Gilmer Halts Van In Area Round, 57-40
By David Barber
Sports Correspondent
LONGVIEW—A promising beginning turned into a disappointing finish to the 2011 football season for the Van Vandals.
Van suffered five turnovers resulting in 36 Gilmer points as the Buckeyes rolled past the Vandals, 57-40, Friday night in the Class 3A area championship game at Longview’s Lobo Stadium.
For the second year in a row, the Vandals saw their hopes to advance in post-season play ruined by the Buckeyes as Van, the District 14-3A runnerup, finished the 2011 campaign at 10-2.
Gilmer, the fourth-ranked team in the state in Class 3A, improved its undefeated season mark to 12-0 and will take on Van Alstyne in the regional round at a site and time yet to be determined.
The Vandals and the Buckeyes combined for 47 first downs and 933 total yards including 663 yards passing.
Turnover differential turned out to be critical in the game as the Vandals lost three fumbles and threw two interceptions while Gilmer did not turn the ball over.
The final score of the game overshadowed some tremendous individual efforts by the Vandals.
Senior wide receiver Colby Rucker caught 19 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns.
Dalton Santos, the senior middle linebacker who has verbally committed to attend the University of Tennessee next fall on a football scholarship, led the Vandal running game offensively as he carried the ball 10 times for 55 yards rushing and four TD’s.
Junior quarterback Garrett Smallwood completed 31 out of 48 passes for 390 yards, two TD’s and two interceptions.
Smallwood also carried the ball 12 times for 73 yards rushing.
Van got off to a good start as the Buckeyes muffed the opening kickoff with Santos recovering the ball at the Gilmer 12.
Three plays later, Santos powered into the end zone on a 1-yard TD run. Chuy Alverez added the extra point to give Van an early 7-0 lead with 11 minutes to play in the first quarter.
Gilmer quickly responded as QB Jordan Traylor connected with wide receiver Traylon Webb on a 75-yard TD pass play on the Buckeyes’ second play from scrimmage. Pablin Olivares added the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 10:39 remaining in the first quarter.
Traylor finished the contest with 12 completions out of 24 attempts for 273 yards and four TD’s while Webb caught four passes for 139 yards and three TD’s.
Pass completions from Smallwood covering 11 yards to WR Carson Rucker and 14 yards to WR Rigo Lemus gave the Vandals a first down near midfield but Van was later forced to punt.
After a Gilmer punt, the Vandals took the lead by moving 64 yards in 10 plays as they were able to overcome two offensive penalties (holding and pass interference).
Santos ended the march with a 3-yard TD run. Alverez added the extra point to give the Vandals a 14-7 advantage with 4:42 to play in the first quarter.
Key plays in the go-ahead scoring drive for the Vandals included runs of 13 and 21 yards by Smallwood and pass completions from the Van QB covering 15 yards to Colby Rucker and 17 yards to Lemus.
Following a Buckeye punt, the Vandals picked up a first down at their own 39 on a 19-yard pass completion from Smallwood to Colby Rucker.
On the next play, freshman running back Matt Savis fumbled with Gilmer’s Kris Boyd recovering the ball at the Vandal 46.
Four plays later, Buckeye RB Darrion Pollard (six carries, 59 yards) raced 30 yards for a TD. Olivares added the extra point to deadlock the game at 14-14 with 1:12 remaining in the first quarter.
An 11-yard pass completion from Traylor to Jeremy McMillian was a key play in the Gilmer scoring drive.
Van’s next offensive play resulted in another turnover as Savis fumbled with the Buckeyes recovering the ball at the Vandal 34.
Eight plays later, McMillian ran one yard for a TD. Olivares added the extra point to give Gilmer a 21-14 lead with 9:58 remaining in the second quarter.
Pass completions from Traylor covering 11 yards to McMillian and 16 yards to Pollard were key plays in the scoring drive that gave Gilmer the lead for the rest of the game.
On the next Vandal drive, consecutive pass completions from Smallwood covering 11 yards to Colby Rucker and 21 yards to WR Jared Carter (five receptions, 47 yards) gave the Vandals a first down at the Buckeye 41.
Two plays later, the turnover bug struck again for Van as Santos fumbled with Gilmer’s Brandon Barnes recovering the ball at the Buckeye 33.
Six plays later, Traylor connected with Webb on a 10-yard TD pass play.
Van was penalized for being offsides on the extra point attempt giving Gilmer a chance to go for the two-point conversion and they took full advantage as Traylor completed the pass to McMillian giving the Buckeyes a 29-14 advantage with 7:21 to play in the second quarter.
Key plays in the Gilmer scoring drive included a 10-yard run by Chase Tate and pass completions from Traylor covering 16 yards to Brice Rawls and 31 yards to Pollard.
Van was unable to pick up a first down on its next series and lined up in punt formation at its own 37.
A high snap from center sailed over the head of Alverez, the punter, who ended up kicking the ball out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage giving Gilmer possession at the Vandal 4-yard line.
Two plays later, McMillian ran one yard for a TD. Olivares added the extra point extending Gilmer’s advantage to 36-14 with 5:43 still to play in the second quarter.
Following a Vandal punt, the Buckeyes appeared to be on their way to extending their advantage as they moved as deep as the Van 37 setting up fourth down and 11 but the pass from Traylor to Eddie Fluellen was incomplete giving Van possession with two minutes to go before halftime.
On second down and one, Smallwood connected with Colby Rucker on a 54-yard TD pass play. Alverez added the extra point to cut the Vandal deficit to 36-21 with 1:51 to play before intermission.
Van received the third quarter kickoff and moved into Gilmer territory on a 22-yard pass completion from Smallwood to Colby Rucker giving the Vandals a first down at the Buckeye 45.
The turnover bug struck the Vandals again on the next play as Smallwood’s pass to Colby Rucker was intercepted by Gilmer’s Tanner Barr at the Buckeye 11 ending Van’s scoring threat.
Gilmer moved 89 yards in six plays as they began to put the game out of reach for the Vandals.
The scoring march ended when Traylor connected with Webb on a 47-yard TD pass play. Olivares added the extra point to give Gilmer a 43-21 lead with 9:02 to play in the third quarter.
The drive opened with a 24-yard run by Gavin Holt (eight carries, 40 yards) of the Buckeyes.
Van responded by moving 62 yards in nine plays for a TD.
Smallwood ended the march by connecting with Colby Rucker on a 12-yard TD pass play cutting the Vandal deficit to 43-27 with 5:03 to play in the third quarter. The extra point attempt was wide right.
A 15-yard pass completion from Smallwood to Colby Rucker and two defensive penalties against Gilmer (face mask and a personal foul) were key plays in Van’s scoring drive.
Following a Gilmer punt, Van’s next offensive possession resulted in a turnover as Smallwood’s pass to Colby Rucker was intercepted by Josh Walker of the Buckeyes at the Vandal 27.
On the next play, Traylor connected with Pollard on a 27-yard TD pass play. Olivares added the extra point to give Gilmer a 50-27 advantage with 3:54 to play in the third quarter.
An exchange of punts followed before the Vandals got on the scoreboard next.
A 61-yard scoring march in four plays ended with Santos running six yards for a TD. Alverez added the extra point cutting Van’s deficit to 50-34 with 8:56 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Key plays in the Vandal scoring drive included a 27-yard pass completion from Smallwood to Colby Rucker and a 23-yard run by Santos.
Gilmer responded by moving 51 yards on three consecutive running plays by Tate.
Tate ended the drive with a 5-yard TD run. Olivares added the extra point to give the Buckeyes a 57-34 lead with 7:56 remaining.
Van moved from midfield to the Buckeye 23 in five plays including a 28-yard pass completion from Smallwood to Colby Rucker.
On fourth down and 13, the Vandal scoring threat ended on an incomplete pass from Smallwood to Colby Rucker.
Following a 12-yard punt by the Buckeyes, the Vandals completed the scoring for the game by moving 42 yards in seven plays.
Santos ended the final Vandal offensive drive of the 2011 season by running four yards for a TD cutting Van’s deficit to 57-40 with 48 seconds to play in the contest.
An 18-yard pass completion from Smallwood to Colby Rucker was a key play in the final Vandal scoring drive of the season.
Gilmer ran two offensive plays to run out the clock.
Seniors playing in their final game for the Vandals Friday night included Skylar Cotton, Hayden Preston, Logan Sartain, Carter, Colby Rucker, B. J. Adame, Payton Carpenter, Casey Smith, Payton McLemee, Thomas Gable, Alex Williams, Oscar Taylor, Clay Hendon, Damond Dean, Colton Sims, Josh Johnston, Joe Lozano, Aaron Blue, Santos and Caleb Kuntzman.