Gladewater off to 4-0 start after win over 2017 state champion

Published 4:05 am Thursday, September 27, 2018

GLADEWATER — Surprising starts come in various forms.

Some teams benefit from a soft schedule; others luck into a win or two along the way.

And then there’s the Gladewater Bears.

Gladewater — coming off a rough 2-8 campaign in 2017 — knew there was potential for success in 2018 despite some key losses with the move down to Class 3A. But the Bears also had a loaded non-district schedule in 2018 that featured three Class 4A teams, including the defending Class 4A Division II state champs, along with a new district that features programs with winning traditions.

“We had big expectations in 2017,” Gladewater head football coach John Berry said. “It was a 2-8 result that could have easily been an 8-2 season. We had some close losses and we were playing without people constantly. We had a new lineup for seven weeks in a row. There was nothing the kids could do about it, and they worked hard all the way up through the last week of the season.”

After going 8-3 in 2016 and going two rounds deep into the playoffs, Gladewater entered 2017 with a strong senior group. However, an injury in the first scrimmage was followed by an injury to star running back Isaiah Davis in the second scrimmage. And then in the first game at Carthage, the Bears lost two offensive linemen to injury in the first half.

“It just kept going,” Berry said. “We were having to make lineup changes on game day on the final day of the season. It was tough for the guys having to deal with that, mentally.”

That final game was against Texarkana Pleasant Grove — a 50-7 loss for the Bears. Pleasant Grove went on to win the Class 4A Division II state championship.

Berry said he and his staff made some changes in the offseason, moving some guys from defense to offense and even bringing up some sophomores, which the coach said was something new for the program.

Sophomore Tristan Holmes took over at quarterback. Sophomore Jasper Taylor stepped in at left guard. Sophomore Nicholas Lincoln earned a spot in the secondary.

But there was one sophomore who wasn’t slated as a starter when Berry filled out his preseason prospectus for the 2018 campaign — running back Eligia Carter.

“We expected a big future for him, but we had a senior running back dealing with some injuries,” Berry said. “The original plan was for Eli to blend into the lineup, not carry the load, but he’s had to carry the load.”

And Carter has done just that. He leads East Texas with 1,000 rushing yards on 91 carries with eight touchdowns. After rushing for 248 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries in a Week 3 win over Center, Carter was named the American State Bank Player of the Week.

“I was nervous at first,” Carter said. “But after the first game, I realized it’s just football but at a higher level.”

“We’re fortunate he has progressed the way he has,” Berry said. “Eli is ahead of schedule, and Tristan Holmes is ahead of schedule. That mixed with our senior leadership and the sense of urgency they have been playing with has played a big part in our success.”

One of the senior leaders is receiver T.C. Minter, who has caught 19 passes for 348 yards and five touchdowns this season.

“Last year, we could run the ball, but now we can throw it, too,” Minter said. “The passing game has been a big lift for us.”

“Our identity is running the football, but the big difference this year has been an effective throwing game,” Berry said. “We’re making plays in the throwing game with our two receivers, T.C. Minter and Derrick Green, and our sophomore quarterback, Tristan Holmes, has done a good job of making throws.”

Holmes is 40-for-49 through the air for 550 yards with six touchdowns and one interception.

The Bears have also received strong play from their offensive line.

After double-digit wins over Class 4A Spring Hill, Atlanta and Class 4A Center, Gladewater had to go to the place where the 2017 season ended, Texarkana, to take on defending state champion Pleasant Grove.

Carter rushed for 238 yards and two touchdowns as the Bears took a 44-37 victory, ending Pleasant Grove’s 19-game winning streak.

“Win, lose or draw, our plan was to come out of that game having stepped up to the physical challenge, and we did that,” Berry said. “Pleasant Grove is a matchup we needed, so seeing how we responded against a physical opponent was good for us moving forward.”

“It was great because I know a lot of people doubted us,” Carter said. “We played tough and came out with the win.”

Danny Badger had nine tackles, two sacks, five tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and a safety against Pleasant Grove. He has 28 tackles overall this season with four sacks, eight tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

Berry said tight end Jailyn Robertson played a huge role in the win over Pleasant Grove as he was tasked with blocking one of the top players in the country — four-star defensive end Landon Jackson.

While Gladewater’s 4-0 start may be a surprise to many, the Bears knew 2018 could be a special season.

“When we started workouts, I realized we had the guys to be good,” Minter said. “I felt like we were going to be great this year.”

And it could get even better. The Bears are expecting linebacker Rashaud Johnson — their leading tackler in 2017 — back from injury on Friday. The Bears also hope to get running back and linebacker Zelsnick Hawley back sometime this season.

“We’ve got a chance to get better,” Berry said.

Gladewater will open District 8-3A Division I play Friday at Winnsboro. Also in the district are undefeated Mineola, undefeated West Rusk, Sabine, White Oak and Tatum.

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