Jacksonville Indians (1-1)
vs.
Gilmer Buckeyes (1-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Buckeye Stadium, Gilmer

Coaches
Jacksonville: Chris Taber
Gilmer: Jeff Traylor

Last week
Jacksonville: lost to Palestine, 37-20
Gilmer: lost to Plano Prestonwood Christian Academy, 42-12

Next week
Jacksonville: vs. Henderson
Gilmer: at Daingerfield

Playmakers
Jacksonville

  • QB/WR Dadrian Franklin, Sr., 6-1, 180 (6 of 11, 106 yards, 2 TDs; 5 carries, 50 yards; 8 catches, 138 yards)
  • WR Darrell Minifee, Sr., 5-11, 160 (15 catches, 198 yard, 2 TDs)
  • WR Kaderrius Buckingham, Sr., 6-4, 190 (7 catches, 88 yards, 2 TDs)
  • WR/DB Londedric Taylor, Sr., 5-11, 170 (1 TD pass; 4 catches, 61 yards, 1 TD)
  • WR/DB LaDarius Session, Sr., 6-1, 190 (4 catches, 85 yards, 1 TD)
  • RB/LB Shakil Mosely, Sr., 5-9, 180 (16 carries, 81 yards)
  • CB Chris Ruffin, Sr., 5-9, 160
  • LB Bryson Haywood, Sr., 5-11, 190
  • QB Trevor Ewalt (13 of 29, 134 yards, 3 INTs)

Gilmer

  • QB Tanner Barr, Jr., 6-1, 175 (28 of 55, 354 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 13 carries, 109 yards)
  • RB/LB Josh Walker, Jr., 6-1, 220 (13 carries, 90 yards, 2 TDs; 8 tackles)
  • ATH Chase Tate, Soph., 5-5, 150 (8 carries, 34 yards; 11 catches, 99 yards)
  • RB Kris Boyd, Soph., 5-10, 175 (15 carries, 74 yards)
  • RB/OLB Jamel Jackson, Soph. (5 carries, 79 yards, 1 TD; 9 tackles)
  • CB Trey Washington, Sr., 6-1, 170 (committed to SMU)
  • QB/TE/LB Jaidon Parrish, Jr., 6-0, 180 (2 catches, 21 yards)
  • LB Brandon Barnes, Sr. (20 tackles)
  • DB Justus Cheatham, Sr. (2 INTs)
  • WR DeVondrick Dixon, Jr. (4 catches, 129 yards, 2 TDs)

Just the facts

  • Jacksonville averages 304.5 passing yards per game, but only 41.0 rushing yards
  • Gilmer averages 177.0 passing yards per game and 202.0 rushing yards
  • Gilmer and Jacksonville split meetings in 2010 and 2011: the Indians won 43-36 in 2010 and Gilmer won 44-22 in 2011
  • Although Gilmer averages 30 rushing attempts per game, no Buckeye averages more than 7.5
  • Five Jacksonville receivers have gained 61 or more receiving yards
  • Jacksonville sophomore quarterback Carter McCown, who was 23 of 36 for 334 yards, four TDs, and one INT in the Indians' 34-30 season-opening win at Carthage, is out with a collarbone injury, according to Jacksonville coach Chris Taber

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Key matchup: Jacksonville's passing game vs. Gilmer's secondary. Jacksonville has struggled to consistently run the ball, but the Indians have had success throwing the ball, even with Carter McCown missing their second game with his collarbone injury. Trevor Ewalt threw three interceptions, but Dadrian Franklin tossed two touchdowns in his 11 attempts and helped get Jacksonville on the scoreboard after Palestine roared to a 30-0 lead through three quarters. Jacksonville has a slew of options in the passing game, none better than Darrell Minifee, who has been the Tribe's best receiver going on three years. Gilmer counters with a talented secondary led by SMU-bound cornerback Trey Washington and fellow DB Justus Cheatham, who leads the Buckeyes with two interceptions.

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Don't be surprised if: Gilmer tries to dictate the tempo of the game with its rushing attack. The Buckeyes struggled to keep Plano Prestonwood's offense off the field last week, which tired down the Buckeye defense. Prestonwood ran 38 times for 207 yards and threw for another 222 yards. Despite that, Gilmer still had 192 yards on 31 rushing attempts, and the Buckeyes won't see as physically imposing a defense in Jacksovnille as they saw in Prestonwood, which features middle linebacker Mike Mitchell, a 6-4, 222-pound senior with almost two dozen offers from major college programs. Does Gilmer like to throw the ball? Of course. They're the Buckeyes. But everything starts with their running game, so don't be surprised if their ability to control the ground -- or Jacksonville's efforts to stop them -- decide the game.

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