The Gilmer Buckeyes ranked 2nd in 4AD2, have their eyes on December, where they plan to return to the state championship game for the third consecutive year, hopefully winning it this time.  

That’s the long term goal.

In the short term, they host the Paris Wildcats ranked number 43 in 4AD1 Friday night at Jeff Traylor Stadium. 

Gilmer has established itself as one of the top programs in the state.  Since Jeff Traylor’s tenure –  so successful he ultimately parlayed it into the UTSA head coaching job, then Gilmer named the stadium after him – Gilmer has fallen short of winning state championships that Coach Traylor has won three times but remained one of the state’s top programs.  The Buckeyes won 15 playoff games in 5 years under Matt Turner, and have reached the state championship game in each of the last two seasons under Alan Netzel.  Gilmer has won 10 or more games in 17 of the last 19 seasons, and the two years they didn’t reach 10 wins, they still went to the third round.

Gilmer (2-0) has started strong with a road win at Tyler Chapel Hill (51-27) and a home win against Kilgore (40-26.)  Sophomore quarterback Cadon Tennison, who threw three passes on the varsity as a freshman, has completed 20 of 27 passes for 319 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception.  Ashton Haynes has rushed for 150 yards and 2 touchdowns on 10 carries; Rohan Fluellen has caught 10 passes for 152 yards.  

Programs like Gilmer often find that attempts to find non-district opponents end up in numerous unreturned phone calls if not for the helping hand of Carl Padilla, Mastermind of the Padilla Poll.  Fortunately, the Paris Wildcats are game to face the East Texas Power.  Paris has made the playoffs 11 consecutive years, including the last 9 under current head coach Steven Hohenberger. 

Although they’ve won 10 playoff games under Hohenberger, the Wildcats haven’t reached 10 wins in a single season since their 1988 championship year.  Their 2022 season has started with losses to Celina (14-45) and Liberty-Eylau (0-28), and Gilmer will be their greatest challenge so far.  

Mark Kusenberger

September 5, 2022 

Read more from Mark on his blog at https://mkusenberger.wixsite.com/website/blog