Just six days after winning the ETBU 7-on-7 football tournament in Marshall, the youth and inexperience of the Gilmer Buckeye Varsity Squad was on display on the practice field at the Bullard 7-on-7 State Qualifying Tournament last Friday.

In the first game against upcoming district foe Chapel Hill, a horrific collision between Justus Cheatham and Dee Thomas left Cheatham with a headache and sent Thomas to East Texas Medical Center with an injury just underneath his eye that may require surgery. Keep both these young men in your thoughts and prayers in the coming days.

The shock of the collision resulted in two quick scores by Chapel Hill, and Gilmer ended up losing the game 33-26, throwing them into the loser’s bracket.

The Buckeyes bounced back in the second game as they drummed White Oak 37-14. Gilmer never trailed in the game, and jumped out to a 25-0 lead before the Roughnecks found the end zone for the first time.

In their third game against Shelbyville, the defense struggled for most of the game, as Shelbyville scored on every possession in the contest. The Bucks fought back offensively, pulling to within seven three times and within six once, but ended up losing the game 39-27.

The 1-2 record knocked them out of the playoffs and ended their day just before noon.

Gilmer continued to rotate quarterbacks Jaidon Parrish and Tanner Barr, as they have done in all four tournaments they have participated in so far. Both are improving, but no decision has been made yet as to which may be the starter when the 2012 season begins.

Though it was a rough outing for the Buckeyes, they have one more opportunity to qualify for the State 7-on-7 Tournament at Aggieland. They will participate this Saturday in the Diboll SQT. These young men need your attendance, encouragement and support. If at all possible, plan to make the trip down to Diboll and help the team qualify for State!