Gilmer, Union combine for 1,000 yards of total offense
The Gilmer High Bobcats lost a thriller to end the football season.
GHS made the trip to Union County last Friday for a nonregion overtime whirlwind versus the Panthers where 1,000 yards of offense and 97 points were amassed.
While Gilmer fell behind to start the game, the Cats went on a 28-point scoring spree that started in the second quarter and crept into the fourth. However, the Panthers ended regulation by scoring 21 unanswered points to force overtime where Gilmer fell just short, 49-48.
“I’ve never had a team rush for 500 yards and get beat. That’s kind of crazy,” said head coach Paul Standard. “Of course, we didn’t play very good defense, and there really wasn’t any defense being played. I’m proud of our kids. They battled and had never been in an overtime game before. I’m disappointed for our seniors that we couldn’t pull out a win for them.
“It was an exciting game. As the game played out, they didn’t have a clue of how to stop us, and we certainly didn’t have a clue of how to stop them.”
The teams entered overtime tied, 42-42. Each team received a possession at the opposing team’s 15-yard line. Gilmer was on offense first, and quarterback Seth Darling and fullback Brock Titus traded carries. The latter scored on the fourth play from 4 yards out. Standard opted to go for two, but Titus was stopped short of the goal line.
After completing an 8-yard pass, Panther quarterback Logan Helcher kept the ball for a 2-yard touchdown two plays later. The extra point split the uprights, and the Panthers celebrated their come-from-behind senior night win.
“I gambled and went for two, and of course it didn’t work out. Would I maybe have run something else (in hind sight)? Yeah, I would have, but it still would have been a running play,” Standard said.
“To that point, they hadn’t stopped us. I figured we could maybe put a little pressure on them.”
Swapping scores early
The Bobcats’ four-pronged rushing attack was spearheaded by Will Kiker. The junior halfback scorched Union for 261 yards and four touchdowns on a mere 14 carries.
Fellow halfback Kobe Stonecipher capped his Bobcat career with a 107-yard rushing performance. Darling added 65 more yards and Titus was there for 60.
Panther senior quarterback Helcher was an accurate passer who was able to scramble for yardage when needed, and he accounted for seven touchdowns. Receiver Keyton Chitwood was the main target who helped Helcher tally 296 yards through the air.
Of Gilmer’s six scoring drives, only one was fewer than 72 yards. Meanwhile, four of the Panthers’ touchdown drives began in GHS territory, which included their first. After Titus fumbled on the first play of the game, UCHS took over at Gilmer’s 36 and scored three plays later with a 30-yard pass from Helcher to a wide-open Chitwood.
Gilmer only passed once on the night, and its first drive consisted of 12 runs. Titus, Darling, Stonecipher and Kiker all got in on the action, and Stonecipher tallied the first touchdown from 1 yard away. Tony Olea made his first of six extra points to tie the game at 7-7 with 4:40 left in the opening quarter.
Following a Union return to the Cats’ 28, Helcher completed a 1-yard pass to tailback Cayleb Rogers on the drive’s eighth play to bump the lead back to seven points.
Stonecipher returned the ensuing kickoff to Union’s 39. On the drive’s third play, he took the ball across the goal line for a 13-yard touchdown run to even the score at 14-all early in the second quarter.
Union was held on downs before forcing a GHS punt. The Panthers’ third drive got underway at its 47, and they scored seven plays later with a 5-yard Helcher draw.
GHS trailed 21-14 with 5:13 left in the half, and answered with an 80-yard touchdown series. Kiker and Stonecipher continued to test the edges while Titus earned yards up the middle.
Kiker scored his first touchdown on a 3-yard run for a 21-21 tie with 2:19 left in the half.
Gilmer’s defense forced a turnover on downs, but Darling was intercepted on first down when the Cats returned on offense. Stonecipher ended Union’s final drive of the half with an interception.
Cats surge ahead, Union answers
Union’s first three drives of the third resulted in a punt and a pair of turnovers on downs. They marked five straight possessions where the GHS defense did not surrender any points.
Gilmer cashed in three straight touchdowns to begin the half, and the first spanned 72 yards on nine plays. The drive was highlighted early by 11-yard runs by both Darling and Stonecipher, and Kiker got loose for a 19-yard run to Union’s 16. After a 10-yard Stonecipher carry, Kiker hit the left edge for a 6-yard touchdown and 28-21 GHS lead.
Gilmer’s next two possessions needed just four and three plays, respectively. Both drives ended with Kiker busting through the right side of the line untouched and galloping for touchdowns of 73 and 87 yards.
GHS opened a 42-21 lead with 9:55 to play in the game.
Following another threatening kick return, UCHS scored quickly as Helcher passed to Chitwood for a 25-yard touchdown on first down. GHS turned the ball over on downs, and Union took over at its 26. The Panthers drew within a touchdown on the drive’s sixth play with a 14-yard run by Helcher, who broke three tackles on the play.
Leading by seven, GHS started from its 32 with 5:22 left in regulation. On the drive’s fourth play, Stonecipher lost possession of the ball, and the Panthers pounced on it at the Cats’ 47. It was Helcher once more, and this time he ran for 12 yards on the fifth play of the drive to tie the score at 42-42.
Gilmer received a final possession with 1:18 on the clock but was unable to progress into Union territory before the Panthers’ overtime win.
Dominic Tarantino led the Bobcat defense with 21 total tackles. Stonecipher was there for 11 more.
“It was a disappointing loss, but I’m proud of how our kids fought,” Standard said. “I’m very proud of our offensive line. Obviously when you rush for 500 yards, you’re doing something right upfront. We had some of our young guys step up and play, and that was good.
“Kiker had a coming out party and had an excellent game on both sides of the ball. Dominic Tarantino had 21 tackles and blocked well on offense. He’s been banged up, too. Seth did a good job of directing the offense.”
GHS ended the season with a 3-7 record, and the Bobcats were 1-5 against region opponents.
Assessing the season and what is to come
Standard discussed the season and the foundation put in place.
“I think it was a good year in a lot of ways. We obviously wanted to win more games. I feel like we let two wins get away from us, and that’s on me. I felt like we needed to create the culture we needed to be successful under the principles and beliefs I have,” Standard said.
“I’m not saying the culture that prevailed was bad. It was different from what I was used to; therefore I had to install, instill and create the culture I thought we needed.
“I’m proud of our kids and our seniors who led us through the tough situations. This is their third head coach, third philosophy, third everything. On top of that, there was a cloud of negativity shrouding the program where kids were quitting left and right.”
Players and coaches gathered Monday for a final team meeting. After seniors were excused, Standard spoke with returning players about expectations for the program going forward.
“I think we have some really good leaders, but we’ve got to add,” Standard said. “We have 38 returning players and need to add to our numbers. We need them to recruit their classmates. I think we’re in a good place.”