The Gilmer High School Bobcats gave football fans a preview of what might be in store this season.
GHS held a scrimmage last Friday, and players were split between offense and defense rather than divided into purple and white squads.
The offense scored on all four of its possessions and found success on the ground and through the air. Throughout the scrimmage, Gilmer’s defensive line got plenty of breaks, and the offense took advantage for big gains.
Head coach Kevin Saunders discussed what he wanted to get out of the scrimmage and assessed the Bobcats’ performance.
“I wanted to see them run around and get after it. I wanted to see them be physical, which I thought we were,” he said. “I thought they were very competitive with each other. They played hard and they played fast. We have to clean up some things, but the competition was really good and it was exciting. They needed to play.
“We went pretty much ones against ones. I feel like we have more depth than last year so that’s helping. It looks good.”
The offense and defense were both able to have their full starting lines intact. The defense’s back eight and offensive skill players are largely made up of the same players, which is where some reserves got to see the field.
The offense began the first drive at its 20, and converted a pair of fourth downs to move across midfield. On first down, the Bobcats ran a reverse pass, and receiver Seth Darling tossed a strike to wingback Kobe Stonecipher, who got behind both safeties.
The play was a 35-yard pick up to the four-yard line, and Isaiah Sharp scored around the left edge on the ensuing play.
The next drive started at the 30, and the Bobcats moved across midfield on the ground once more. Stonecipher hauled in his second reception of the day. Quarterback Spenser Smith threw the pass and this one went for 26 yards down the 18-yard line.
Stonecipher rushed for eight yards to the 10, and Smith went right up the middle on the next play for another touchdown.
The offense went to the well once more on the first play of the next possession. Smith hit Stonecipher in stride down the right sideline for a 70-yard touchdown bomb.
Sharp and Brock Titus swapped carries to move GHS past the 50 on the scrimmage’s final drive. From the 28, Smith passed across the middle to tight end Cade Carter for a 14-yard completion. Stonecipher scored around the right side for the final touchdown of the scrimmage.
Kicker Adolfo Bautista converted all four extra point attempts.
The junior varsity took the field briefly before the varsity.
The defense held the offense on downs on all four drives, and one ended prematurely with a fumble and defensive lineman Nolan Price was there for the recovery.
“This is new to all of them and I felt good about where they were,” Saunders said of the junior varsity players. “They played hard and got after it. We have to continue to do those things.”