Carthage Makes History and Short Work of Gilmer
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Updated: December 18, 2020
Class 4A Division II State Championship Game
ARLINGTON - Two East Texas powers, the Gilmer Buckeyes (14-1) and Carthage Bulldogs (13-0) met Friday at AT&T Stadium hoping that each could add to their trophy case with another state title - this one for the Class 4A Division II crown.
Game Simulation
To get ready for the real thing, LSG played the game with the board game Friday Night Legends using teams created with their real 2020 statistics. These two teams met in real life earlier in the year and Carthage won 42-14. Listen to how they did in the board game version.
The Real Game
1Q
The rematch between Gilmer and Carthage kicked off at noon and 7-time state champion, Carthage recovered the attempted Gilmer onside kick and started their first drive at the 50. Looking to catch Gilmer sleeping, quarterback Kai Horton's deep strike down the left field line overshot the receiver and then the offense settled in to pick away at the Buckeyes. A short run by Mason Courtney and short pass left them a yard shy of the first down. On fourth down, Carthage elected to go for it and Courtney stumbled before reaching the line to give the ball to Gilmer.
Taking their equally great starting position, Gilmer's Brandon Tennison was flushed out of the backfield to turn a near sack into a short gain. The pressure came again on second but he was able to get the ball out to Dylan Fluellen for another short gain. On third and short, Tennison tossed right for a WR screen and Rohan Fluellen broke past his blockers and took it to the house for 52 yards. 7-0 Gilmer
Gilmer again went to the onside kick and this time GOT IT!. Another attempted screen pass got nothing on first down but second down resulted in a Mason Hurt reception for a first down. Big Mo was on their side again when another near sack turned into a 7 yard scramble. Another screen - the first one to the left - resulted in another Buckeye first down after nine yards. A designed run by Tennison didn't get much on first down but once again second down was a charm as he rolled right and found Rohan Fluellen in the front of the end zone for his second touchdown. 14-0 Gilmer 7:12
Carthage down for the first time in a game all season, set to work on their 25. A 13 yard strike to Montrell Hatten gave them their first first down of the game. That was followed by a Courtney run up the middle that didn't get much but kept the LBs honest. Horton looked for Hatten sprinting down the right sideline but once again overthrew his receiver. On third, flushed out of the pocket, Horton rambled for a first down thanks to a stiff arm along the way. A swing pass to Kavonte Brown out of the backfield added another 5 yards followed by an 27 yard outside sprint by Courtney aided by a juke move coming out of the backfield. At the 13, a false start slowed the Bulldog attack but only for a second. The next play was a unique one that included a throwback to Craig McNew who ran backwards and threw back across the field to Horton who had a line of blockers ahead of him in a designed screen that went 18 yards for the first Carthage score. 14-7 Gilmer 4:17
The first Carthage kickoff set Gilmer up on their 34. Nate Marry sniffed things out when Gilmer went back to the screen pass shutting it down early. The next play, another screen managed only to get back to the line. On 3rd and 13, Tennison rolled out to the right and danced his way to a first down saving the drive. Cody Guidry got his first carry and managed to add four yards before Tennison tried another screen pass that looked caught in the backfield before it turned into 3 yards. Another toss out to Rohan Fluellen only managed a yard and the offense stayed out for 4th and 2. The Buckeyes were unable to get the play off and called a timeout to save the penalty. Tennison's pass was knocked down by Kip Lewis giving Carthage great field position once again.
The Bulldogs went back to work with a quick run and then again overthrowing a wide open receiver. Facing 3rd down and 9, a false start pushed Carthage even further back. Another overthrown pass to an open receiver on their own 44 they lined up to go for it but Horton pulled it down and punted. Gilmer showed cracks in their veneer when Tennison tossed a lob to his receiver that was intercepted by Brandon King - it would be the first highlight of a great day for this birthday boy. Carthage started on their own 38 as the quarter came to an end - a facemask on the tackle set the Bulldogs up with a first down.
2Q
Carthage continued to stick with their game plan and Courtney chugged down the field toting the rock on several plays all the way to the Gilmer 30. Two plays later, Courtney juked inside and out all the way 28 yards to the end zone and a tie game. 14-14 Tied 9:56
After seeing their two touchdown lead evaporate, Gilmer was swarmed by Carthage defenders as Tennison tried to scramble but lost two yards. His next play, a designed run only managed to regain the two lost yards. Third and long which had been magic for the Buckeyes earlier wasn't friendly this time around as Tennison's pass was incomplete forcing a punt that got a great Gilmer roll.
Starting at their own 24, Carthage started with a long 33 yard pass to McNew who was immediately tackled coughing the ball loose. The review confirmed the call and Carthage found themselves 1st and 10 at the Gilmer 43. Courtney appeared to be heating up as he reeled off another 14 yard run. Kai Horton tossed the ball to a wide open Braedon Wade to give Carthage their first lead. 21-14 Carthage 7:21
Gilmer started at the 20 but was unable to get anything going as an incomplete pass, a penalty and an interception by Brandon King (his second) became a pick six 15 yards later. 28-14 Carthage 7:03
After scoring 14 to start and turning around and giving up 28 unanswered, Gilmer again started at the 20. It just kept going crazy as Tennison's tipped pass went again to King and again he raced for the score - this time for 35 yards. 35-14 Carthage 6:46
Gilmer reeling from the turn of events, took the field yet again. This time they went again to the outside screen and again they gained very little. A Tennison run sent them backwards and on third a sack pushed them even further. The punt from the goal line rolled all the way to the Carthage 25.
Carthage with some breathing room did not rest on their laurels. Courtney continued to be the workhorse but a pass interference call on Gilmer gave the Bulldogs the first down. A wide open post route to McNew bounced right off his hands and Kai Horton throwing a WR screen pass of his own hit Kavonte Brown-Hoskins who raced 61 yards for yet another score. 42-14 Carthage 3:40
The Buckeyes decided to be conservative and see if they could claw back into the game. A short run was followed by another slightly longer. The Tennison run on 3rd down got them their first 1st down in a long time. Getting gutsy again, he tossed a long pass that again missed the target. Going back to the outside screen, that only produced 2 yards. On third down, Kip Lewis caught him in the backfield for a sack forcing another punt. It again is avoided by the Carthage return men and rolls deep into Bulldog territory.
Start at their 22 they again started with a Courtney run - this one for 20 yards. A false start backed them up and an incomplete pass saw Carthage facing 2nd and 15. Horton made short work of that with a QB draw for the 1st and then some. With 38 seconds to go in the half, Horton ran again almost reaching another first at the 31. An incomplete tip drill in the end zone stopped the clock with 20 seconds to go. Courtney picked up the first down and the Horton spiked the ball with 10 seconds to go at the 23. A delay of game pushed them back but took no more time off the clock. A toss to Courtney got them to the 9 yard line but the half came to an end.
3Q
Gilmer went three and out to start the second half and give the ball right back to Carthage. Mason Courtney was prepared for the second half as his first carry he went untouched 69 yards for another Carthage score. 49-14 Carthage 10:07
Gilmer had too much time remaining to load up the bus so continued to try to show some respectability. JV call-up, Ashton Haynes made an impact with his first run for 11 yards. After another Haynes run, Tennison tossed another screen out for a small gain. Another incomplete pass and the Buckeyes punted again - this time to the 29.
Carthage still managed to keep the motivation high as they mixed runs and passes for a first down but Brycen Jimerson brought a bit of spark to the Gilmer defense sacking Horton the first time all afternoon. Unfazed, the screen to Courtney gained 32 yards to just past midfield. Courney crossed 200 yards rushing with his 23 yard sprint up the middle for his 3rd score. 56-14 Carthage 4:43
Brandon King grabbed his 4th Tennison interception of the day to open and close the Buckeye's drive. Not to be outdone, Mason Courtney reeled off another big 19 yard run to start the Carthage drive. A couple of handoffs to Stewart gave Courtney a much-needed rest. Horton tossed to Smith who juggled it but brought it down for another first. After the break, Courtney carried the team inside the red zone. A shovel pass to Smith finished the drive and inched the Bulldogs closer to the all-time record for points in a 4A championship game (70 by Stephenville.) 63-14 Carthage 0:27
Gilmer brought the kickoff out from the end zone to start at their 13.
4Q
The final quarter began with Gilmer trying to salvage a drive for the first time since early in the 1st quarter. The Carthage defense did not letup and forced another 3 and out. Jose Hernandez continued his leg workout with another punt and another long roll. When Carthage took the field, it was all backups this time around although there were nearly 11 minutes remaining. The new Bulldogs didn't slow down the pace at all as Sophomore Zsema'd Williams put in solid runs the revolving door of players continued each play with Javarian Rocquemore staying in most the time to run the offense at quarterback.
Soon-to-be 8 time state champion Coach Scott Surratt was not worrying about breaking records as worked his offense to burn clock and give experience to a team that will be graduating all but one of the offensive line. Rocquemore ended the drive with another Carthage TD equaling the record for points in a state title game. 70-14 Carthage 4:11
Gilmer with 4 minutes remaining, was content to run things out as Carthage won their 8th state championship!
The Offensive MVP went to Mason Courtney (left) and the Defensive MVP was Brandon King (right.)
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