Gilmer Edges Liberty-Eylau, 58-57, in Season-Opener Full of Fireworks
TEXARKANA -- A year after combining for 116 points in their season-opener, Gilmer and Liberty-Eylau did almost the exact same thing.
Aaron "Poppy" Brown accounted for four touchdowns and Red Jones made a huge defensive play late in the fourth quarter to give Gilmer a 58-57 win over Liberty-Eylau on Friday night.
The Buckeyes won in similar fashion in 2016, coming out on top 61-55.
Brown and running back Bran Webb ignited the Gilmer offense, which combined with Liberty-Eylau totaled more than 1,200 yards of offense in the game.
Brown threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 78 yards and two more scores, while Webb rushed for 179 yards and three touchdowns in the win.
An 8-yard Webb touchdown run followed by Brown's two-point conversion gave Gilmer the lead for good with 6:36 to play.
On Liberty-Eylau's ensuing drive, Jones broke up a Decorian Phillips pass in the end zone to secure the Buckeyes' win.
Phillips and receiver Dazawion Cooper put on a pass-and-catch display for the Leopards, with Phillips throwing for 377 yards and three touchdowns -- all to Cooper in the first half. Cooper finished with six catches for 244 yards in the loss.
Gilmer, which has scored at least 50 points against Liberty-Eylau for the fourth consecutive year, was behind 43-42 at the half.