The Gilmer High Bobcats’ postseason chances are two-fold.
First and foremost, Gilmer must win Friday versus White County to reach the state playoffs. The next piece to Gilmer’s postseason puzzle includes Pickens defeating Wesleyan. If those two events do not occur, GHS will be at home in week 11.
“I told our guys, our goal is to be 6-4 and the first Gilmer team with a winning record since 2014 and to have an opportunity to get in the playoffs,” said head coach Paul Standard. “That’s all that we can control, and that’s all we need to be worried about.”
There were many more playoff scenarios at play a week ago. With Pickens beating White (48-28) and Dawson County taking down Lumpkin County (38-10) last Friday, the playoff picture became more clear. Dawson is the region champion, and Lumpkin will finish second in two of the three possibilities.
If both Gilmer and Pickens win Friday, they will secure the region’s No. 4 and No. 3 seeds, respectively. If Gilmer wins and Pickens loses, Wesleyan will be No. 2, Lumpkin will be No. 3 and Pickens will be No. 4. Finally, if Gilmer loses and Pickens wins, the Dragons will get the three seed and Wesleyan will be fourth.
“This Friday versus White is a playoff game for us,” Standard told the Bobcats. “We’re going to win that type of game before this seasons ends. That’s something we’ve got to be able to do.”
The Bobcats and coaches were off last Friday, and they spent Monday and Thursday in film study and meetings. Tuesday and Wednesday were normal practice days for the Cats.
“Last week, being an open week after a third straight defeat, I thought it was great,” Standard said. “Morale was good, and this morning (Monday) we met at our normal time for our walk-through at 7 a.m. and watched a little film so we wouldn’t have to watch it after school. We had a good day in the weight room, and I expect us to have good practices this week.”
In Standard’s 18 playoff seasons at St. Pius, he was most recently in must-win week 10 situations as recent as 2016 and 2019.
“This is a great experience for our kids,” Standard said. “I keep telling them it’s been awhile since a Gilmer football team had something riding on game 10 other than pride. I think that’s an accomplishment, and I have emphasized that.
“If we want to accomplish everything we said we wanted to, then this game is the next step in that process.”
Kickoff Friday versus White County (3-6) at Huff-Mosley Memorial Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. Senior football players, cross-country runners, cheerleaders, the sports medicine staff and band members will be recognized ahead of kickoff.
Region 7-3A Standings
School / Region / Overall
Dawson Co. / 6-0 / 8-2
Lumpkin Co. / 3-2 / 7-2
Pickens / 3-2 / 4-5
Wesleyan / 3-2 / 4-5
Gilmer / 2-3 / 5-4
White Co. / 1-4 / 3-6
West Hall / 0-5 / 1-8