(Banner Staff Photos by Brenda Cannon) The Bullard Panthers appeared to be backed up all night to top-ranked Gilmer at Panther Stadium last Friday as the Buckeyes won with a 71-0 shutout. The Panthers hope to make it two wins in two years over Tatum this Friday night. BULLARD – Ask any coach and they will tell you there is no substitute for speed. Combine that with bigger, faster and more conditioned……..a 71-0 loss for the Panthers to the state’s top-ranked Class 3A team Gilmer was pretty much no surprise.

The entire state of Texas is now aware how Gilmer has set a new standard and raised the bar for Class 3A football programs, and Friday night’s Buckeye explosion was no exception as the Buckeyes led 36-0 at the half.

Gilmer (6-0; 1-0), held a 190-4 advantage in total yards at the intermission. A positive point - the kickoff return team, and punting teams got some needed brushing up.

As the game continued the injury list grew as well. It was justice to a degree that a sadly-anchored scoreboard fell before the game, at least keeping the Gilmer gloat hard to read (not to mention a pretty fast last quarter)!

Regardless, Darien ‘Stump’ Godfrey and his receiving crew were almost unstoppable.Godfrey threw six touchdowns to four different recipients, and totaled 257 yards going 12- of-16.

The air attack overall had seven receivers adding to the stats, and mix in a stable of nine running backs rolling up more yardage on the ground as the No. 1 Buckeyes flexed their muscles.

The highlights were few and far-between for the Panthers on paper, but consider the lineup marred by eight injuries and outmanned position-byposition, the Panthers were still cracking heads as the final minutes rolled down.

Kirk Bryant stepped up his game with an interception as well as leading ground gainer after fielding four kickoffs for 32 yards.

Brandon Beavers made two catches for 71-yards.

Dalton Simonek led all Bullard defenders with six stops, and JaKory Hunter added five.

Franklin was 4-of-14 and 77-yards, with one interception.

LOOKING AHEAD

This week the Panthers travel to revenge minded Tatum Eagles. With the added fuel to the Eagle fire after the ‘Charlie and More Show’ last season as the Oklahoma State red-shirt earned the Texas Ford Tough Player of the Week in the Bullard upset.

Tatum rallied from a 28-0 deficit to take a 29-28 district win over Gladewater last week. Tatum currently stands at 3-3 and 1-0 on the year with wins over Jefferson (28-21), Troup (41-6), and the Bears comeback last week.

Losses have come at the hands of Atlanta (49- 35), Arp (54-7), and Hallsville (14-6) in their first game.

DIRECTIONS

Eagle Stadium- Take Highway 20 East to Longview.. Take the 322 Lakeport Exit. Take 322 South. When 322 intersects with 149, stay on 149 on to Tatum. The school and the stadium will be on the left inside the city limits.