There aren’t many teams in the state who can hang with West Orange-Stark, especially in Class 4A. Of a handful of teams capable, Gilmer’s right up there at the top of that list with perhaps Carthage and a couple more schools.
Heck, the last time Gilmer won a state title was a come-from-behind effort over West Orange in 2014. Although that was then and this is now, Gilmer still looks like one of the favorites to dethrone the two-time defending state champion Mustangs.
Gilmer enters 2017 with a hot hand at quarterback in Aaron “Poppy” Brown. How’s this for stats in 2016: 5,013 passing yards with 48 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions. Brown also had 344 rushing yards with eight more scores. And here are a couple more numbers: Against Liberty-Eylau, he passed for 577 yards and six touchdowns with a 158.4 passer rating.
The Buckeyes went 13-2 in 2016 with their only losses to eventual 4A DI state champ Carthage (55-37) in non-district and to Sweetwater (48-35) in the 4A DII state semifinal.
Gilmer averaged nearly 49 points a game in 2016, and that number could be even higher this season. That’s a good thing because West Orange-Stark is always tough on defense, and they could be waiting in Jerry World again.
Key Losses
RB/WR Lamarcus Morton, ILB Myles Chumley, DB Kollin Hurt
Morton was named the District 7-4A DII Offensive MVP after rushing for a team-high 904 yards and 18 touchdowns and receiving for a team-high 1,368 yards and 15 more touchdowns.
Hurt and Chumley were unanimous first-team all-district selections. Hurt led the team with an eye-popping 155 tackles and three interceptions. Chumley had 115 tackles and Kelton Collier led the team with nine sacks and seven hurries.
Key Returners
QB Aaron “Poppy” Brown, RB Rashaad Ward, OL Landon Green
Poppy Brown was the district’s overall MVP for posting some staggering numbers at quarterback. Though he loses his top receiver in Morton, he brings back Red Jones and Qua Heath at receiver and has all-district lineman Landon Green back.
Ward was third on the team in rushing with 432 yards and six touchdowns despite not playing in two games.
Wilson Nugent had seven sacks last season and fellow junior Abel Euceda had five sacks.
The Verdict
Football players grow on trees in Gilmer. Big trees in Gilmer. They have good teams year in and year out, and 2017 will be no different.
Poppy Brown headlines this group, and the Buckeyes will regroup at running back and receiver, but it shouldn’t be too hard with so much talent returning.
The non-district schedule is tough, and that’s a good thing because the Buckeyes should once again cruise through district. They travel to Texarkana Liberty-Eylau on Sept. 1 and to Center the following week. Their home opener is Sept. 15 against Argyle Liberty Christian.
One of the best non-district clashes in the state this fall — regardless of class or division — will take place Sept. 23 when the defending 4A Division I state champion Carthage Bulldogs travel to Gilmer. It should be an epic matchup of two great offenses against another and two teams with state title expectations.
After a district slate of Pleasant Grove, Gladewater, Spring Hill, Atlanta and Pittsburg, it’s off to the playoffs where the Buckeyes could be until nearly Christmas, perhaps wearing gold medals at the end.
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