Gilmer’s junior varsity continued its football season last Thursday at home against the Union County Panthers.
The GHS Bobcats were able to move the ball with their run-centric attack, but never breached the goal line. The Panthers built a two-score lead at the half and added another touchdown in the third quarter to come away with a 21-0 win.
The teams swapped punts to begin the game and UCHS won the early field position battle when its punt pinned GHS at its 1-yard line. The Panthers’ second possession began at the Cats’ 38.
The six-play drive concluded with a 10-yard quarterback keeper. Union led 6-0 with 2:48 left in the opening quarter after the missed extra point.
Union’s second to last possession of the half started at its 45. Facing fourth down and five from the 50, and middle screen took the Panthers to the end zone for another touchdown. The successful two-point conversion made the margin 14-0 in the Panthers’ favor 4:33 before the break.
The Bobcats were forced to punt three times and turned the ball over on downs once in the first half and were able to gain three first downs in the process.
Gilmer punted to UCHS on its first possession of the second half and the Panthers took over at their 26. Union kept the ball on the ground, and four straight rushes moved them to Gilmer’s 20. An 18-yard completion was followed by a 2-yard touchdown run, and the score stood at 21-0 with 3:50 left in the third quarter.
Gilmer’s next two possessions concluded with punts and their final drive of the game moved deep into Panther territory.
Carter Shope was Gilmer’s go-to back and he rushed four times in a row to move the Cats to Union’s 14. GHS eventually faced third down from the 11, and Shope’s next rush took him inside the five, but he fumbled and the Panthers recovered.
Union killed the clock to secure its three-score victory.