FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME | ETB previews the Gilmer Buckeyes, who plan a return to the state’s biggest stage
GILMER – Anyone who didn’t follow Texas high school football that closely last season that looked at the final standings in late December and saw Gilmer at 4-7 probably thought, that’s gotta be what we used to call a “typo” in the newspaper business.
Normally, you’d be right, but unfortunately for Gilmer not last season.
The Buckeyes continued their usual postseason run, but winning proved difficult in 2025 and came only four times.
Alan Metzel, his staff and players returning for the 2026 season used last year’s disappointing record as a motivational tool for not only the offseason, but the here and now, which starts this Thursday, Aug. 27, for the Bucks against Pine Tree in Longview (another ETBlitz.com-coverage area program).
The Buckeyes have pretty much set the standard for winning around East Texas since Jeff Traylor’s tenure began in the early 1990s. Traylor’s now the head coach at UT-San Antonio. Metzel, in his seventh year now as head coach, was on some of those Gilmer coaching staffs. So, he’s more than a little familiar with winning. His Buckeyes played for state championships against China Spring in 2021 and against Carthage in 2020, but defeated Bellville in 2023 to win Gilmer’s fourth football state championship.
Despite last year’s disappointing campaign, a 3-2 record in district play was good enough to get the Buckeyes in the postseason. They tied with Van and Pittsburg for second in a competitive 7-4A DII race behind Pleasant Grove, but only as the fourth seed.
Metzel’s record as boss of the Buckeyes is 64-19 and 26-4 against district foes. He welcomes back eight starters on offense and a like number on defense.
Quarterback Zade Taylor, running back Tayveon Horn, offensive lineman / tight end / fullback Ismael Camara, O-lineman Rashaad Buchanan, OL Van Songer, wide receiver Kipton Neighbors, as well as defensive lineman Davion King, inside linebacker Austin Blakeley, outside linebacker Zaylen Johnson and safety Aiden Thomas are players Metzel points to and is counting on as this season’s leaders on the field
Taylor (5-foot-6, 192 pounds) rushed for more than 500 yards to go with 1,836 passing yards as the quarterback last season. “He’s definitely a dual threat,” Metzel said, adding “he rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 317 yards and three touchdowns in our bi-district playoff game against Athens.”
Camara (6-6, 350), who is bigger than – well, everybody – verbally committed as an athlete to the University of Texas earlier this summer. The Buckeyes plan to play the move-in from France (a little over a year ago) from everything to O-line, tight end or fullback.
In addition to Camara, the Buckeyes are deep at offensive linemen returning from last season’s team. Those are left tackle Buchanan (6-1, 250), left guard Songer (6-3, 290), right guard Justice Byrd ( 6-1, 280) and right tackle Shawn Johnston (6-1, 245). Byrd, Songer, and Johnston, along with Camara, are all seniors; Buchanan is a junior.
“Several players are vying for our starting job at center,” Metzel commented, during camp prior to the beginning of the season.
Horne (6-0, 200), a junior, returns as the No. 1 running back after rushing for 916 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago.
King (6-2, 260), a senior, is a three-year starter on the defensive line, along with Ryan Blume (6-1, 255), a junior who is also a returning starter. Other returning starters will be Johnson at OLB (6-2, 187, a junior), Blakeley, an ILB (5-10, 185, a junior), and corner Jerzyri Johnson (5-9, 172, a junior, as well).
2026 GILMER FOOTBALL SCHEDULES
The Buckeyes lost their kicker and punter from a year ago. The new punter will be Neighbors, a junior, and the new placekicker is sophomore Alan Sanchez.
“We’re going to play an incredibly challenging schedule,” Metzel continued, when asked about this year’s rallying cry at preseason camp, “but I believe we will be a competitive football team.”
Challenging is a great way to describe a schedule in which your first nine opponents reached the 4A playoffs a year ago. That’s like biting into a piece of medal.
His best records since taking over as head football coach prior to the 2020 season are a couple of 14-2s in 2020 and 2021, both seasons the Buckeyes reached the state finals, before reaching the title game once again and winning it all, beating Bellville 28-26 in the 2023 Division II Finals.
The Buckeyes won state in 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2023.
