Carthage + Gilmer Meet Saturday Night In Longview

Carthage Bulldogs (1-3)

Vs.

No. 3 Gilmer Buckeyes (4-0)

7 p.m. Saturday

Lobo Stadium, Longview

Coaches

• Carthage: Scott Surratt
• Gilmer: Jeff Traylor

Last week

• Carthage: lost to Gladewater, 37-23
• Gilmer: defeated Daingerfield, 61-9

Next week

• Carthage: idle
• Gilmer: idle

Playmakers

Carthage

• DL Jarrod McLin, Jr., 6-3, 220 (34 tackles)
• LB James Marshall, Sr., 6-0, 200 (41 tackles)
• DL Chris Howard, Sr., 5-10, 190 (26 tackles)
• WR Jakeldric Jackson, Jr., 5-8, 160 (8 catches, 173 yards)
• WR/DB Kirston Ingram, Sr., 5-9, 175 (19 catches, 334 yards, 2 TD)
• OL/DL Cagan Baldree, Jr., 6-3, 230
• QB Jarod Blissett, Jr. (64 of 139, 920 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT)
• OL Branton Halcumb, Sr.

Just the facts

• Saturday's game will be the ninth meeting between Carthage and Gilmer since the end of World War II.
• The series is tied, 4-4, with Gilmer holding a 4-3 advantage since 1996.
• The neutral-site meeting will be the last game of the non-district schedule for both teams.
• Carthage is in danger of starting a season 1-4 for the first time since 2001.
• Gilmer is ranked by the Associated Press as the No. 3 team state-wide in Class 4A.
• Carthage quarterback Jarod Blissett is the second-leading passer in East Texas in terms of yardage with 920. He should eclipse 1,000 yards fairly early in Saturday's game.
• Gilmer quarterback McLane Carter is the most efficient passer in East Texas. He has averaged 11.7 yards per pass attempt (76).
• Buckeyes receiver, safety and situational quarterback Blake Lynch is legally bound to the Baylor football program. He signed a financial aid agreement in August.
• Gilmer athlete Kris Boyd is one of the best Class of 2015 prospects still available. He holds offers from Baylor, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma and Oregon just to name a few.

Key matchup: Carthage's passing offense versus Gilmer's defense. This is a troubling matchup for the Bulldogs. The Buckeyes have many more experienced players, and they're performing at a high level. Gilmer should be able to move the ball despite some push back from a good Carthage front seven, so the Bulldogs will have to counter.

Carthage has a young running group. It was not very productive last week against a promising all-around Gladewater team. Junior quarterback Jarod Blissett will have to make up for any shortcomings in the run game with his best passing performance yet.

Fortunately for Carthage, Blissett is the second-leading passer in all of East Texas and junior Jackeldric Jackson is the area's fourth-leading receiver with 334 yards.

However, Gilmer's defense has not shown any glaring weaknesses. The unit has helped the Buckeyes outscore opponents 225-78. Part-time defensive backs Blake Lynch and Kris Boyd, highly recruited players, could be plugged in and make the Bulldogs' task even more difficult.

Carthage will have to figure something out. Quickly.

Don't be surprised if: the young Bulldogs hang around against Gilmer. What makes this game intriguing is its match of outstanding football traditions. It's a pride game more than anything. Carthage shouldn't be expected to go quietly.

The Bulldogs will need to put together, by far, their best game. They'll also need Gilmer to make mistakes. But a Scott Surratt coached team is never one to take lightly.