Gilmer Buckeyes
Head Coach: Alan Metzel (5th season; 52-8 record)
Last Season: 13-3; 4-1 in district (Defeated Bellville in 4A Division II State Championship Game)
Gilmer Key Players and Storylines
Coincidentally, last year’s three defeats were the most losses Gilmer has had in a season under Alan Metzel. It didn’t matter.
The Buckeyes got hot when they needed to, beating Carthage in the regional final before edging Bellville 28-26 for the 4A Division II state championship.
Their playmaking quarterback Cadon Tennison (2,684 passing yards and 27 touchdowns) returns this year to lead an explosive offense that averaged just over 50 points per game a year ago. The run game will need to be rebuilt but the passing game is in good shape with senior receivers Brendan Webb (886 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns) and Geramiah Noble (566 receiving yards and four touchdowns).
Cadon Tennison finds Webb for a touchdown. Gilmer is running away with it, up 42-7 on Glen Rose with 8:21 left in the half. @GilmerBuckeyeFB @CadonTennison1 @Bwebb710 #txhsfb pic.twitter.com/S8EuOrziLl
— DFW Inside High School Sports (@ihss_dfw) December 9, 2023
Lucas Cano brings great size to the offensive line at 6’2″ and 305 pounds. He has a pair of in-state Division I offers.
On the other side of the ball, nose guard Tyler Hagler (101 tackles, 15 TFLs) is a menace in the trenches (101 total tackles, 15 TFLs). The Buckeyes should have a good core of seniors behind him. Linebacker Trillyon Butler (46 tackles), cornerback Amauri Morton, and Webb (50 tackles), a safety, were all all-district honorees last season. Junior Devin McDonald (66 tackles and six TFLs) and senior Brayden Pate (65 tackles) are two more impact players to watch at linebacker alongside Butler.
The Buckeyes have to replace 2,700-yard rusher Will Henderson, but there’s talent and experience in most other key areas of this team. Having to go through teams like Carthage and Pleasant Grove to win a regional final is never easy, but the Buckeyes have the pieces cause trouble again this season.
Gilmer 2024 Schedule
8/30 vs. Pine Tree
9/6 at Chapel Hill
9/13 vs. Kilgore
9/20 at Lindale
9/27 at Brenham
10/11 at Pittsburg
10/18 at Van
10/25 at Pleasant Grove
11/1 vs. Spring Hill
11/8 at North Lamar
