The Gilmer Bobcats’ shortened football season even ended a day early.
The game versus Union County was moved to last Thursday because of a referee shortage, and GHS hosted the Panthers for a nonregion matchup to complete its nine-game season.
While Gilmer had success moving the ball most of the night, it could not break through for points when it was able to progress deep into Union territory.
The Panthers scored the game’s only touchdown in the second quarter and denied the Bobcats late in the fourth to come away with a 7-0 win.
“We played a lot better tonight, and it’s the way we should have been playing,” GHS coach Kevin Saunders said of the game, which was preceded by three lopsided defeats.
“I’m really proud of the effort the kids gave. They gave us a chance to score there at the end and never quit. We had a few men down and played really well, and I’m really proud of them.”
GHS went to the air 24 times on the night as its running game was limited to 3.3 yards per carry. Gilmer took the field shorthanded and did not practice the week before the game as a precautionary measure after some players were exposed to COVID-19.
“We had a new offensive line pretty much in there,” Saunders said. “We didn’t’ get to practice much with them and some of them just had to play. We only had two starters back. Dawson Stephens had a great game and he’s been our best offensive lineman all year. We did an admirable job and should have scored on our first drive and we didn’t.”
Saunders moved fullback Ashton White to guard, and wingback Gray McClure filled in for White. Gilmer’s opening drive lasted 15 plays and took more than nine minutes off the clock. GHS picked up three first downs but stalled on the Panthers’ 25.
Union was forced to punt on its first two drives. Gilmer’s second possession ended when wingback Spenser Smith fumbled. The Cats’ third drive concluded when quarterback Seth Darling’s pass was tipped and intercepted.
The Panthers took over at Gilmer’s 43-yard line floowing the turnover. Their eight-play possession included a pass and seven rushes as Union’s shotgun offense snapped the ball as quickly as possible. Quarterback Logan Helcher was injured on the drive after he was tackled by Bobcat Tyler Gatlin and did not return.
Union fullback Jonah Daniel handed the final three carries and the last covered 4 yards for the game’s lone touchdown. Union led 7-0 with 6:24 left in the half.
Gilmer punted when it received the ball, and its next drive started in prime position at Union’s 35. However, GHS could not take advantage, and Adolfo Bautista’s 29-yard field goal attempt was wide left.
The teams traded punts to start the third quarter. Union’s second drive of the quarter ended when Bobcat safety Hunter Watkins intercepted a deep pass.
The Cats eventually punted. Union did the same, and the kick rolled out of bounds at Gilmer’s 4-yard line. The Bobcats embarked on a 10-play drive that was highlighted by a 34-yard Darling bootleg to advance GHS to Union’s 36. The drive stalled four plays later.
The Bobcats had a final possession with 2:40 left in the game that began at their 17. Darling completed a 36-yard pass to wingback Kobe Stonecipher on the drive’s second play.
Darling slipped through the line to convert a fourth down before the Panthers were flagged for a 15-yard face mask penalty.
From Union’s 21-yard line with 28 seconds to play, four straight incompletions ended Gilmer’s rally. GHS had a good opportunity to score a touchdown on one of those attempts, but a Union defensive back broke up the pass intended for Bobcat Will Kiker.
GHS finished the season with a 3-6 overall record. The Bobcats’ forfeit to White County a week prior did not count as a loss.
“They had a great year. These seniors did a great job,” Saunders said when asked to assess the season. “I don’t know how many people thought we’d win seven games in two years (after losing 31 straight) with this bunch but we did. I’m very proud of these kids, especially these seniors. They had a great year and did really well.”
He added, “We should have been better. We had to overcome a lot. I’m very proud of these kids for doing what they had to do to come through and overcome and did a really good job. I’m very proud of them.”