Bragging Rights! Gilmer Defeats Rival Fannin To Kickoff 2025 Season
Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports August 17, 2025
The Bobcats took their first win of the season giving the Rebels their first lost, 42-24, Friday, August 15 in Blue Ridge.
The Rebels were the first on the board with a Matthew Ponton field goal in just under four minutes.
The Bobcats answered with a Peyton Chancey rushing touchdown with just under two minutes left in the quarter. With their extra point, the score was 7-3 late in the first.
The Bobcat carried that momentum into their defense with four quick stops.
Fannin’s Casen Bailey punted away to the five yard line.
Hunter Britain broke away for the Bobcats and finished their drive with a 34 yard rushing touchdown and the PAT made the score 14-3 with 9:30 left in half.
O’Neal checked in at QB after Cannon Holloway went down after a run and started working the passing game. They weren’t able to convert that to points however.
Chancey had a 42 yard rush for score with extra point making it 21-3 with 3:01 left in half.
The Bobcat momentum rocked on with an interception, but the Rebels answered when Scott Waldrep had a fumble recovery at the 31 yard line. Then, Reid Holloway dominated the first drive after with both receiving and rushing for a combined 31 yards and the score. With Ponton’s extra point, the score was 10-21 with 9:41 in the third.
The Rebel defense came to life for a quick four and out. They answered on offense again with O’Neal passes to Judah Wood, Brayden Walker, and runs by Jasper Mealer. O’Neal finished the drive with a rushing score. Braxton Cheatham ran in the two point conversion making it 18-21 with just under 5 minutes left in the third.
Chancey made up the score with a 65 yard rushing touchdown quickly after. With their extra point, they lead 28-18 late in the third.
Just when you thought the Rebels might have some momentum, Hunter Britain read the Fannin County pass and caught an interception. He took it to the 21 yard line just as the third quarter ended.
Britain was able to finish the drive himself with a 4 yard rushing touchdown. Their extra point made their lead 35 to 18 early in the fourth quarter.
On the kickoff, the Bobcats took control of a loose ball and put their offense back on the field at the 41 yard line.
Bobcat Cheyne Smith rushed for a touchdown and with their extra point, the score was 42-18 with 5 and a half minutes left in the game.
Fannin County’s Judah Wood caught a pass in the back corner of the endzone for the Rebels final score. The extra point attempt was no good making the score 42-24 to finish the game.
The Rebels will travel to Rabun County next week to take on the Wildcats and the Bobcats will head to Union County to take on the Panthers.
Meet the coach: Video Interview With New Gilmer HC Paul Standard
TeamFYNSports February 1, 2021
Gilmer Co., Ga- As all football fans in the area know, the Head Coaching position left vacant by former Bobcat coach Kevin Saunders has since been filled.
Paul Standard, former St. Pius Head Coach for 20 years, has been named the next Head honcho at Gilmer.
As the Director of FYN Sports, I had the chance to sit down and talk with him last Thursday.
I can say this whole heartedly: Bobcat nation is in good hands.
Here are the three things about Coach Standard that stuck out most to me.
1. The Kids Come First
I can’t count how many times on and off camera he brought up how he wanted to have a personal relationship with each one of the kids that put on a Bobcat jersey. He emphasized how he wanted to morph these guys into better men all together.
2. Family Is Important
Coach Standard is bringing along with him his son PG. PG will be the offensive coordinator and running backs coach, and has been helping his dad out for years. I could tell by the way Coach Standard spoke about his kids and his wife, that they were the most important things to him and that he would want to teach his ball players the importance of having those relationships. Winning ball games is great, but if you don’t have someone to celebrate with at the end of the night, its all for none.
3. He Knows How To Win
His record at St. Pius and his path to state championships speak for itself. I have no doubt he is the man to turn the Gilmer County football program around. He is already getting involved in the Ellijay community, and if you ask me thats where winning starts. You have to get the community to buy into what you are selling, and Coach Standard is already rolling out the blue print on how to do so.
All Bobcat fans should watch the full interview above and see what Coach had to say about why he came to Gilmer and what his thoughts were on the state of the program and his response to other questions asked by BKP and myself.
Cats can’t overcome early mistakes, fall to Bears 21-6
Gilmer High School, Team FYN Sports October 13, 2020
It was slow on the Bluff Friday night. A slow ride down GA-52 in blinding rain foreshadowed what was ahead. The game in Flowery Branch between the Gilmer Bobcats and the upstart Cherokee Bluff Bears was a slow, grinding affair. Cherokee Bluff, led by former Dacula Head Coach Tommy Jones, came into their Homecoming game with a 4-0 record —- more wins than their previous two years as a program combined. Gilmer came in off a bye at 2-1, winners of their last two. It marked the opening game for each team in the new look Region 7-AAA.
Gilmer received the opening kickoff and embarked on a slow, clock draining drive that we’ve become so accustomed to in the Saunders era. The offense was able to convert several third downs and a couple fourth down tries en route to a seven minute march. However, after getting the ball inside the ten yard line the Bears defense was finally able to stop the Cats Wing-T attack. On fourth down the Cats brought on the kicking unit but the wet conditions led to a miss. Cherokee Bluff took over on downs.
We got our first look at the Cherokee Bluff offense. Aside from a couple explosive runs, it became evident pretty quickly the Bears were eager to play Gilmer’s slow brand of football. Their first possession ended with a punt. At the end of the first quarter each team had possessed the ball once with no score.
Gilmer’s second possession looked a lot like their first. It was a slow, methodical march down the field highlighted by successes on third and fourth downs. Like the first drive it reached the Cherokee Bluff red zone and eventually inside the ten. On fourth down the Cats elected to go for it but were stuffed. Once again, Cherokee Bluff took over on downs inside their own 20.
This time around the Bears were able to string together a scoring drive. Cherokee Bluff running back Jayquan Smith punched it in from four yards to go up 7-0 at the half. Smith led all rushers on the night with 136 yards on 16 carries.
After a frustrating first half Gilmer caught a break early in the third after kicking off and forcing a Cherokee Bluff punt attempt. The errant snap allowed the Cats to tackle the punter at the Bears nine yard line. Gilmer took over first and goal with 9:39 left in the third. A couple of short Kobe Sotnecipher runs mixed with a penalty backed the Cats up to the Bears twelve yard line for third and goal. Despite taking a sack, the Cats were bailed out by a personal foul penalty that put the ball at the two yard line. Kobe Stonecipher took in for the touchdown on the next play. Like the field goal on the opening drive, the PAT was kicked low and no good. That made it 7-6 Cherokee Bluff with 7:43 left in the third.
The Bears got the ball back and started another long, slow drive toward the end zone. Charles Tolbert capped it off with a five yard run into the end zone. The extra point was successful to make the score 14-6 with 3:00 left in the third. A strong answer to the Gilmer touchdown, but still a one possession game and an opportunity for the Cats to tie the game. However, the drive fizzled out two minutes into the fourth quarter and resulted in a Seth Darling punt.
Three plays later Tolbert broke through the Gilmer defense for a 68 yard touchdown run. Undoubtedly the biggest play of the game, the extra point made it 21-6 with 8:19 to go in the game. At the rate Gilmer was moving the ball throughout the game, time was immediately of the essence if they wanted to get back into it. After an impressive kickoff return, they were able to move the ball across midfield before facing a 4th and 3 one yard into Cherokee Bluff territory. After a prolonged injury timeout, Kobe Stoncipher took the handoff and converted, yet again.
The clock proved to be the enemy for Gilmer even as their drive continued deep into Bears territory. They faced another 4th and 3 from just inside the red zone as the game clock went under 60 seconds. Spenser Smith faked the handoff to Stonecipher and rolled left, appearing to have the necessary yardage but was stopped just short on the 16. A metaphor for the entire night.
Cherokee Bluff took a knee to end the game 21-6. Gilmer had their chances, especially early on. They’re a veteran team that looks to control the ball and capitalize on mistakes. Unfortunately on Friday night, they just couldn’t get points on three of their four red zone opportunities. A lot of it had to do with weather and field conditions. There was only one completed pass the entire night, a 33 yard Cherokee Bluff play in the third. Gilmer finished with 174 yards, all on the ground while the Bears gained 288, a third of which came on the Tolbert touchdown.
Cherokee Bluff moved to 5-0 on the season and 1-0 in Region 7-AAA play. With the loss, Gilmer dropped to 2-2 on the season and 0-1 in Region 7-AAA play. The Bears continue region action at West Hall on Friday. The Bobcats will play their region home opener against the Lumpkin County Indians Friday in Ellijay.
TEAM FYN SPORTS Writer’s Player of the Week – Gilmer
Team FYN Sports September 28, 2019
Congratulations to RB/LB Ashton White for being named player of the week for his efforts on both sides of the ball against Pickens.
Cats Lose Lead Late on Senior Night
GHS Basketball, Gilmer High School, Team FYN Sports November 2, 2019
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 October 20, 2019
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.
Team FYN Sports Player of the Week: Dawson Stephens
GHS Football, Team FYN Sports October 20, 2019
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.
TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week – Seth Darling
GHS Football, Player Of The Week, Team FYN Sports September 7, 2019
Congratulations to Gilmer Sophomore Punter Seth Darling on being named Player of the Week for the Week 3 victory over Gordon Central. Darling had two key punts in the 6-3 defensive struggle that forced Gordon Central begin deep in their own territory.
TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week – Will Bradburn
Team FYN Sports August 31, 2019
Congratulations to Gilmer Sophomore OL/DL Will Bradburn on being named Player of the Week for the Week 2 victory over Towns County. As the right guard for the Bobcats he played a crucial role in the success of their Wing-T attack, including several impact blocks that led to big plays. On defense, Bradburn was in the backfield all night, sacking the quarterback and forcing quick decisions that disrupted the Towns offensive game plan.
The Streak is Over
Team FYN Sports August 31, 2019
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 Outlasted by Lumpkin Indians
GHS Football, Team FYN Sports September 14, 2019
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.
Bobcats get a region win over Raiders 17-14
Sports, Team FYN Sports October 12, 2019
Welcome back FYNSports fans to another great Friday night under the lights. Lets start off with the Gilmer Bobcats (2-3/1-1) travelling to Southeast Whitfield Raiders (0-6/0-3) for region play.
The Bobcats in the huddle.
The Bobcats would answer back again with yet another short yardage FG decreasing the Raiders lead to just one.
Bobcats Valiant Effort Falls Short
GHS Football, Team FYN Sports September 28, 2019
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 September 7, 2019
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.
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 November 2, 2019
Congratulations to Junior DE/LB Cameron Weaver for his outstanding performance against the Ridgeland Panthers.
Pre-season football interview with new Bobcats head coach
GHS Football, Gilmer High School, Team FYN Sports July 3, 2019
With the start of a new football season comes a new head coach for the Gilmer Bobcats, and Kevin Saunders has a vision for the program.
“I have a vision, we’re gonna do it. It’s gonna be hard, you can’t miss, you have to make a commitment to the program.”
For Saunders, all focus is on the future.
“This team’s not 0-30, this team has never lost a game, never won a game. What they’ve done in the past is the past, this is a completely different team.”
Watch the rest of the interview below with BKP, only on Team FYN Sports.