The junior varsity Bobcats hosted rival Pickens last Thursday. Costly turnovers hurt the Cats, and Pickens reached the end zone on its last three drives for a 22-12 win.
Gilmer got the game going with a 15-play drive as fullbacks Michael Bushey and Wyatt Stokes and halfback Hunter Britain shared carries. GHS converted a third down and three fourth downs on the series, and Stokes capped the 63-yard possession with a 4-yard touchdown run.
GHS led 6-0 after a failed conversion. Pickens advanced solely on the ground when its offense took the field. The Bobcats stopped four runs from inside their own 6-yard line to deny the Dragons on the goal line.
Gilmer fumbled on its next drive and PHS took over at Gilmer’s 47. The 9-play drive concluded with a 1-yard touchdown run and failed conversion.
PHS broke the 6-6 tie in the third quarter with a 5-play, 69- yard drive where it did all of its damage through the air.
Behind 14-6, the Cats responded with a 10-play march. The aforementioned trio of backs continued to handle all of the carries, and GHS got a boost with a 15-yard PHS face mask penalty. Gilmer scored on a 1-yard run by Britain, and trailed 14-12 after the failed conversion.
Pickens’ offense was back on the field at its 48. PHS needed five plays once again and scored on a 6-yard run.
Behind 22-12 with 9:59 to play, GHS fumbled again before Pickens ran out the clock.
The loss dropped the Cats’ record to 2-3.