Buckeye receiver Kollin Hurt (12) get airborne to catch a pass and draws a flag for interference on Leopards Kentrell Chatmopn (14), during the Gilmer vs Liberty Eylau, opening game in the Christus Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic, held at Rose Stadium. (Lang White / Correspondent)

Poppy Brown, in his first varsity start, shattered the Gilmer passing mark by throwing for 576 yards and accounting for seven TDs in leading the No. 6 Buckeyes to a 61-55 victory over No. 9 Liberty-Eylau before 6,000 fans on Thursday at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

Brown threw six touchdown passes and ran for another on the opening night of the 13th Annual Christus Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic on Earl Campbell Field.

Brown hit on 38 of 49 attempts as he broke the G.J. Kinne’s mark of 456 yards against Spring Hill in 2006. Despite finishing with minus 14 yards rushing he almost set the all-purpose yardage mark of Emmanuel Johnson (565) in 2004 against Tatum. Brown finished with 562.

The Leopards actually led 20-7 late in the second quarter before the Buckeyes showed their speed and scored three TDs in the final 3:16 of the half to take a 28-20 halftime lead.

It was also the 15th straight season opening win for the Buckeyes.

Brown, a junior, threw to 11 different receivers.

His top target was LaMarcus Morton who caught 10 passes for 259 yards and three TDs. Morton, an Oklahoma State commit, scored on passes of 74, 15 and 37 yards. Brown, who scored on an 18-yard run less than two minutes into the game, also threw TD passes to Kelton Collier (74 yards), Red Jones (25) and Desmond Brown (2).

Other Gilmer TDs were from Rashaad Ward (2-yard run) and Jones (11-yard run).

Kevin Florence led the Leopards with 169 yards and three TDs on 18 rushes. Kameron Levingston added 113 yards and two TDs on 18 attempts.

Believe it or not, there was some defense in the game. Gilmer had three interceptions – Kollin Hurt, Dimitri Fort and Jermey Kelly.

L-E was led by Texas commit Lagaryonn Carson who had three sacks, a number of pressures against the elusive Brown.

The Buckeyes and Leopards are now tied at 11 wins apiece as Gilmer has won nine straight in the series.

13th Annual Christus Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic

Earl Campbell Field at CTMF Rose Stadium

Liberty-Eylau 14 6 15 20 — 55

Gilmer 7 21 20 13 – 61