After a shaky start, the Bobcats pulled it together.
Gilmer High hosted West Hall for homecoming last Friday with a full moon overhead. The Bobcats took the field in all-black uniforms, and the one-win Spartans were in prime position to take a two-score lead in the opening quarter.
A Gilmer defensive stop appeared to awaken the Bobcats. Once the offense found its footing, the Cats scored five unanswered touchdowns on their way to a 35-6 victory.
The win improved Gilmer to 1-1 in region play.
“I’m really proud of the defense and how they played,” said head coach Paul Standard. “That running back (Elijah Hayes) is pretty good. The defense did a great job of corralling him. I was glad our offense didn’t panic early and am pleased how we finished the second quarter.
“Then our offensive line took over, and our defensive line did a great job with its pass rush.”
All of Gilmer’s offense came on the ground, and junior fullback Wyatt Stokes led the way with 155 rushing yards on 13 attempts. Sophomore halfback Hunter Britain added 90 more and two touchdowns.
For the second week in a row, senior linebacker Aspen Hataway finished with 19 total tackles. Freshman Peyton Chancey was there for 11 stops.
Hayes was at the center of the Spartans’ offensive success. He was the Spartans’ top receiver as well, and he got WHHS on the board 93 seconds into the game. On West Hall’s fifth play, he took a hand-off to the right edge where he fought through two tackles before breaking free down the sideline for a 54-yard touchdown.
West Hall led after the missed extra point, but its offense would soon return to the field. On Gilmer’s first play from scrimmage, a botched snap gave WHHS possession at the Cats’ 35-yard line. The Spartans earned a first down before facing fourth down and 1 from the 14, and the Bobcats stopped Hayes on a run up the middle.
A 26-yard run by Stokes moved the Bobcat offense across midfield. He fumbled at the end of the run, but wrestled the ball away from a Spartan defender to retain possession. GHS also benefited from a 15-yard WHHS unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
The drive stalled when GHS was flagged for a chop block, and while Noah Turner’s 44-yard field goal attempt had plenty of distance, it sailed just wide right.
WHHS picked up four first downs on its next drive. Bobcat Hayden Morrison made a tackle for a 4-yard loss on third down, and the Spartans’ 47-yard field goal fell short.
Gilmer’s first of three consecutive scoring drives needed just four plays. After a 6-yard keeper on first down, quarterback Issac Rellinger knifed his way through the Spartans’ defense before he was eventually caught after a 54-yard gain.
Stokes handled the rest with back-to-back 15-yard rushes, and his second took the ball across the goal line. Turner had another flawless night when it came to extra points, and GHS led 7-6 with 9:10 left in the second quarter.
West Hall’s next drive ended when safety Bo Cronic arrived with a jarring hit to knock the ball out of the hands of a Spartan receiver. GHS took over at its 35 after fielding the punt.
Britain and Stokes split four straight carries for 27 and 28 total yards, respectively. Each rush resulted in a first down, and a Spartan penalty gave GHS first and goal at the 5. Halfback Douglas Callihan ran for a 3-yard touchdown to cap the six-play drive.
Gilmer’s lead stood at 14-6 with 4:12 left in the half. The Spartans’ next drive concluded with a Chancey sack, and the Cats’ offense was on the final at West Hall’s 39. Gilmer needed just one play, and Britain went untouched on an option pitch.
GHS led 21-6 at the half, and the Cats were forced to punt on their opening drive of the third quarter. The defense held strong to force a West Hall field goal attempt, which was wide from 34 yards.
Stokes was the workhorse on the Cats’ ensuing 80-yard drive. He carried four times for 45 yards while Rellinger added 20 more. On the 10th play, Rellinger scampered for a 10-yard touchdown.
While Gilmer celebrated in the zone, a fracas broke out near the 15-yard line. Both teams were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, and a Spartan was ejected for throwing punches.
Ahead 28-6, GHS was just about ready to deliver the knockout blow. After forcing a WHHS punt, Gilmer fumbled on a errant hand-off. The Spartans were unable to achieve a first down, and the Cats’ offense took over at West Hall’s 46.
Chancey rumbled for 40 yards on four carries, and Britain scored his second touchdown when he sidestepped a defender and sauntered into the end zone. The 4-yard touchdown run came on the sixth play of the series, and the Cats’ lead ballooned to 35-6 with 7:05 left in the game.
West Hall’s final possession ended on downs, and Gilmer drained the remaining 2:18 off the clock.
Gilmer will be on the road Friday to face Lumpkin County. The No. 7 ranked Indians are led by running back Mason Sullens, who leads Class 3A with 1,119 rushing yards.
“If we can play well and hold onto the ball and make them play a lot of defense, you never know,” Standard said. “Lumpkin does a great job, and it will be a great challenge for our kids. We have some guys out (with injuries) who we need to get back.”
Players of the week versus West Hall were juniors Wyatt Stokes (offense), Blane Banks (defense), Kyle Cowart (two-way player) and senior Hayden Morrison (special teams).
Scout team players of the week included junior Dalayan Greco and sophomores Riley Duggan, Harper Davenport and Noah Davis.
Friday’s kickoff at Lumpkin is set for 7:30 p.m.
Junior varsity falls to Gordon Lee
The junior varsity was on the road at Gordon Lee Last Thursday and lost, 28-14.
The Trojans’ first two touchdowns came on passes of 28 and 15 yards. Bobcat quarterback Jase McCollum’s 11-yard pass to Memphis Lewallen and Jett Burrell’s conversion allowed GHS to trim Gordon Lee’s lead to 14-8 at the half.
The Trojans added two more rushing touchdowns in the second half. GHS reached the end zone on McCollum’s 16-yard completion to Riley Duggan.
Gilmer will travel to Pickens Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff.