The Gilmer Bobcats got back in the win column with their homecoming triumph.
GHS hosted Heritage last Friday, and the black-clad Bobcats were a nightmare for the Generals. Gilmer’s rushing attack continually gashed HHS for chunks of yardage, while the Generals’ offense sputtered and stuttered much of the night.
Gilmer breached the goal line five times and did not punt a single time. Heritage capitalized on a Bobcat turnover but was unable to keep pace in a 35-20 GHS victory.
The Cats were impressive on both sides of the ball. Heritage did all of its damage through the air, while its rushing attack was suffocated for negative 7 yards. GHS defenders continually had their hands on General passes, and they broke up 10. Defensive backs Hunter Britain and Bo Cronic each snatched an interception.
Head coach Paul Standard praised the defense’s tackling and aggressiveness.
“I’m just so proud of our kids, starting with the defense. We’ve had some struggles at different times this year, and our defensive staff really did a great job of putting in a game plan,” he said.
“You’re not going to stop a team as good as they are throwing the ball, but we contained them. We didn’t give up any big plays. Our secondary was outstanding. We could have had several more interceptions, but the positive thing is we were around the football contesting the ball. That made all the difference in the world. Other teams this season have let him (receiver Cody Bryan) just catch it and run with it. Nobody has held them to 13 offensive points this season.”
The Generals used a similar defense as Gilmer’s other opponents this season. They lined up with three down linemen, two defenders walked up on the ends and three linebackers. The Bobcats controlled the line of scrimmage for 407 rushing yards, which only ranked behind their 411 yards against Pickens.
Gilmer’s fleet of running backs averaged 8 yards per carry, and senior fullback Wyatt Stokes led the way. His final homecoming game ended with 174 yards and three touchdowns on 23 attempts.
“Offensively, the quarterback (Issac Rellinger) did a great job running the offense. We optioned about 40 plays where he had to read it and did a great job. The offensive line had a great night of blocking. We controlled the line of scrimmage and the clock. All of our backs did a good job running and blocking for each other. Our receivers Rhett McGregor, Riley Duggan and Bo Cronic did great blocking on the perimeter.”
he Generals were introduced to Stokes on the first drive of the game. He burst through the line untouched for consecutive gains of 23, 22, 11 and 10 yards. Wingback Kyle Cowart’s 9-yard run around the left edge capped the five-play, 80-yard drive.
Carter Gearhart’s first of five successful extra points gave GHS a quick 7-0 lead.
Heritage’s opening series revealed how the night would unfold. Their aerial attack consisted of short passes and plenty of incompletions while the running game was stuck in reverse. Bryan, Class 3A’s receiving yards leader, was Heritage’s main weapon.
Bryan’s 30-yard reception highlighted the drive, and the Generals got on the scoreboard with a 31-yard field goal.
Gilmer’s lone offensive flub came next. Following a 23-yard completion from Rellinger to wingback Britain, the former had the ball knocked loose on the ensuing play. Heritage’s Noah Pierce scoped up the ball and returned it for a 44-yard touchdown.
Gilmer trailed 10-7 with 4:18 left in the first quarter and responded with consecutive touchdowns.
Gilmer embarked on its second 80-yard drive, and this time it was Rellinger with back-to-back runs of 23 and 27 yards. Cowart took a pitch 14 yards around the left edge to move the Cats inside the 10-yard line. On the next play, Stokes’ 9-yard dive capped the seven-play series.
The Cats took a 14-10 lead in the waning minutes of the quarter and never looked back.
The Generals’ second possession began at Gilmer’s 46, but they were unable to take advantage. After picking up a pair of first downs and advancing to the Cats’ 5, running back Killian Smith fumbled and senior linebacker Memphis Lewallen recovered for GHS at the 6.
Stokes was there for a 13-yard run before a 10-yard gain by Rellinger. Britain hit the corner for 19 more before Gilmer faced fourth down and 2 from Heritage’s 41. Stokes dove for the first down, and two HHS unsportsmanlike conduct penalties followed.
Cowart took a pitch around the right edge this time for a 5-yard touchdown to cap the 10-play drive.
Down 21-10 with 3:45 left in the half, Heritage added seven more points.
The pivotal play came after a Blane Banks’ sack for a 7-yard loss. Facing third down and 13 from Gilmer’s 49, Bryan caught a drag across the middle and broke a tackle. He was eventually brought down inside the 5. After a short loss, a 6-yard completion to Brayden Hudson cut the Cats’ lead to four points at the half.
Heritage’s second turnover came in the opening moments of the third quarter. Britain intercepted General Caden Hight, and his 10-yard return brought Gilmer’s offense back on the field.
Starting from their 45, the Cats progressed to Heritage’s 21, but Gearhart’s 38-yard field goal attempt was short. Gilmer’s defense responded by forcing a punt.
GHS wingback Grant Ballew burned Heritage on first down. He took a sweep around the right side, broke a tackle and raced for a 32-yard gain into HHS territory. On the ensuing third down, a Heritage pass interference advanced the ball to its 22. Four more runs followed, and the eighth play of the 74-yard drive was an 8-yard touchdown by Stokes.
HHS trailed 28-17 in the last minute of the third quarter. The Generals moved 64 yards on seven plays.
On the sixth play, it appeared cornerback Cowart intercepted Hight at the Cats’ 1. The official closest to Cowart on the sideline called it an interception while the official in the back of the end zone said the ball hit the ground. After a brief conference, the referee called it an incomplete pass, and HHS made a 20-yard field goal on the next play.
The Generals then recovered an onside kick. However, a 1/5 passing performance only yielded 10 yards, and Jake Collett’s 48-yard field goal attempt fell short.
The Cats’ third 80-yard drive of the game followed. To the surprise of no one, 12 rushes came next. Stokes, Cowart, Britain and Douglas Callihan handled the carries. Stokes’ 2-yard touchdown capped the 6:18 drive and extended Gilmer’s lead to 35-20 with 3:45 to play.
A 15-yard GHS penalty on the kickoff gave HHS the ball at the Cats’ 46. The Generals were spotted 15 more yards on a pass interference. However, safety Cronic brought an end to the drive with an interception in the end zone.
The win improved GHS to 3-3 overall. The Cats will travel to LaFayette Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
JV survives, 30-29
The Cherokee High Warriors used all of the first quarter clock for their 81-yard touchdown drive to start the game. Bobcat Madden Hopkins blocked the extra point, and CHS led 6-0 early in the second quarter.
Gilmer streaked down the field with runs by fullback Landon Ledford. His 1-yard touchdown rush capped the six-play, 80-yard drive. His conversion moved GHS ahead by two.
Cherokee drove back downfield. A 15-yard touchdown pass put GHS behind 13-8 with 2:32 left in the second quarter.
Gilmer added eight more points to the scoreboard before the half. Quarterback A.J. Callihan completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Chaz Curtis. Ledford’s conversion gave GHS a 16-13 halftime lead.
The Warriors’ onside kick to start the third quarter was recovered by Bobcat Bryson White. A Cheyne Smith 38-yard run advanced Gilmer to the 1, and Ledford’s ensuing touchdown run pushed the lead to 22-13.
CHS came back with a seven play, 65-yard touchdown drive and conversion to draw within a point. Gilmer’s offense was on the field at its 34. Hopkins rumbled for a 40-yard touchdown and broke multiple tackles on the fifth play.
Down 30-21, Cherokee’s next drive was stifled when Bobcat Nate Wisley broke up a fourth down pass in the end zone.
However, CHS recovered a Bobcat fumble. The Warriors’ touchdown and conversion cut the margin of victory to a point.
Ledford led GHS with 135 yards rushing on 22 attempts. Hopkins ran for 63 on seven carries, and Smith added 55 on four rushes.