Gilmer High defeats Dawson Co., improves postseason prospects
The Gilmer Bobcats have nearly secured their spot in the football state playoffs.
GHS inched closer to its first postseason appearance since 2014 by defeating Dawson County last Friday. Gilmer sent its seniors out with a final home victory, and Aspen Hataway’s 71-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter gave the Bobcats the lead for good.
Bobcat cornerback Kyle Cowart intercepted a pass on the Tigers’ last-ditch scoring effort, and GHS came away with a 31-24 victory.
“This was a great high school football game, and there were a lot of things that went for and against each team,” said head coach Paul Standard. “It was a great night for our kids to overcome some things and pull together. That’s what a good football team does, and I think we’re on that path. We have great kids, and I’m just so proud of them.”
An eventful first half
GHS was set to punt on the opening possession of the game, but Dawson jumped the snap to set up fourth down and 2. Gilmer went to the air, and quarterback Issac Rellinger connected with a wide-open Douglass Callihan for a 28-yard gain.
The Cats eventually stalled at the 32, and DCHS went on a 12-play drive. Dawson’s missed 45-yard field goal preceded Gilmer’s first of three 80-yard touchdown drives.
When Callihan and fellow halfback Cowart were not running outside for 18 and 28 yards respectively, fullback Peyton Chancey tested the middle for 10 more. On the ninth play, halfback Grant Ballew took an option pitch around the right edge for a 21-yard touchdown.
Noah Turner’s extra point gave GHS a 7-0 lead 48 seconds into the second quarter.
Turner’s ensuing kickoff and gaffe by a referee took a touchdown off the scoreboard. The Tigers’ return man was met by Bobcat Ian Berry at the 20-yard line. The hit sent the ball to the turf, and it was recovered by Gilmer’s Bo Cronic and returned for a 17-yard score.
With jubilation flowing through the home side of Huff-Mosley Memorial Stadium, there was a delay ahead of the extra point, which was soon followed by referees discussing the play.
Standard was informed that a referee inadvertently blew his whistle after Berry’s hit. By rule, the team with possession can choose to either replay the down or accept possession at the yard line where the play was blown dead. The referees deemed the whistle was blown while the ball was on the ground and not possessed by either team. Under those circumstances, the down must be replayed.
The fumble and touchdown were nullified and Gilmer had to kickoff once more.
DCHS seized upon Gilmer’s dismay, and a 67-yard touchdown pass on second down followed. Instead of leading by 14, GHS found itself tied with 10:26 left on the second quarter clock.
Gilmer went back to the ground on its next drive. Callihan was there for another big gain on the option. His 22-yard gallop moved Gilmer into Dawson territory. Rellinger kept the ball for runs of 10 and 7 yards, and Chancey rushed for 5 more to help the Cats overcome a holding penalty and sack.
Dawson’s defense was able to hold GHS inside the 10, and Turner’s 32-yard field goal moved GHS back ahead, 10-7. DCHS received the ball with 4:41, but the drive ended on downs at Gilmer’s 38. Rellinger fumbled on the Cats’ final drive, and GHS maintained its three-point lead at halftime.
Not this time
DCHS was unable to complete a pass to start the third quarter, and GHS got rolling at its 23-yard line.
Callihan continued to be a thorn in Dawson’s side, and this time he gashed them for 31 yards on another option pitch around the right corner. After rushes by Rellinger and halfback Hunter Britain advanced GHS to the 37, Hataway handled the rest.
He rushed four straight times, and his last was for a 7-yard touchdown on the ninth play of the possession. Turner’s extra point gave GHS a 17-7 cushion with 5:52 left in the third.
The Tigers were not ready to cower in the corner, and they scored 14 unanswered points. The first coved 67 yards on five plays. A 46-yard pass accounted for a Tiger touchdown.
Chancey fumbled on the second play of Gilmer’s ensuing possession, and DCHS took over at Gilmer’s 35. A touchdown pass on first down allowed Dawson to take a 21-17 lead with 3:33 remaining in the third.
Gilmer answered with a pair of 80-yard touchdown possessions. Britain had a 21-yard rush while Rellinger and Hataway traded nine carries to move Gilmer to Dawson’s 6. Hataway scored from a yard away two plays later. Turner’s extra point was wide, but GHS led 23-21 with 8:12 left in the game.
Dawson’s last scoring drive of the night lasted 11-plays and ended with a 23-yard field goal. The kick gave the Tigers a 24-23 lead, and the Bobcats’ ensuing possession got underway at their 20.
With 4:54 on the clock, GHS concentrated on its rushing attack. Facing fourth down and 1 from their 29, Hataway was there once again. He took the ball up the middle, broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage and left the defense in his dust.
Hataway discussed the run, saying, “Relly handed me the ball, and I went through the line and saw a linebacker in front of me. I just kind of closed my eyes, and I felt him bounce off and I broke free. Being a fullback, I really didn’t know what to do. I’m running down the field and finally realize nobody’s there. I get toward the end zone and felt someone clip my ankle. Thank God I did not fall. Today was the first day I have scored a touchdown in my life.”
The touchdown gave GHS a six-point lead, and Rellinger’s 3-yard completion to Callihan on the conversion made the score 31-24 in the Cats’ favor.
The Tigers’ last drive started with 2:51 on the clock. They had two timeouts, and they were 76 yards from the end zone. DCHS used quarterback draws and quick passes to pick up three first downs.
On the drive’s 11th play, the Tigers were intercepted by Cowart, and Gilmer’s defense celebrated the takeaway.
Standard discussed the Bobcats’ ability to secure the win after a pair of heartbreaking losses last season.
“Things have a funny way of working out,” he said. “We were in this exact same situation last year in two big games at home against Lumpkin and White. And we let it get away from us. Tonight, our kids just wouldn’t do that. They’ve grown up, and I’m just so proud of our team, players and coaches.”
The Bobcats totaled 409 rushing yards, their second highest output of the season. Hataway finished with 143, Callihan had 81 and Chancey added 60.
For their efforts up front, the entire Bobcat line was named offensive players of the week and included seniors Kyler Norton and Avery Moseley, sophomores Sam Jones, Jack Puckett and Austin Green, as well as junior Charles Norman and fellow tight end sophomore Tyler Wright.
Also, junior Kyle Cowart and sophomore Bo Cronic (defense), senior Aspen Hataway and junior Grant Ballew (two-way players) and Memphis Lewallen (special teams).
Scout team players of the week were Jesse McElreath, Aiden St. John, Ethan McCollum and Noah Davis.
What now?
This marks Gilmer’s first winning season since 2014. The Bobcats also finished the regular season undefeated at home for the first time since 1997.
Standard discussed the Bobcats’ journey to this point, which includes a 7-42 record in the five seasons prior to his arrival as head coach.
“It (achieving a winning record) is huge because these kids have lived under such a yolk of, and I don’t know if the right word is ‘defeat’,” Standard said. “When I took the job (in spring 2021), they were 0-32, and then they were that, and then they only had 20-some kids in the program.
“I had three great men who stayed (from the previous coaching staff), and I convinced some more to come. We have a great administration, starting with the superintendent, and the support of this community, I know that’s what we have. That’s the foundation to get it rebuilt, and then you’ve got to have kids, and our kids have done it.”
In regard to Gilmer’s possible return to the playoffs, Hataway later added, “I don’t even know how to describe it. I’m speechless. We’ve been dreaming for this for a long time. If you look at all the seniors, we’re all in tears. It’s just an unreal feeling that we’re starting something new.”
Gilmer is currently in third place in the region and off Friday. The Cats’ playoff picture will become clearer following this week’s slate of region games.
A Pickens loss in either of the next two weeks puts Gilmer in the playoffs. If Pickens manages to upset both White County and Wesleyan on the road and GHS also loses to White County in week 10, then tiebreaker rules will come into effect.
The Bobcats received Monday off and resumed regular practice Tuesday and Wednesday, while Thursday and Friday will be used for film study and meetings in preparation for their Nov. 3 game at White County.