Gilmer High’s football season lasted longer than most predicted, and the Bobcats proved they deserved to be there for every moment.
GHS made the trek to Monroe Area last Friday for the second round of the Class 3A state playoffs, and the hometown Purple Hurricanes found themselves in a tied ballgame at halftime.
While the Bobcats led early in the fourth quarter, Monroe struck quickly for three more touchdowns. The Canes’ defense was finally able to stop Gilmer’s rushing attack, and the Bobcats were unable to keep pace at the end in a 42-24 defeat.
“With 10:19 left in the fourth we’re ahead 24-21, and shortly after, we’re down by four. Our kids continued to fight and work to go down and score. I was proud of them,” said head coach Paul Standard.
“These two weeks of playoffs have been great. I wasn’t sure how our players would react. We talked about not being satisfied. We came here to go as far as we could go. To their credit, it was business as usual. When we made the playoffs my second year at St. Pius (in 2002), they were kind of silly and just happy to be there. These guys over these past two weeks, it has been awesome.”
MAHS stuck to the ground early and its passing attack resulted in big gains. The Bobcat defense was able to contain 1,500-yard rusher Darrion Manuel, but the smaller, faster and more agile Jitt Carr gave Gilmer issues.
Monroe received the opening kickoff and started from its 38. Manuel and Carr moved the Canes past midfield before freshman linebacker Peyton Chancey tackled quarterback Dylan Hamby for an 8-yard loss. Manuel then converted a fourth down and 3 before Carr hit the right edge for a 32-yard touchdown run on the 10th play of the drive.
GHS trailed 7-0 five minutes into the game, and the Cats were set to take the next 9:26 off the clock with an 80-yard march.
All 16 plays were runs, and fullback Wyatt Stokes and quarterback Issac Rellinger rushed for 38 and 22 yards, respectively. Halfback Douglass Callihan also took a pitch to the right for a 23-yard gain that advanced GHS into MAHS territory. Facing fourth down and goal just inches from the goal line, Stokes scored for Gilmer’s first points.
Noah Turner was successful on his first of three extra point attempts to even the score.
The Canes were able to take advantage of GHS through the air on its second drive. However, it was Hamby who broke loose for a 23-yard run on second down. An 18-yard screen pass on its next third down gave MAHS a first at the Cats’ 38. Five plays later, a throwback pass resulted in a 23-yard touchdown.
The nine-play, 80-yard possession gave MAHS a 14-7 edge with 4:41 left in the half.
Gilmer was tasked with starting from its 23, but a chop block penalty on first down set the offense back to the 12. The Cats then found themselves in a daunting situation facing fourth down and 1 at their 32. Callihan rushed for 11 yards and a first down ahead of Rellinger’s 53-yard completion to halfback Hunter Britain.
Four plays later with time quickly ticking away, Rellinger found Callihan for a 4-yard completion in the end zone on fourth and goal. Callihan made the catch as the halftime buzzer sounded to tie the score, 14-14.
MAHS showed its first ability to slow Gilmer’s offense in the third, but not before the Cats burned them on the edge. Consecutive runs of 17 and 29 yards by Britain and Callihan, respectively, started the quarter.
GHS then faced fourth down and 1 from the Canes’ 26, and Stokes was there for the conversion this time with a 2-yard gain. The 12-play drive stalled at Monroe’s 5. It took 7:03 off the clock, and Turner booted a 22-yard field goal between the uprights for a 17-14 lead.
The Canes’ offense benefited from GHS pass interference and defensive holding penalties when it returned to the field. A 24-yard completion resulted in a first down at the Cats’ 15. After a loss, a 16-yard screen pass for a touchdown gave Monroe the lead once more, 21-17.
Stokes rushed for 21 total yards on two carries to start Gilmer’s last touchdown drive of the night. On the fourth play, Rellinger passed to a wide open Ryder Wofford down the middle of the field. The 40-yard pass put GHS in a threating position at the Canes’ 16.
Gilmer opted to pass again three plays later, and this time Callihan was there for a 12-yard touchdown grab.
The 80-yard, seven-play drive gave Gilmer a 24-21 advantage with 10:19 left on the clock.
With plenty of time to navigate the field on their ensuing offensive play, Hamby found another wide-open receiver for an 80-yard touchdown. MAHS took the lead for good, 28-24, just 16 seconds after Gilmer’s score.
GHS was stopped a yard short on fourth down, and MAHS took over at the Cats’ 29. The Canes’ chose to pass on first down, and safety Grant Ballew played the ball perfectly. He was unable to intercept the pass, but the break up resulted in an incompletion.
Consecutive runs by Carr, with the final covering 23 yards, moved MAHS farther ahead, 35-28. Rellinger was then intercepted on first down at the Cats’ 27. Two more runs by Carr followed, and the final was for a 22-yard touchdown.
GHS trailed 42-24 with 6:13 to play. The Bobcat offense refused to surrender, and they gained a pair of first downs. One came on a 29-yard run by Callihan where he hurdled a defender at midfield. However, Gilmer turned the ball over on downs when Rellinger was sacked for a 9-yard loss.
MAHS regained possession at its 45 and drained the final 2:15 off the clock.
Gilmer’s offense rolled up 260 rushing yards, and Callihan accounted for 106 on just eight carries. Stokes added 79 yards and Britain finished with 47. Rellinger completed both touchdown passes to Callihan and totaled 136 yards of offense.
Defensive tackle statistics and player of the week information was not available by Monday morning’s early deadline.
Standard mentioned he was pleased to see his team battle until the end. That mindset served the Cats well this season. GHS snapped a 10-year playoff drought and also had its first winning season since 2013. Gilmer’s defeat of rival Pickens snapped an eight-game losing streak
“Players showed multiple times this year the willingness to fight back when we got down and something went against us,” Standard said. “That’s the mark of a mature football team, and I think this group is that. The Lumpkin game was one of our worst losses since I’ve been here. Players had every reason to come back the next week with their heads hung down going into the game with Pickens. From that point on, they were very business-like, and I owe that to the seniors and the coaching staff.
“We stumped our toe against White County, but I thought we played hard and did some good things. That was the first time we went on the road this season and played hard. That was a goal we needed to achieve going into the playoffs.
He concluded by adding, “I’m hoping once the hurt wears off they can all look back and say, ‘Wow, we accomplished a lot.’ We’ve kept moving forward each year. And what a great story for guys like Ryder Wofford, John Ponders, John Keener, Ethan McCollum and Noah Turner. These seniors came in and made a huge impact on our football team.”
Gilmer finished the season with a 7-5 record.