Before last Friday’s main event, the Clear Creek Middle School Bobcats took Petitt Field.
The Gilmer County football program held intrasquad scrimmages at Huff-Mosley Memorial Stadium and fans got a glimpse of the future before Gilmer High gave them a view of the present.
CCMS head coach Willie Dodaro and staff split seventh- and eighth-graders and after about 30 minutes of play the White squad defeated Purple, 8-6.
“The coaches got together and tried to balance the teams as much as possible, and I think they did a pretty good job,” Dodaro said.
“I was very happy with tonight. I’m proud of the coaching staff, proud of the guys and this was a great opportunity to come to the high school and thanks to (GHS head) coach (Kevin) Saunders.”
He added, “One thing I was really pleased with is we were able to get our seventh-graders in a game-like situation. We’re really young with the seventh grade as far as playing time.”
White began the game with the ball on its 35 and quickly reached the end zone. Bobcat Talyn Curtis took a hand-off around the left edge 60 yards and the two-point conversion resulted in an 8-0 lead.
Ball security was an issue for Purple, and Curtis was there to recover the fumble. White started its drive at Purple’s 40. The possession extended inside the 10, but Purple held on fourth and goal from the eight.
The ball was re-spotted at the 35, and quarterback Issac Rellinger and running back Michael Bushey helped Purple move across midfield. Rellinger found Kyle Cowert wide open in the middle of the field and he outran the defense for a 47-yard touchdown.
White denied Purple’s two-point conversion attempt and the scrimmage was called after White progressed to midfield on its next drive.
“I see some more improvement to come,” Dodaro said of his seventh-and eighth-grade teams. “I’m real pleased with the effort today because we had a pretty crappy practice yesterday and were jumping offsides and everything.
“They came ready to play and were focused. That’s one thing we’ve got to keep at. The eighth grade’s got a heck of a schedule. We got some big opponents with Lumpkin and White. We’ve got to be ready for those guys, and Union has a really good running back.”
CCMS will start its season Thursday at Union County beginning at 5:30 p.m.