? Both of them. Terrance Roberts then found a lane into the end zone for the equalizer. The 14 point lead had evaporated in less than five minutes. The entire mood changed with the sudden momentum swing.

By this time, Gilmer QB Seth Darling was feeling discomfort in his throwing arm, leaving him unable to throw — it was later confirmed by Saunders but the extent of the injury was unknown. Everyone in the stadium knew the Cats needed to run the ball, and the clock to get into scoring range the way they did to close first half. This one dimensional approach was obviously made worse by the fact the Quarterback couldn’t throw the ball. It resulted in a three and out. Darling punted it away with just over 6 minutes on the clock.

It really did not matter where the drive started. The result felt inevitable. The 4th down gambles for Ridgeland began to pay off. On 4th and long from their own 30, Terrance Roberts broke through the Gilmer defense for the go-ahead score.

Terrance Roberts scores the go-ahead TD.

Gilmer still had a chance, down only 7 with 4:35 left. However, not being able to throw the ball spelled trouble. Stonecipher had a marginal gain on first down. Then, on second down, the Center/QB exchange was mishandled. The ball hit the ground. The Panthers had the ball and the game. They’d add a field goal in the waning seconds to ice it — 31-21. A disappointing end to a night that started with such promise.

Ridgeland recovers the fumble to seal their come from behind victory.

Coach Saunders was positive after the game. It was obvious that Ridgeland had the more experienced and talented side. “This game might have been lost 16 years ago when those kids were born over there at Ridgeland,” a nod to the talent disparity.

“But our kids were incredible tonight, we had a chance to win once again… Seth got hurt there at the start of the third quarter and made it rough for us,” he added. “This is probably the most athletic team that we’ve played all year and our kids battled, were extremely physical, and we did all we could.”

There are certainly signs this Gilmer team is continuing to progress. Most coaches will tell you the true measure of a team is their progression from week to week over the course of a season. Although their 3-6 record may not indicate it, this Bobcats squad has succeeded in getting better each week. It’s little things, like not being intimidated by the opponent across the line (something Gilmer checked off long ago). They responded to the adversity of an early turnover to take the lead in the first half. Then they executed their 4 minute offense to perfection to get points before halftime. To top it all off, the made adjustments, got a big stop to open the third quarter, then scored. That’s what good teams do.

It’s easy for us to start getting ahead of ourselves in the moment. It didn’t even occur to me until my drive home that the Cats haven’t really played with the lead in the 4th quarter against a big time opponent. It’s something that must be learned. As the Huff-Mosley crowd bid adieu to the five Seniors, the perspective became a little clearer. Playing with the lead against a region powerhouse is just one more thing on the list of measurables that are yet to be checked off. With one game left, this team is so much further down the list than anyone could have reasonably expected. Those five Seniors will be the first to attest to that.

 

The Gilmer Bobcats (3-6, 1-4) wrap up the 2019 season next week on the road against the LaFayette Ramblers (3-6, 1-4). LaFayette lost to Pickens 49-45 in their last game.

 

 

 

Veteran Generals Too Much For Gilmer

GHS Football, Team FYN Sports

ELLIJAY, GA — No matter the end result of the 2019 season for the Gilmer Bobcats, one thing is for sure. This has been an entertaining team to watch. Often outmatched, almost every game surprisingly close, yet here we are with three games left still talking about playoff possibilities. Friday night was another example their grit. Although they lost to the Heritage Generals 35-22, the score was not quite indicative of the game.

Gilmer Head Coach Kevin Saunders perhaps said it best following the game when asked what happened he simply said “they [Heritage] got off the bus.”

Saunders was eluding to the fact that Heritage is quite the gifted team. They’re laden with upperclassmen, several of whom will play at the next level. On Offense, they run a well rehearsed “Air Raid” system complete with adequate skill players, a standout offensive line, and a quarterback equipped with the tools to execute. It was one of those instances where old cliche of “this team won it in warmups” could have applied. But after watching this Gilmer team through seven games we knew that wasn’t going to happen.

That’s not to say it didn’t seem like we were headed for a blowout early. After forcing Heritage into an early 3rd and long on the opening drive, Quarterback Nick Hanson turned a broken play into a 58 yard touchdown. After muffing the snap, Hanson picked up the ball and frantically rolled to his right. He threw it up for grabs. Somehow it was caught by Cade Kiniry, who proceeded to run another 30 yards for the early score. The PAT made it 7-0.

After the quick Gilmer three-and-out the Generals offense went back to work. A combination of quick screens and runs moved them down the field. Senior Gabe Ogle then broke a 25 yard touchdown rush. The two point conversion made it 15-0.

After another failed Gilmer drive, Heritage gained possession looking to add to their first quarter lead. Then momentum began to change. On 4th down inside their own territory, Heritage took another Special Teams gamble with a fake punt attempt. It was unsuccessful.

Gilmer took over on downs. Kobe Stonecipher had the first of his big third down runs for 15 yards. Spenser Smith connected with Gray McClure to put the ball inside the Generals five yard line. Smith’s run up the middle got the Bobcats on the board. Adolfo Bautista’s PAT made it 15-7.

The subsequent kickoff from Bautista bounced around in no-mans land long enough for the Bobcats to recover it deep inside Generals territory. They were in prime position to tie the game and run enough clock to get it to halftime. Unfortunately, a rushed throw from Smith was intercepted by Freshman Safety Kaden Swope and returned to the Heritage 21 yard line. The Generals quickly moved the ball down field, in a drive that culminated in a 25 yard hook up from Hanson to Logan Lowe. The PAT made it 22-7.

After a touchback Gilmer tried to put together a drive to close out the half. Deep inside their own ten yard line on third and forever, Stonecipher broke a 52 yard run to get the ball to the Generals 30 yard line. It looked as if they’d turn it into points, but a failed 4th down attempt left the score 22-7 at the break.

After an extended halftime due to Homecoming festivities, both teams traded three and outs. On their second possession, the Bobcats put together a long sustained drive that has defined their offensive success throughout the season. It was highlighted by several Stonecipher runs, including more third down conversions via the ground and one that went for 30 yards. It ended with a Stonecipher touchdown. Smith ran in the two point conversion to bring the Cats within 7.

Gilmer got the ball back with a chance to tie the game. However, another interception gave Heritage the ball. They capitalized with a quick touchdown to extend their lead to 29-15 just before the close of the third quarter. The next Bobcat possession ended on a failed fourth down attempt. Heritage scored again, Hanson to Lowe, again. The missed PAT made it 35-15.

The young Cats kept playing though. The next possession was highlighted by a long run by Donnie Ledford, who also ran it in for a touchdown a few plays later to make it 35-22. The onside kick failed, but the Gilmer defense forced a three and out. Their attempt to score again was hampered by the lack of timeouts and questionable clock management by the officials upstairs. Either way, it was a fleeting attempt.

The takeaway from this one was multi-layered. Heritage was the most talented group they’ve seen all season. Thus, the end result wasn’t all that surprising (as Saunders alluded to). However, Gilmer had their chances to not only make this game close, but to win. I’ve said before “there’s no such thing as a good loss,” and this is no different. When the coaches and players go back and watch film of this game they’re going to be frustrated at the opportunities missed and the correctable mistakes made.

With that said, young teams must go through games like this before they can turn the corner to being contenders. Here’s the thing though, Gilmer IS a contender. They are very much alive in the 6-AAAA playoff race. They’ve turned the corner from “we just want to see them win” to “they can win games against good teams.” Either way, it will be entertaining.

The Gilmer Bobcats travel to Tunnel Hill next week to take on Northwest Whitfield.

TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week- Kobe Stonecipher

Player Of The Week, Sports, Team FYN Sports

Congratulations to the Gilmer Bobcats’ Kobe Stonecipher for being named this week’s Player of the Week in the season opener!

Kobe stood out in the season opener against Fannin on Friday. He had several successful kick returns, and scored the only touchdown of the night for the Bobcats! Congratulations again, Kobe! Good luck for the rest of this season!

 

Team FYN Sports Player of the Week: Dawson Stephens

GHS Football, Team FYN Sports

Congratulations to Junior Left Tackle Dawson Stephens for being named our Player of the Week for his work against Heritage. Stephens is one of the anchors of the Gilmer Offensive Line that produced a solid rushing attack Friday night.

The Streak is Over

Team FYN Sports

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.

Gilmer students and cheerleaders celebrate at midfield.

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.

Kobe Stonecipher (1) breaks free for a first half score.

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.

Gilmer students wait to rush the field after the game.

 

 

Cats Lose, Smith Likely Out for Season

GHS Football, Gilmer High School, Team FYN Sports

Tunnel Hill, GA — The rain Friday night at Northwest Whitfield High School came in just about every possible way, shape, and form. There was the steady mist, the straight downpour, the wind aided sideways rain, and of course, at times it seemed as if the rain was coming up from the ground. Needless to say, it created the toughest of conditions to play football. To stay with the theme, Gilmer certainly could have used Forrest Gump last night. However, even the All-American turned war hero would have had trouble on this field.

Gilmer fans cheer on the Cats despite the rain.

Gilmer kicked off to the Bruins to start the game and forced a punt. Pinned deep in their own territory, the Cats were unable to get anything going. The ensuing punt gave Northwest a short field. They took advantage of it by scoring on a Gavin Ellis run up the middle from the 2 yard line. The PAT was no good.

Gavin Ellis scores for Northwest in the first quarter.

We could stop it here. It was 6-0 with 2:21 left in the first quarter and it stayed that way. The rest of the game was filled with stalled drives, punts, and lots of defense from both teams. Given the conditions, neither team felt comfortable throwing the ball. Thus, a constant running clock from all the running plays made the game fly.

It turned into a chess match of field position. Both teams started deep in their own territory most of the night and were able to gain just enough to flip field position.

Gilmer’s best drive of the night came late in the second quarter. They moved the ball down to the Northwest 27 yard line. Facing a 4th and short, Gilmer decided to go for the first down. Northwest stopped the run to turn the ball over on downs. Spenser Smith then intercepted Freshman QB Owen Brooker on the ensuing drive to put the Cats in excellent field position. Unfortunately, only 5 seconds remained on the clock.

Each team continued to trade possessions in the second the half, though neither could get very far. Gilmer got inside of Bruin territory twice in the third but were forced to punt when the drive stalled. But the defense kept coming through, making big plays. They stopped Northwest on 4th down from the Cats 34 yard line with 7 minutes left, but it came at a cost. Starting QB/FS Spenser Smith was lost to a foot injury. After the game, Head Coach Kevin Saunders said he expects Smith to miss the rest of the season. Sophomore Seth Darling was pressed into service under center for the rest of the game.

Gilmer Defense Stops Northwest on 4th down late in the game.

The Bobcats took a shot on the second play of the drive. A well thrown ball by Darling to Braden Jenkins fell just short down the right sideline. Despite the dwindling clock, the decision was made to punt the ball away.

The Gilmer defense buckled down yet again to get one more chance with less than a minute remaining.

Gilmer Offense takes the field with with less than a minute left.

The last drive was bizarre. Darling found Kobe Stonecipher over the middle for a big gain across midfield. Inexplicably, the officials neglected to blow the whistle to signify the resumption of the clock. This left Darling under center, waiting for the whistle so he could take the snap and spike the ball. Almost 10 seconds had run off before Darling realized the whistle was never coming. Another 15 seconds ran off when the spike was not ruled an incomplete pass. The result of the chaos was 15 seconds on the clock with 50 yards to go. Darling was forced to throw it up for grabs. It was intercepted by Matt Redmond to seal the Bruin victory.

Afterward, Head Coach Kevin Saunders said “we had our chances, we just did not block very well… the offensive line just got whipped, there’s no other way to say it.”

Saunders also commended the defensive effort. But he was right, Gilmer had their chances. Earlier in the season it was exciting to be in these games late with a chance to win. However, when enough of them go the other way it becomes rather frustrating. The playoff hopes aren’t quite over, although the Cats will need to win out and get lots of help from others in the region. Yet, these remaining games still matter. Crazy things happen. They’re still alive to keep playing beyond October.

The Gilmer Bobcats (3-5, 1-3) will host Ridgeland (4-4, 3-1) on Senior Night next Friday. Ridgeland defeated Pickens 41-28 in their last game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cats Outlasted by Lumpkin Indians

GHS Football, Team FYN Sports

Dahlonega, GA — The Gilmer Bobcats went on the road to Lumpkin County Friday night to face off against the Indians. The game was back and forth, ultimately won by Lumpkin 29-21. Despite the loss, Gilmer was impressive in this final game before the start of their region schedule in two weeks. For the most part they did what they wanted to do offensively — put together several long, sustained drives that resulted in touchdowns. Unfortunately, they could not overcome early miscues and some key injuries, despite making several big plays to stay in the game.

“We had some kids hurt, we played with three linebackers that never played the position before and that just killed us on defense,” said Head Coach Saunders following the game.

Saunders was referring to the early losses of his two Junior starting linebackers Kyle Allison and Ashton White. The loss of these two defensive stalwarts helped set the stage for Lumpkin Running Back Bojack Dowdy to have the game of his life. Dowdy carried it 22 times for 153 yards and three touchdowns.

Gilmer’s first drive stalled after they received the opening kickoff. Lumpkin’s spread attack quickly moved the ball inside the red zone. The drive was capped by a ten yard Drew Allison run to give Lumpkin the early 7-0 lead.

After trading possessions the Bobcats embarked on an eight minute drive that ended with a two yard Spenser Smith touchdown. Adolfo Bautista’s extra point tied the game at 7.

Lumpkin would respond immediately with a 56 yard run by Dowdy. Gilmer blocked the extra point to keep it at 13-7. A Gilmer turnover on downs on the ensuing possession allowed Lumpkin to get the ball back and drive inside the Bobcats 10. Indians Sophomore kicker Will Ramirez kicked a short field goal to extend the lead to 16-7 at the break.

Coming out of halftime the Bobcats executed a successful onside kick to steal possession away. However, after picking up a first down they fumbled it to Lumpkin. As so often has been the case, Gilmer’s defense stood tall, forced a punt, and went to work on offense. This time it was a five minute drive that culminated in a play action run by Smith that faked out the entire stadium. Smith’s 30 yard touchdown run and Bautista’s PAT made it 16-14.

In what became a common theme throughout the night, Lumpkin was able to answer quickly. Two big plays got the Indians inside the Gilmer 5 and was capped off with another Bojack Dowdy touchdown run. Lumpkin converted the extra point to extend their lead to 23-14, and it stayed that way through the end of the third period.

The ensuing drive was a “must-score” scenario for the Cats. Faced with 4th and long from around midfield the Gilmer offense elected to run the ball, witch caught the Indians off-guard. Sophomore RB Gray McClure busted a 50 yard run all the way inside the the Lumpkin 5 yard line. Smith then scored his third touchdown of the night on a short carry. Bautista connected on his third straight PAT to bring the Cats within two points, 23-21, with 10:00 left to play.

Lumpkin took a page out of the Cats playbook and embarked on a long drive to seal away the game. Their 4-minute offense consisted of a steady dose of Bojack Dowdy running left, right, and up the middle. It ended with Dowdy’s third score of the game. However, Gilmer blocked another PAT to keep the game within one possession, 29-21.

That’s where the Bobcats luck ran out. Their attempt to drive down the field and tie the game fizzled out at midfield with consecutive incomplete passes.

Although there is no such thing as a moral victory, this was still a positive performance for the Gilmer Bobcats. Their ability to overcome the adversity of early injuries combined with their ability to keep coming back said a lot about them and the coaching staff. It’s reasonable to believe that in the past, they would’ve quit on the game when they went down by double digits. That didn’t happen. In fact, they made big plays when they needed to. The blocked PAT in the closing minutes gave them a chance to have the ball and attempt to put together a game tying drive. Staying in the game, having a chance to win throughout all 48 minutes is a hallmark of a good football team. They aren’t quite there yet, but going into region play there is lots to look forward to.

Gilmer is 2-2 on the season. They have a bye next week before hosting the Pickens Dragons to open up region play on September 27. Pickens is currently 1-2 after losing 27-20 last night to White County.

 

TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week- Ashton White, No. 24

Player Of The Week, Sports, Team FYN Sports
Gilmer

The Gilmer County Bobcats got their first region win of the 2019 season. Ashton White was a huge help in getting that victory.

Ashton White had 20 carries for 79 yards and one touchdown. He scored the only touchdown for the Bobcats.

Gilmer went into the half down 7-6 but came back to win 17-14. Congratulations to Ashton White- this week’s TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for Gilmer!

Gilmer

Bobcats Valiant Effort Falls Short

GHS Football, Team FYN Sports

Ellijay, GA — Pickens vs. Gilmer. It’s one of the biggest rivalries in North Georgia. Old timers from both sides love to wax poetic about the 63 year old series between the neighboring counties. However, over the last several years it’s lost a bit of its luster. That sort of thing can happen when rivalries become one-sided. Since 2014 Pickens has outscored Gilmer 219-41, which includes a three year run of 149-13. Sure, there are many variables that led to such dominance — growth, coaching instability, transfers, etc. — but for many in Ellijay there is no excuse. That’s not how rivalries are supposed to work.

By winning two of their first four games, the 2019 edition of the Gilmer Bobcats have already proved they are not their predecessors of the last five years. Friday night in Ellijay was yet another chance to prove that notion against the rivals to the South.

There was lots to talk about throughout the game week. Pickens, coming off a dream 10-0 region championship season was only 2-2. Their Senior Quarterback and Wide Receiver were both former Gilmer players making their first appearance at Huff Mosley Stadium. As for Gilmer, the question would be whether or not they could compete with fast paced Dragons. Despite a 90 minute weather delay, we finally got our answer.

Pickens received the opening kickoff. After converting three times on third down they broke through with a 27-yard touchdown run by Jarod Whitmore. On the ensuing Gilmer drive the Bobcats were hampered by penalties and negative plays. It looked like business as usual between the two squads. Looks can be deceiving. Facing a 3rd and 20+ Bobcats QB Spenser Smith connected with Gray McClure for a 67-yard touchdown to tie the game.

Pickens came right back. Whitmore broke through for a 51-yard touchdown on just the second play of the drive to make it 14-7. Gilmer would respond though by getting inside the Pickens 10 by the time the first quarter expired. Ashton White promptly took it in from the 5. The PAT was missed, making it 14-13 in favor of Pickens.

The Dragons then took a page out of Gilmer’s book. They put together a long, clock eating drive that resulted in yet another Jarod Whitmore touchdown. This time it was through the air from CJ Streicher from 15 yards out. The PAT made it 21-13 with just over three minutes left in the half.

Gilmer took the kickoff and quickly moved down the field. Adolfo Bautista connected on a 25-yard field goal to make it 21-16 at the break.

After a Gilmer punt on the first series of the second half, Pickens put together another long scoring drive. This time Streicher ran it in from the 5 to extend the Dragon lead to 28-16. It was all the separation they would need.

The Bobcats responded again, this time with a 4-yard touchdown by Kobe Stonecipher to make it 28-23. But it was short lived. Once again Pickens moved it down the field inside the Bobcat 5 at the expiration of the third quarter. On the first play of the fourth they ran it in again with Whitmore, his fourth touchdown of the game. The PAT made it 35-23.

From there, both teams exchanged possessions. It ended at 35-23, but the score does not reflect the impact of this game. If someone had predicted this outcome two months ago they would’ve been called crazy. After the game Gilmer Head Coach Kevin Saunders was upbeat in his praise of the team and coaches. Even in defeat, we saw just how far this program has come.

The Gilmer Bobcats 2-3 (0-1) have a bye next week. They will travel to Southeast Whitfield on October 11.

 

 

Bobcats “Find a Way” at Gordon Central

GHS Football, Sports, Team FYN Sports

Calhoun, GA — We got a taste of it against Fannin in the season opener. The Gilmer Bobcats put together a grinding, methodical drive on their first possession that resulted in points. Then a lot went wrong and the Bobcats were forced to play catch up. Not what they wanted to do. Last week in the home opener, Towns was outmatched in talent and depth the Cats were able to score early and often. Friday night at Gordon Central we really got to see how they will operate. We got to see them do what they wanted to do. They controlled the ball all night and made big defensive plays in critical moments to escape Calhoun with a 6-3 victory.

“We won a football game that we probably didn’t play really well, but we found a way to win,” said Coach Kevin Saunders after the game. Don’t let the modesty or the low score fool you.  That’s exactly how this team will attempt to keep winning. Saunders then added, “They found a way to get the job done and we won, I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

There is lots to be proud of. It was Homecoming Night at Gordon Central. It’s something we’ve grown used to over the years. The assumption of victory from the opponents. The PA announcer in the stadium referred to the Cats by  number all night, like an anonymous pick-up group. The PA Announcer claimed to have never gotten a roster. So off they went, #6, #1, #24, and #8 as they’d be known, all had a busy night.

Defnense

Gilmer defense stuffs Warriors RB Jordan Boone in the backfield for a loss.

After muffing the opening kickoff out of bounds, the Cats opened things up inside the 10-yard line. The drive fizzled and the Cats were forced to punt. The Warriors came out playing fast in the spread, with running back Jordan Boone breaking a few runs of over ten yards. Yet, the Cats defense able to stall the drive and force an Edgar Ramirez field goal attempt. In what turned out to be one of the bigger plays of the game, the kick was no good. The Bobcats offense took over and went to work.

Throughout the rest of the first half Gilmer was able to slowly flip field position. They cashed in with a drive that started before the end of the first quarter and didn’t end until there were only four minutes left in the half. A couple fourth and short gambles got them inside the 5 yard line. A combination of Kobe Stonecipher, Ashton White, Gray McClure, and Spenser Smith chipped away at the Gordon Central defense. Gilmer Quarterback Spenser Smith punched it in to put the Bobcats ahead. The extra point attempt was no good.

The Warriors got the ball back looking for points before the break. After a couple first downs they were forced into a fourth down at midfield. They attempted a fake punt, Punter Peyton Parker rolled right and, under pressure, threw a ball up into double coverage that was broken up. However, a questionable late hit call kept the drive alive. In what seemed like an eternity thanks to clock issues, four timeouts, and more penalties, the Warriors positioned themselves inside the red zone for a field try at the buzzer. Ramirez was able to put it through this time, making it 6-3 Gilmer.

Seth Darling punts for the Gilmer Bobcats in the first half.

After forcing a quick Gordon Central punt to open the third, the Bobcats went on the drive of the game. Much like the scoring drive in the first half, the Cats pounded the ball three yards at a time. Slowly working the ball into the red zone. The drive ended with no points after a failed 4th down try, but it took almost ten minutes off the clock and pinned Gordon Central deep in their own territory. Gilmer forced a quick three and out but couldn’t get anything going. That set the stage for perhaps the biggest play of the night. Punter Seth Darling pinned the Warriors inside their own 10 yard line.

Boone and Gray got back to work for the Warriors, quickly moving them down field. Once again, the Gilmer defense was able to halt them on 4th down to get the ball back and seal the game. Unfortunately, a Gilmer fumble gave the ball back at midfield with 3:00 left on the clock.

Yet again, the Gilmer defense stood tall. They turned Gordon Central over on downs in just four plays. From then it was only a matter of running the final seconds off the clock. Spenser Smith took a knee and the game was over. It was their first road win since October of  2015.

 

Gilmer QB Spenser Smith takes a knee to run out the clock in their victory at Gordon Central.

Gilmer extended their record to 2-1.  It was an old-school football slugfest, a defensive struggle that went down to the wire. The score shouldn’t fool you, this was a game of long drives, key special teams plays, and clock control. “We control the football, we pound on people, and make it a four quarter game, and it’s ugly,” added Saunders.

An ugly win is always better than a pretty loss. The Gilmer Bobcats (2-1) will travel to Lumpkin County (0-3) next week. Lumpkin lost 31-0 to Jackson County in their last game.

 

 

Team FYN Sports Writer Player of the Week

GHS Football, Gilmer High School, Team FYN Sports

Congratulations to Junior DE/LB Cameron Weaver for his outstanding performance against the Ridgeland Panthers.

Rebels Rough On Bobcats

GHS Football, Team FYN Sports

The scoring was early and often for the Fannin Rebels in the first half of the season opener against the visiting rivals from Gilmer. For the new look Gilmer Bobcats, the first game under Head Coach Kevin Saunders unfolded much like the others during their current 31 game losing streak. Fannin moved the ball up and down the field with ease, capitalized on turnovers deep in Gilmer territory, and even caught some lucky breaks that only seem to happen to Gilmer. 

Kobe Stonecipher runs the ball in for Gilmer’s only touchdown of the night.

Gilmer answered Fannin’s opening touchdown with a field goal in the first quarter to make it 7-3. From there, it was all Rebels. Two quick touchdowns on the ground late in the first and early in the second made it 21-3. The following Gilmer drive started with promise, as Ashton White broke through the defense on a carry of nearly 30 yards. It would be short lived. Gilmer would be stripped of the ball, only to force a second fumble of the Fannin defender. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, Fannin Safety Cohutta Hyde picked up the second loose ball at midfield and returned it all the way for another Fannin touchdown. The failed two point conversion attempt left the score at 27-3. 

From there, the Rebels combined stifling defense with a mix of running and passing on offense to tack on two more touchdowns before the conclusion of the first half — highlighted by a long pass from QB Luke Holloway to TE Jalen Ingram. 

A running clock in the second half sped up the inevitable result. The Gilmer defense seemed to settle in a bit more, allowing zero second half points. The lone touchdown for Gilmer happened in the waning moments of the game when Kobe Stonecipher punched it in from the 4 yard line. Final score: Fannin 41 Gilmer 9. 

The Bobcats look to rebound next week in their home opener against Towns County. Towns lost their opener to Hayesville 35-0. 

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