No passing.
No problem.
The Gilmer High Bobcats were in West Hall last Thursday to spoil the Spartans’ homecoming. The Bobcats’ quick-strike offense was at it again, while the defense only surrendered three points and special teams blocked two kicks and forced a fumble.
GHS did not punt a single time as it scored on all seven possessions and the Bobcats rolled to a 45-3 win.
The victory marked Gilmer’s fifth of the season, which is its most since 2014.
“I’m really proud of our team, and I thought our defense played really well,” said head coach Paul Standard. “We’re getting better defensively, and we tackled better today. They had some guys who can move around and do some things. We caused some turnovers and played well. We didn’t panic on their first drive when they went down and kicked a field goal.
“Special teams was phenomenal. Connor Seim did a good job of kicking and kicked it deep when they scooted up.”
Gilmer’s offensive line paved the way for a rushing attack that produced 381 yards and averaged 10.5 per carry. Halfback Hunter Watkins led the way with 177 yards and three touchdowns on a mere seven attempts.
“Offensively, we executed some plays that worked really well,” Standard said. “We had some miscues we have to get fixed and we will. I thought the quarterback (Issac Rellinger) had a great night most of the night executing. And of course when you have two halfbacks who can block and play, I like our chances with No. 10 (Will Kiker) and No. 7 (Hunter Watkins) on the perimeter.”
The perimeter is exactly what West Hall gave the Bobcats and they gladly accepted. WHHS opted to crash the middle of the line of scrimmage and limit fullback runs, so Gilmer hit the outside where the Cats continually burned Spartan defenders.
West Hall got the ball to start the game and had its best drive of the night. WHHS was in the shotgun all game and relied on quick passes for the bulk of its offense.
Their opening drive was prolonged by a roughing the kicker penalty on a punt. The 15-play possession resulted in a 37-yard field goal for three points that lasted nearly nine minutes.
GHS only needed three plays to cover 70 yards. Watkins took a pitch around the left edge for 64 yards to the end zone. Seim converted his first of six extra points for a 7-3 advantage.
Gilmer had its first special team’s highlight on the Spartans’ next drive. Bobcat Ian Berry’s big night got going when he came right up the middle and blocked the punt to give GHS the ball at West Hall’s 24. Following a 6-yard run by Rellinger, Kiker hit the right side for an 18-yard touchdown run.
Ahead 14-3 in the opening minute of the second quarter, GHS would soon get the ball back. West Hall’s return man was rocked by Berry on the ensuing kickoff and fumbled, and Kiker was there for the recovery.
From the 29, Watkins and fullback Brock Titus traded carries. GHS settled for a 25-yard Seim field goal to move ahead by 14 points. WHHS was then forced to punt after three offensive plays.
The GHS offense was back on the field at its 33. A 9-yard run by Rellinger was followed by a 4-yard gain by Watkins and 22-yard pick up by Kiker. On the drive’s seventh play, Watkins got the hand-off around the right side and got blocks from Titus and pulling guards Blane Banks and Kyler Norton. His 20-yard rush reached the end zone for a 24-3 GHS lead.
WHHS was able to advance into GHS territory on its final drive of the half, but its 34-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Kiker.
Gilmer’s three possessions of the second half all concluded with touchdowns, and the first covered 80 yards. Following a 4-yard run by Watkins on first down, he took an option pitch around the left edge for a 76-yard touchdown.
Leading 31-3, Standard put his second-team offense in the game. Halfback Mason Smith promptly took a first down hand-off 71 yards to West Hall’s 2. He carried twice more, and his final was a 1-yard touchdown for a 38-3 Bobcat advantage.
The final series covered 67 yards on 13 plays. Smith, fellow halfbacks Kyle Cowart and Grant Ballew and fullback Wyatt Stokes moved GHS down field. Stokes added Gilmer’s final score with a 1-yard run as the Cats’ lead was extended to 42 points.
The Spartans’ final drives of the game ended with a punt and a fumble, which was recovered by Berry.
Gilmer’s win came on Thursday rather than Friday as much of the state rescheduled games because of the threat of high winds and rain caused by Hurricane Ian.
“I’m very proud of the entire night. Our boosters were phenomenal in making all the changes we needed to make. The kids were great with the change of schedule and they handled all of that. We have a chance to be the first team with a winning season in a long time,” Standard said.
GHS is 5-1 overall and 2-0 versus region opponents. Gilmer hosts Lumpkin County (5-1) Friday for homecoming, and kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
JV record sits at 2-2
The junior varsity Bobcats received the week off once Friday’s varsity game was moved to Thursday.
The JV Bobcats were on the road Sept. 22 and fell to Lumpkin County, 41-6.
The Cats were able to find success on the ground, but continued turnovers kept GHS out of the end zone. Gilmer’s lone score came on a kickoff return for a touchdown by Hunter Britain.
A week prior, GHS was in Union County and earned a 12-8 win over the hometown Panthers.
UCHS put a long drive together that used most of the first quarter for an 8-0 lead. GHS responded with a 12-play drive that ended with fullback Wyatt Stokes scoring from 3 yards out.
After Union turned the ball over on downs, Gilmer’s offense advanced into Union territory. The Panthers recovered a botched snap on a field goal attempt and Britain made a touchdown saving tackle and Union led 8-6 at the half.
Gilmer then went on a 10-play drive than culminated with a 33-yard touchdown run by halfback Kyle Cowart in the third quarter to pull ahead for good, 12-8.
Each team received two more possessions but neither reached the end zone.
The JV Bobcats host Pickens Thursday at 5:30 p.m.