Gilmer High hit the road to take on first place Dawson County, and the Bobcats suffered their third region loss in a row.
The Cats made the trip last Friday, and they tangled with the Tigers in a defensive struggle. The game was played between the 20-yard lines in the first half, and the Tigers’ kickoff return in the third quarter accounted for the game’s first points.
DCHS added another touchdown and field goal while the Bobcats strung together a long drive in the fourth quarter for seven points. Dawson secured Gilmer’s last-ditch onside kick and the game, 17-7.
“I was pleased with the way our kids responded coming off a tough emotional loss (versus Pickens a week prior),” said head coach Paul Standard. “Our coaching never changed, we didn’t change practice, we just continued to work. This was probably the best team in the region, they’re strong and have had a lot of success in recent years.
“Our kids played right with them, toe-to-toe in the first half.”
Dawson and Gilmer each totaled 170 yards as both teams were held to well below their seasonal points per game. DCHS deployed a shotgun hurry-up offense, and it relied heavily on Kade Moledor, a big straight-line runner.
GHS fullback Brock Titus was Gilmer’s leading rusher for the second week in a row as he gained 95 yards pounding the middle of the Tigers’ defense. GHS went to the air more than usual as it attempted 13 passes. However, that yielded just two completions while quarterback Issac Rellinger was sacked six times.
Both teams were committed to the run in the first half, and neither defense gave much ground. Linebacker Aspen Hataway led the Bobcats’ defensive effort with nine total tackles. Cornerback Mason Smith was there to break up three of Dawson’s 10 pass attempts.
To start the game, Gilmer’s offense was limited to one first down through its first three possessions. Meanwhile, Dawson turned the ball over on downs, punted and missed a 38-yard field goal on its three drives.
The Bobcats’ fourth possession started at its 20. After picking up a first down, GHS faced fourth down and 2 from its 38. Rellinger took the direct snap on the punt from his upback position, rolled to his right and passed to Titus for just enough yards. DCHS was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct when referees came out to measure, which advanced GHS to the Tigers’ 45.
With the clock dwindling, Rellinger’s 43-yard heave was caught by Hunter Watkins at the 4-yard line. With four seconds on the clock, the offense rushed down field before Rellinger took the snap and spiked the ball. While GHS killed the clock prior to the halftime buzzer, the Cats were not granted another play as the half ended, 0-0.
“We were able to hit a big play at the end of the first half again (like we did versus Pickens), but just couldn’t get it clocked in time,” Standard said.
DCHS received the second half kickoff, and Tiger Alex Stewart returned it 77 yards for a touchdown. After GHS went three and out, Dawson took over at Gilmer’s 49 before settling for a 34-yard field goal.
Trailing 10-0 with 8:05 left in the third, GHS punted once more after three offensive plays. DCHS needed just two plays to cover 47 yards. The Tigers added a second touchdown with Elijah Smith’s 39-yard run for a 17-0 advantage with 4:45 remaining in the quarter.
After each team turned the ball over on downs, GHS embarked on a 19-play, 84-yard drive that lasted 9:54. Titus rushed 11 times on the possession for 54 yards with a long of 22 that advanced GHS to Dawson’s 11-yard line. Watkins accounted for 24 yards on the drive, which included the final 5 for a touchdown on fourth and goal.
Connor Seim’s extra point made it 17-7 with 58 seconds to play. GHS attempted an onside kick but Dawson recovered before killing the clock.
“With the second half kickoff, if we (cover it and) just get to play defense, who knows? They played good defense, and I was extremely proud of our kids and how we handled the last drive against their first-team defense,” Standard said.
The loss dropped the Cats’ record to 5-3 overall and 2-3 versus region opponents. Gilmer is off this week and will conclude the regular season next Friday versus White County. GHS will need to defeat White and get some assistance from other teams to reach the postseason.
“I think we have a good football team and we have a week off to get ready for White,” Standard said. “If we take care of our job, we still got a chance, but we’ve got to get some help. When was the last time game 10 meant anything around here? For our kids, I think that’s a feather in their cap.
“I don’t think our coaches or kids are ducking their heads. We just have to continue to work and play, and that’s what I expect them to do this week and next week. I’m disappointed in the loss but extremely proud of how our kids played.”