MESQUITE -- The third-ranked Gilmer Buckeyes rolled to an 80-21 rout of Waco Connally in their Class 4A Division II Region II area-round playoff Friday night at E.H. Hanby Stadium.

Gilmer (12-0) will face arch-rival Gladewater (11-1) in the regional semifinals at 6:30 p.m. Friday from Longview's Lobo Stadium. Connally finished its season at 7-5.

The Buckeyes scored three touchdowns in the opening quarter, and broke the game wide open with five touchdowns in the second quarter to go into halftime with a commanding 57-7 lead.

Senior quarterback McLane Carter played only the first half, but completed 15 of 20 passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns -- all of the scoring tosses coming in Gilmer's 34-point second quarter.

Chase Tate and Blake Lynch did a little bit of everything for the Buckeyes, combining for five first-half touchdowns. Tate finished with 130 total yards -- 76 rushing and 54 receiving -- with three touchdowns. Lynch, meanwhile totaled 121 yards (70 rushing, 51 receiving) and scored twice.

It was second time this season Gilmer, which finished the night with more than 600 yards of offense, reached the 80-point plateau. The Buckeyes scored an 85-14 win over Nevada Community back on Oct. 31.

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