Its Carthage @ Gilmer time

[lostaussie]

1-0 Dawgs roll into 4-0 Gilmer Friday night (hopefully). Carthage only one game and Buckeyes have the offense rolling. I believe we can put up a good fight against that stingy Carthage defense. Hope I can get a dang ticket!!!!

[waterboy]

We will certainly be able to tell where we are as a team in this one. The Carthage D is the real deal. They also have plenty of weapons on offense. In order to have any chance of winning, the Buckeyes will have to eliminate the turnovers, bad snaps, and minimize penalties. The good news is our offense looks like the offenses of old. We still have some weaknesses on our defense that need a lot of work. I definitely like the fire the Buckeyes play with this year. They never give up, even when down by three touchdowns, they still believe they can win. They certainly can't afford to get behind by that much against teams like Carthage, though.

One advantage the Buckeyes do have is they have 4 games under their belt, whereas Carthage has only one. There's nothing like playing against an opponent as opposed to practicing. I hope that will help.

[d0tc0m]

What a game. World circumstances being what they are, this one ought to get you going and excited!

It's hard to tell what to expect from Carthage, to be honest, and I say that relatively speaking. Obviously, we know a Scott Surratt team is going to be well-coached. We know Carthage will not be short on talent by any means. A big-time QB with a big-time arm and plenty of targets to spread the ball around to. Maybe they don't have the explosive playmaker that they've had the past few years, but the offense is just so dang efficient.

As far as the Carthage defense, it's just really hard to gauge what they've got. Size, yes. Speed, yes. Discipline, yes. But this is a one-game sample size against a Kilgore offense that is not bad, but not even close to Gilmer-level. The Buckeyes have an embarrassment of riches on offense ... and they're not even 100% healthy yet. Gilmer is good enough to score on Carthage

Gilmer's defense looks like it's made marked improvements over the past few seasons. They have size, speed and they've got some hard-hitting ball hawks. They're still giving up some big plays and some big numbers. BUT, they've made some really good halftime adjustments, like last week against Lindale. That's all well and good, until you play a team like Carthage that understands how to counter those second-half adjustments with new wrinkles of their own.

I think this will be a fairly high-scoring game. If there's a team that can keep Gilmer under 40, it's Carthage, and I think the Bulldogs will have to do that in order to win. If Carthage was playing their fifth game on Friday, I'd probably lean towards them. Right now, though, I see Gilmer pulling out the win in a shootout. I think the game experience the Buckeyes have right now will pay some dividends. Practice is great, but you can't simulate that game speed, no matter what kind of experience you have. I think it makes a difference on Friday.

[lostaussie]

^^^we have 1 believer!!! Our offense is amazing with Tennison at the helm. He is a dynamic player who makes everyone around him better.

[d0tc0m]

^^^we have 1 believer!!! Our offense is amazing with Tennison at the helm. He is a dynamic player who makes everyone around him better.

Tennison is very good at QB. And Hurt has developed into a big-time playmaker at receiver. Throw in the Fluellen boys (if you can keep both healthy) along with a number of supporting characters, and you've got an offense that is a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. If the Buckeyes clean up those first-half mistakes, they're going to be a tough out for anybody. I think Gilmer could take back the district title this year, too. If they watched the Argyle/PG stream, the Buckeyes had to be licking their chops. The framework for beating the Hawks was laid out.

[oldtownag]

Dawgs by 21! :twitch:

[jason]

live stream?
stephenville game thursday night so looking for a good one friday...

[waterboy]

live stream?
stephenville game thursday night so looking for a good one friday...

Here's the link. Just hit live stream. It will be video streamed. Warning: they are homers.:D

https://ghs.gilmerisd.org/247512_2

[waterboy]

Dawgs by 21! :twitch:

You "could" be right, but I certainly hope not. I look for a closer game.

[d0tc0m]

You "could" be right, but I certainly hope not. I look for a closer game.

If Gilmer lets Carthage get a jump like they spotted Lindale, then it won't be close. But if the Buckeyes can button up the first half, they can for sure win. They'll have just as good of athletes on the field as the Bulldogs. Carthage will have the better offensive line, I think, but apart from that, Gilmer has the guys to run with the Bulldogs.

[waterboy]

If Gilmer lets Carthage get a jump like they spotted Lindale, then it won't be close. But if the Buckeyes can button up the first half, they can for sure win. They'll have just as good of athletes on the field as the Bulldogs. Carthage will have the better offensive line, I think, but apart from that, Gilmer has the guys to run with the Bulldogs.

I agree. We most definitely can't afford to get off to a slow start like we have been doing in the last three games. That worries me for sure. We certainly can't afford to spot a team like Carthage a 2 or 3 TD lead and expect to come back. I would love to see this year's team put together 4 whole quarters of their best football. If that happens we definitely have at least a chance at the upset.

[oldtownag]

I agree. We most definitely can't afford to get off to a slow start like we have been doing in the last three games. That worries me for sure. We certainly can't afford to spot a team like Carthage a 2 or 3 TD lead and expect to come back. I would love to see this year's team put together 4 whole quarters of their best football. If that happens we definitely have at least a chance at the upset.

Yall got off to a slow start.

[Aesculus gilmus]

What a game. World circumstances being what they are, this one ought to get you going and excited!

It's hard to tell what to expect from Carthage, to be honest, and I say that relatively speaking. Obviously, we know a Scott Surratt team is going to be well-coached. We know Carthage will not be short on talent by any means. A big-time QB with a big-time arm and plenty of targets to spread the ball around to. Maybe they don't have the explosive playmaker that they've had the past few years, but the offense is just so dang efficient.

As far as the Carthage defense, it's just really hard to gauge what they've got. Size, yes. Speed, yes. Discipline, yes. But this is a one-game sample size against a Kilgore offense that is not bad, but not even close to Gilmer-level. The Buckeyes have an embarrassment of riches on offense ... and they're not even 100% healthy yet. Gilmer is good enough to score on Carthage

Gilmer's defense looks like it's made marked improvements over the past few seasons. They have size, speed and they've got some hard-hitting ball hawks. They're still giving up some big plays and some big numbers. BUT, they've made some really good halftime adjustments, like last week against Lindale. That's all well and good, until you play a team like Carthage that understands how to counter those second-half adjustments with new wrinkles of their own.

I think this will be a fairly high-scoring game. If there's a team that can keep Gilmer under 40, it's Carthage, and I think the Bulldogs will have to do that in order to win. If Carthage was playing their fifth game on Friday, I'd probably lean towards them. Right now, though, I see Gilmer pulling out the win in a shootout. I think the game experience the Buckeyes have right now will pay some dividends. Practice is great, but you can't simulate that game speed, no matter what kind of experience you have. I think it makes a difference on Friday.

You drank the orange Kool-Aid. Gilmer doesn't have the defense (nor the offense tonight) to even make a game of it with a team like Carthage. Fortunately, there aren't too many other teams like Carthage in 4A D2 .

[d0tc0m]

You drank the orange Kool-Aid. Gilmer doesn't have the defense (nor the offense tonight) to even make a game of it with a team like Carthage. Fortunately, there aren't too many other teams like Carthage in 4A D2 .

Oh I drink orange kool-aid, alright. But it’s orange and white, not orange and black. I said in my next post that if Gilmer spotted Carthage a first-half like they spotted Lindale, it would be a blowout.

The Buckeyes defense did make adjustments in the second half and played much better and held the Bulldogs to 14 points. But then it was too late.

Carthage won this game in the trenches. That offensive line manhandled Gilmer, and they’re gonna manhandle a lot of teams. And the defensive line did the same thing. The Bulldogs secondary is quick and disciplined. It looked like Carthage was playing defense with about 20 guys out there at times.

Carthage isn’t unbeatable, I’ll say that. But you’ll need to match their physicality and discipline and play about as perfect a game as possible to beat them.

[cowboyandchrist]

The 2020 version of the Dawgs was on display last night.
The O line and D line dominated Gilmore.
Horton (Dawg QB) had all day to find his receivers and the big hogs made holes big enough to drive a truck through.
Courtney had 200 yards rushing and Horton threw for over 200.
The Dawg defense is faster and than last year. They were in the back field all night forcing Gilmer to throw 3 INT’S.
Gilmer had many three and outs.
I think they held Gilmer to less than 40 yards rushing.
Gilmer did have some success passing but their receivers Had to make tuff catches and got lit up when they did.
The Dawg D is for real.
Gilmer has the best on side kicker I have seen. He can make that ball bounce perfect.
The Dawgs had two touch downs called back, and two passes , one 45 yard pass dropped with no one within 15 yards, and another pass over thrown to a wide open receiver that ran by the secondary.
The Dawgs will be tested next week against PG.
Should be a hard hitting slobber knocker.

[Aesculus gilmus]

I have video on every play of the game. I wish I could say you were right, cowboy, but all three of those interceptions were on him - two were bad throws and one was a bad decision to throw into traffic.

That's not to say he wasn't under pressure, but he wasn't on those three plays. The more important thing you did was to shut down his running lanes. He usually escapes for 20-or-more yard gains several times a game. Last night he never did.

[oldtownag]

I have video on every play of the game. I wish I could say you were right, cowboy, but all three of those interceptions were on him - two were bad throws and one was a bad decision to throw into traffic.

That's not to say he wasn't under pressure, but he wasn't on those three plays. The more important thing you did was to shut down his running lanes. He usually escapes for 20-or-more yard gains several times a game. Last night he never did.

As you know Cowboys analysis is not highly regarded except by the biggest Bulldog homers!

[cowboyandchrist]

Oldtownag
Everything I said was correct.
I to went back and watch the three INT’S.
The receivers were blanketed and pressure was not there when threw the INT’S but is was coming.
It was a total domination on both sides of the ball.
Gilmer will be fine and go deep in the playoffs.
The Dawgs will be better but they are going to be something special by the time the playoffs get here.

[oldtownag]

No shame in being a homer! You do however pour it on thicker than most!

[Aesculus gilmus]

Since I posted, I have now heard that Tennison was supposed to throw it to a specific spot on the field, which is what he did (although it appears to me the interception intended for Hurt was clearly an overthrow on Tennison's part). So, yes, you could say that the secondary caused at least one of them.

The other was just a bad decision. He threw to a specific part of the field, all right. But there was one Gilmer player in the vicinity and about three Carthage defenders. Those are not good odds. At that point, you just don't make the throw.

[waterboy]

It really doesn't matter. We were beaten very badly in the trenches. Our defense had no answer for that huge o-line, and our offense had a lot of trouble keeping pressure off our QB. We were thoroughly dominated in the trenches, which means we were dominated on the scoreboard, too.

I was really hoping we could at least make a game of it, but we couldn't do anything to make stops in the first half, nor were we able to be consistent on offense. They spread their d-line out past our tackles most of the time and sent at least one LB about half the time. We never knew where they were coming from. Carthage is a very disciplined team within their schemes on both sides of the ball. They did have some unsportsmanlike conduct, but I look for Surratt to nip that in the bud in practice this week.

I look for Pleasant Grove to give them a better game, but I don't see them beating this year's Carthage team unless they have numerous turnovers. Carthage definitely looked like the defending state champions in this one.

[waterboy]

Yall got off to a slow start.

Lol! Sho nuff...

[d0tc0m]

Apart from dominating on both the offensive/defensive fronts, one HUGE thing Carthage did consistently was keep Tennison bottled up. With five wide and numbers at the line, Tennison still couldn't get past the first level, even on designed QB draws. That impressed me as much as anything. If he had been able to use his feet, it's likely a closer game.

Tennison did have consistent success with a rolling pocket, attacking the intermediate routes along the outside. The middle was all but impenetrable. But the Buckeyes gained decent yards along the outside, especially with Tennison on the run. Something I'm sure Gibson and Co. took a good look at over the weekend.

PG may not beat Carthage, but they matchup better than Gilmer did, simply because they can match Carthage's physicality, where Gilmer just couldn't do it. I don't THINK PG will get manhandled in the trenches, and fortunately for the Hawks, their guys are big enough to handle Horton, if they can get to him. But it's going to be a tall task for the Hawks, no question.

The good news for Gilmer, I guess, is they won't face another team all year that's on Carthage's level.

[lostaussie]

As you know Cowboys analysis is not highly regarded except by the biggest Bulldog homers!

Its not regarded at all by me. Jeez he's a motor mouth.

[lostaussie]

Apart from dominating on both the offensive/defensive fronts, one HUGE thing Carthage did consistently was keep Tennison bottled up. With five wide and numbers at the line, Tennison still couldn't get past the first level, even on designed QB draws. That impressed me as much as anything. If he had been able to use his feet, it's likely a closer game.

Tennison did have consistent success with a rolling pocket, attacking the intermediate routes along the outside. The middle was all but impenetrable. But the Buckeyes gained decent yards along the outside, especially with Tennison on the run. Something I'm sure Gibson and Co. took a good look at over the weekend.

PG may not beat Carthage, but they matchup better than Gilmer did, simply because they can match Carthage's physicality, where Gilmer just couldn't do it. I don't THINK PG will get manhandled in the trenches, and fortunately for the Hawks, their guys are big enough to handle Horton, if they can get to him. But it's going to be a tall task for the Hawks, no question.

The good news for Gilmer, I guess, is they won't face another team all year that's on Carthage's level.

unless PG can sling it all over the field they are in trouble too. You are not running consistently on Carthage.

[d0tc0m]

unless PG can sling it all over the field they are in trouble too. You are not running consistently on Carthage.

I don't know that slinging it all over the field is the framework to beat Carthage. Gilmer can sling it all over the field too, but it didn't amount to anything other than two perfect throws and two fantastic catches for two scores. The Bulldogs' best playmakers are in their secondary, in my opinion. Gilmer couldn't run it against Carthage because they couldn't match Carthage's strength or physicality up front, and the offensive line was going backwards as soon as the ball was snapped. Pleasant Grove stands a better chance there. They have the strength and physicality to match the Bulldogs. It still might not be enough, but they're a better matchup against Carthage than Gilmer was.

And like I said, PG won't need to sling it all over the yard, but they will need to complete about 5-10 of those play action passes, and they'll need a few of those to go for big-time plays. I said this over on Smoaky too, but I think the bulk of those passes they complete will have to come on non-traditional passing plays. They'll have to hope they catch the secondary peaking into the backfield. If they can do that, it might give loosen up the box and give the Hawks numbers, and maybe they can grind out their 4-5 yards at a time style. If nothing else, it might slow the game down enough to keep it low-scoring, which I think it has to be for the Hawks to have a chance.