Gilmer, Carthage face off in Red Zone Game of the Week

GILMER, Texas (KLTV) - Two East Texas powerhouses take center stage Friday night as the Carthage Bulldogs travel to Jeff Traylor Stadium to play the Gilmer Buckeyes in our Red Zone Game of the Week.

Carthage (7-0, 3-0) is riding a 38-game winning streak, and its last loss came in Week 1 of the 2024 season against Kilgore. Gilmer (6-2, 2-1) comes into the game with a Week 1 loss to Pine Tree (52-40) and a loss in Week 8 to Pittsburg (58-56). Gilmer and Carthage have played 14 times since 2004, with Carthage holding a 9-5 advantage. These two teams last met in the fourth round of the 2023 playoffs at Rose Stadium, when Gilmer won 47-44 and went on to win the state championship.

CARTHAGE BULLDOGS

Carthage head coach Scott Surratt said his team plays hard and that’s the main thing.

“New quarterback Jacob Dixon is getting better every week. And, you know, he’s got a humongous arm. And you know he’s got some very talented receivers in Bryson Price and JD Edwards and a very talented tight end in Jaden Jeffress. And then you know we have Jace Harris. And you know there’s just a lot of talented guys,” Surratt said. “Defensively is where we hang our hat. We always have. And those guys have played very good for the most part all year and played very good last Friday night against Pleasant Grove.”

Surratt said the team is very different this year.

“We’ve had to run the ball a little more even though we lost KJ and Benny Smith. And we’re running the ball a little more and very effective and more at you, trying to be more physical,” Surratt said. “Defensively, you know, it’s just next man mentality when losing all the talent...But we had some guys step in. Aiden Bagley at linebacker has played very well. And you know Cooper Crawford, he was our most valuable player this past week and we got a three year starter in Trey Gant at corner.”

Surratt said there’s a mutual respect between Carthage and Gilmer.

“We know that if we don’t get us ready and we’re about us, then we’re not going to beat Gilmer. And, so we’re worried about us. But yeah, I love Alan Metzel. I love his staff. We love to coach against him. You know, it’s just a great deal,” Surratt said. “As far as a rivalry deal. Yeah, a little bit but it’s not like, oh, we hate the Gilmer Buckeyes. I think it’s a mutual respect for them to us. They got a great program and we love to play great programs. And they got put in our district and it’ll be fun. And it’s going to, like I said, it’s going to take everything we got, all of us.”

GILMER BUCKEYES

Gilmer head coach Alan Metzel said turnovers have played a big part in the Buckeyes’ two losses this season.

“We played a daunting schedule, you know, to say the least. And, the two games we lost, we turned the ball over. You know, we had four against Pine Tree. We had five against Pittsburg. And when you turn the ball over like that, you’re probably not going to beat a good team,” Metzel said. “When people say, well, what what do you got to do to win? Well, don’t turn the ball over. So that’s what we’re looking to do hopefully moving forward.”

Metzel said the offense looks a little different this year.

“We kind of had a paradigm shift early in the year. We’re still quasi spread, you know, but, we play with 12 personnel, which is two tight ends. Whereas in the past, you know, we used to play with no tight ends. But we have a number of guys that are rather large and pretty athletic. And we felt like that gave us an advantage in the box,” Metzel said. “With Zade, you referenced him. He is a tremendous runner with the ball and he’s the cousin of Curtis Brown and Kris Boyd. And you know, guys who have just done amazing things in football. So he’s got a lot of good genetics. And when you get him in space with the ball good things happen.”

Metzel said he sees a lot of familiarity when he watches film of Carthage.

“When you’re watching them on film, it’s very similar in their approach, very similar in the way they coach their systems, the plays they run, the defenses, the stunts they run. Different names, you know, different kids, but same things,” Metzel said. “They’re doing a great job at a high level as they always have. And it’ll be a great game Friday night.”

Gilmer and Carthage are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. Friday at Jeff Traylor Stadium in Gilmer.