For the first time since the 2015 season, the Gilmer High Bobcats have won a Region 6-4A football game.
GHS hit the road last Friday to take on Southeast Whitfield and the Raiders celebrated homecoming. Despite the festive atmosphere at halftime, it was the Bobcats who reveled in victory.
GHS played a well-rounded game on both sides of the ball and special teams converted three field goal attempts. The Cats trailed by one point at the half and seized control of the game in the fourth quarter to defeat Southeast, 17-14.
“We battled and played hard,” said Gilmer head coach Kevin Saunders. “Their quarterback (Adam Sowder) is really good, and we knew that, but for the most part, I thought we kept him in the pocket. We knew they were going to have some plays on us because he is good.”
GHS kicker Adolfo Bautista was there to make three field goals, which included two in the first half and another to put Gilmer ahead for good in the fourth quarter.
“Our special teams were incredible tonight,” Saunders said. “We only had one punt, our kickoff returns were good and we had no turnovers.”
Gilmer tallied 295 rushing yards and depended on four backs who delivered.
Both Gray McClure and Ashton White rushed for 79 yards while Andrew Gooch had 67 and Kobe Stonecipher finished with 63.
“The offense played really well and (offensive coordinator) Gary (Morton) called a great game,” Saunders said. “We’re getting there and still have a bunch of young kids playing. We’re getting better defensively and getting Kyle (Allison) back (from injury) helped.
Defensively, GHS limited the Raiders to 191 yards of total offense.
Bobcat Cameron Weaver made 12 total tackles, which included a sack, as well as a pass breakup. He forced a fumble in the second quarter. Cornerback Kanaan Walker had 12 total tackles as well.
“The kids played hard and never quit,” Saunders said. “Even when things go bad they just keep going. They believe they can win. They believe they can beat anybody.”
The Bobcats moved the ball well in the first half, but their drives stalled as they got closer to the end zone.
Southeast’s first of two punts occurred on its opening drive.
GHS responded with a 16-play possession that took 6:45 off the first quarter clock. Fullback White and wingback Stonecipher traded carries though Gilmer’s first seven plays, and the offense progressed from its 29 to the Raiders’ 29.
Gilmer converted an ensuing third down and 5 when quarterback Spenser Smith ran 6 yards to the 11-yard line. After a 5-yard gain by White, Stonecipher rushed to the 2, but a chop block penalty moved the Cats back to the 20. Following a 9-yard run by White, Bautista made his first of three field goals from 27 yards out.
Southeast’s first scoring drive began at its 31. While the Bobcats tallied three tackles for losses totaling 15 yards on the possession, Sowder was perfect, completing 7-of-7 passes for 72 yards. His final toss was an 8-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Lofton to cap the 12-play drive.
SHS led 7-3 2:23 into the second quarter.
Gilmer’s next drive spanned five plays and was highlighted by a 53-yard run by fullback Gooch through the middle of the Raiders’ defense.
The long gain advanced GHS to Southeast’s 11, but the Cats were held out of the end zone. Bautista was there once again, and this time his successful field goal was 26 yards.
Southeast’s Henry Vassel fumbled on the Raiders’ first play of their next drive and Bobcat Seth Darling recovered.
Down 7-6 with 6:08 before the half, GHS embarked on its next drive of the second quarter from its 39-yard line.
White and Stonecipher continued to be the Cats’ go-to runners, and wingback McClure joined in as well and rushed twice for 20 yards. Smith completed a 12-yard pass to Stonecipher on the drive as the GHS gained three first downs and moved into Raider territory.
The Bobcats’ second and final penalty moved them back to the 29 after McClure rushed to the 15. On fourth down from the 33, GHS ran a reverse pass, but Darling’s heave fell incomplete.
GHS had a final possession with 20 seconds left in the first half but could not add more points to the scoreboard.
White, Gooch, Stonecipher and McClure all rushed on Gilmer’s 9-play drive to begin the third quarter. McClure had five carries totaling 46 yards, but none were bigger than his 23-yard run on fourth down and 5 that resulted in a touchdown.
McClure also added the two-point conversion and GHS led 14-7 with 6:40 left in the third quarter.
The Raiders gained two first downs on their next drive but their second turnover was right around the corner. On second down from Gilmer’s 40, Sowder passed and Smith stepped in front of the receiver for the interception.
He returned it all the way to Southeast’s 30, but GHS eventually turned the ball over on downs without gaining a first down.
Southeast tied the game with a 12-play, 74-yard possession. While GHS did sack Sowder on the drive, he got the last laugh by completing 6-of-7 passes for 50 yards and tallying 27 more on three rushes. His touchdown was a 13-yard completion to Colter Long.
The touchdown tied the score 14-14 with 10:07 to play.
GHS was then forced to punt, but Southeast could not take advantage.
On first down from their own 20, Vassel fumbled for a second time when Allison popped the ball loose and Will Bradburn recovered for GHS.
From the Raiders’ 19, GHS ran the ball six consecutive times to the 2-yard line. Saunders called on Bautista again, and the junior kicker booted the ball through the uprights from 19 yards.
The kick gave GHS a 17-14 edge with 2:15 to play, and Sowder did not have any magic left when the Raiders offense took the field for their final possession.
Gilmer’s defense held on four downs then ran the final 1:39 off the clock.
Sowder completed 15-of-23 pass attempts for 140 yards and two touchdowns for the Raiders.
Gilmer will host region foe Heritage for homecoming Friday. Kickoff at Huff-Mosley Memorial Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.