Football Game Preview: Gilmer Buckeyes vs. North Lamar Panthers

Gilmer is a perfect 5-0 against North Lamar since October of 2020 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Buckeyes will host the Panthers at 7:00 p.m. Gilmer will be strutting in after a win while North Lamar will be coming in after a defeat.

Gilmer is headed in fresh off scoring the most points they have all season. They breezed past Spring Hill to the tune of 55-28 on Friday. The high-flying offensive performance was a huge turnaround for the Buckeyes considering their seven-point performance the contest before.

Tayveon Horne

Rushing Touchdowns (Career)

10/31/25 @ Spring Hill	4
09/05/25 vs Chapel Hill	3
10/10/25 vs Pittsburg	2
08/29/25 @ Pine Tree	2
10/23/25 vs Pleasant Grove	1

Gilmer can attribute much of their success to Tayveon Horne, who gained 150 total yards and five touchdowns, and Zade Taylor, who threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns on only 19 passes. The dominant performance also gave Horne a new career-high in rushing touchdowns (four). 122 of Taylor's passing yards were hauled in by Solomon Jackson.

Gilmer was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 277 rushing yards. They are 2-1 when they've run for more than 200 yards.

Gilmer didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Gauge Trossbach and Atavian Ector.

Meanwhile, North Lamar was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their 15th straight loss dating back to last season. They were dealt a 58-7 defeat at the hands of Van. While losing is never fun, the Panthers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 997th, while the Vandals are ranked 278th).

Gilmer's victory bumped their record up to 3-6. As for North Lamar, their loss dropped their record down to 0-9.

Everything came up roses for Gilmer against North Lamar in their previous matchup back in November of 2024, as the team secured a 56-0 win. Do the Buckeyes have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Panthers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.