Top 25 Games of 2015: No. 20, Gilmer vs. Carthage

Two of the most storied football programs in East Texas collide in Week 5 of the season when Carthage meets Gilmer on Sept. 26 in the No. 20 game on ETSN.fm's list of the top 25 games of 2015.

Between the two schools there are a combined seven state championships, all of them coming since 2004. And when the Bulldogs and Buckeyes meet this season, it will mark the second consecutive year the two former district rivals have played each other at Longview's Lobo Stadium.

Gilmer DB Devin Smith. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)

For Carthage and Gilmer it will be the final non-district game of the year with the matchup leading into the two teams' bye weeks.

Last year's encounter wasn't much of a contest as Gilmer got off to a strong start en route to a 58-21 victory. For Carthage, the loss was its fourth in five games to begin the year, while Gilmer finished with a perfect 16-0 state championship campaign.

Carthage figures to have the edge in experience in 2015, especially on the offensive side, where the Bulldogs return quarterback Jarod Blissett, receiver Jakeldric Jackson, tight end Marquise Guinn, and running backs Mykel Gates and Ravodney Hardy.

Gilmer is replacing most of its offensive weapons from 2014, but the Buckeyes will have a fairly seasoned defense led by DL/OLB and Texas commit Demarco Boyd, who is poised for a big senior season.