The Gilmer High Bobcats ran into an experienced Ringgold Tigers squad to start the season.
The Tigers were bigger and faster than the Bobcats, and a pair of GHS turnovers spotted RHS two touchdowns. Gilmer drew within 13 points in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers added another touchdown to come away with a 35-15 victory.
Coach Paul Standard and the Bobcats entered the season with depth concerns, which were compounded Friday by players in quarantine who were unable to take the field.
“We’re asking a lot out of our top players, and they’re having to play a lot of snaps,” Standard said. “That leads to fatigue and that leads to some errors. It’s not errors because they don’t want to be good, or errors because of lack of effort, they were just fatigued. That’s something we’re going to be dealing with all year, and I’m proud of those kids who had to play 100 snaps. They’re playing hard.
“We did play some younger guys tonight, which will help us down the road as they get older and mature. I think this year they’ll be able to play a little more for us.”
Ringgold ran an offense typical of today’s game. They spread four receivers on most plays and maintained an up-tempo pace. They deployed a bevy of backs in addition to quarterback Mason Parker, who proved to be a powerful runner.
“When coach (Robert) Akins called me about scheduling this game he said, ‘Look, we have our best team we’ve had in the last five or six years.’ They are good, and they are strong and they’re fast.”
RHS scored a pair of offensive touchdowns in the first half, and they came on its opening drives. The first score needed just two plays. After an 11-yard run by Malachi Hill, he took an ensuing screen pass 54 yards around the right edge to pay dirt.
GHS punted on its first possession and Ringgold started from its 30. Hill, Parker and running backs Peyton Williams and Kori Dumas traded carries to move RHS downfield on 10 rushes. The final run belonged to Williams, who lined up at quarterback and took a direct snap 4 yards into the end zone.
Ringgold opened a 14-0 lead halfway into the quarter. The Bobcats’ second possession ended when Hill intercepted quarterback Seth Darling. However, RHS did not fare as well over its next four possessions, which concluded with two punts and a pair of turnovers, respectively.
The Tigers’ second punt gave GHS prime field position. On the play, the long snap shot over the punter’s head and GHS fell on the ball at Ringgold’s 8.
Gilmer’s triple-option offense went back to work and Bobcat fullback Brock Titus carried consecutively. His final run covered 4 yards for a touchdown.
The Cats went for two points after a Tiger encroachment penalty on the extra point, and Titus plunged into the endzone as GHS trailed 14-8 with 3:55 left in the half.
On the third play of Ringgold’s next drive, a pass intended for Hill was broken up by Bobcat cornerback Hunter Watkins. GHS linebacker Aspen Hataway was there to reach back and make an acrobatic interception at the Tigers’ 48.
While the Bobcats were forced to punt, they soon found new life when Darling’s kick was not fielded cleanly. Bobcat Hayden Morrison was there for the recovery, and Gilmer was back in business at Ringgold’s 24 with 1:26 on the clock.
However, a Bobcat miscommunication on the second play of the possession resulted in a pitch falling to the turf. The ball was scooped up by Ringgold’s Dumas and returned 68 yards for a Tiger touchdown to give them a 21-8 halftime lead.
And while RHS appeared to take some momentum into the locker room, Gilmer nearly snatched it back.
On the third-quarter kickoff, Bobcat Kobe Stonecipher returned the ball through the heart of Ringgold’s coverage team 95 yards to pay dirt. But it was all for naught when a referee called a holding penalty 25 yards behind the play as Stonecipher was a stride away from the goal line.
GHS went on to turn the ball over on downs at Ringgold’s 40 following the questionable penalty flag.
RHS marched downsfield with its usual cast of characters. On the seventh play of the drive from Gilmer’s 7-yard line, Parker appeared to be stopped in the backfield for a loss. But he was able to twist away from a pair of Bobcats, who managed to pull off one of Parker’s cleats before he broke free and scored.
GHS trailed 28-8 with 6:30 left in the third quarter ahead of its final touchdown drive. GHS started from its 12 and marched downfield on 14 plays. From its 20-yard line on third down, Stonecipher took a hand-off to the right and back through Ringgold’s defense for a 16-yard gain.
The Tigers were flagged for a personal foul on the run, which inched GHS into Ringgold territory. RHS then helped Gilmer out twice more after penalties on the Cats’ next two ensuing fourth-down attempts.
From the 21, Stonecipher and Titus traded carries. On the final play from the 8, Titus bulled his way into the end zone with some help from his teammates.
Down 28-15, GHS forced a Tiger punt on their next possession when Gilmer’s Will Kiker swatted the ball away from a Ringgold receiver. GHS took over near midfield, but on third down, Darling was intercepted by Hill once again.
Dumas and Williams moved RHS on the ground, and on first down from Gilmer’s 28, Parker took the ball untouched around the right corner for a touchdown. The score capped a seven-play, 60-yard drive, and Ringgold led 35-15 with 3:13 to play.
GHS punted the ball on its final possession to end the game.
“We’ve got to get better and we will. I like what I’ve seen,” Standard said. “Now, there are only so many moral victories I can handle, but if it doesn’t happen on the scoreboard, I’m not going to let those kids feel like they’re anything less if they give a championship effort.
“Now, if they don’t give that, they’re going to hear about it. But if they give effort like they do and keep giving that effort and it doesn’t work out, they better leave this program knowing they gave everything.”
RHS leading rushers were Dumas (118 yards), Williams (60) and Parker (49), while the remaining 39 yards were collected by Hill. Stonecipher was Gilmer’s top ground gainer with 71 yards on 13 attempts.
“Our special teams play was phenomenal,” Standard said. “I thought there were some warrior efforts out there tonight. Darling got the heck knocked out of him, but we didn’t have our back-up tonight or he would’ve gotten in there. Kiker and Stonecipher played so hard.
“What I’m proud of is that sometimes a losing team will fuss at each other and point fingers, but there hasn’t been one bit of that since the day I got here. These guys are going to be OK.”
GHS will travel to Murray County (1-0) Friday for a 7:30 kickoff.