Tallulah Academy’s Cade Marsh, left, and McCall’s Brandon Gultry captured The Vicksburg Post Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year honors, respectively.(Ernest BowkerThe Vicksburg Post)

[12/21/03]TALLULAH Brandon Gultrey faced plenty of challenges this season.

His coaches at McCall dared him to carry the offensive load for a young, inexperienced team. His teammates forced him to improve both himself and them at the same time. And his family dared him to live up to the legacy they had established.

Gultrey never has been one to back down from a challenge, and he didn’t this time, either. He buckled down, worked hard and produced a season to remember.

Although he was unable to lead the Dragons into the playoffs McCall finished 4-6 Gultrey did keep the team in most of its games with his passing ability. He completed 62.1 percent of his passes, threw for 2,218 yards and 22 touchdowns and earned The Vicksburg Post’s Area Offensive Player of the Year Award.

“We were highly competitive in every game except one, and most of them we were four or five plays away from winning,” McCall coach Levi Washington said. “Without him, we would have been lost. Everything was geared toward him. He gave us a chance to win nine or 10 ballgames.”

Before the season, Washington looked at his returning players and realized he would have to lean heavily on Gultrey, his only returning starter. He adjusted the offense to include more passing plays that utilized Gultrey’s arm and running plays that allowed the scrambling quarterback to use his speed.

In addition to his passing yardage which was one of the best totals in Louisiana Gultrey ran for six touchdowns. He threw for more than 200 yards in six of McCall’s 10 games, went over 100 yards rushing in two games, and failed to throw a touchdown pass only once.

Although his strong arm and speedy feet helped, Gultrey said the mental part of the game is his best skill.

“The whole object of the game is reading the defense,” Gultrey said. “If you can read the defense, you can pick the defense apart, and that’s how I think I got to where I am. And the linemen and receivers did their part, too.”

While Washington was putting the weight of the team on Gultrey’s shoulders at practice, Gultrey’s family was putting the weight of history on him at home.

Gultrey’s father, Robert, and two older brothers, Ronald Gultrey and Kevin Brooks, all were excellent quarterbacks for McCall during their high school days. Brooks threw for nearly 3,000 yards during his senior season and challenged Brandon to break his record. Although Gultrey came up a little short, he felt he had lived up to his family’s legacy.

“I believe I did, because my brothers, all they talked about during the season was you’re on target.’ I barely missed my brother’s record,” Brandon Gultrey said. “That’s a really hard milestone to get to, and for me to accomplish what I did in one year, it gives me confidence to know I can go even farther.”

He might get that chance. Several Southwestern Athletic Conference schools are recruiting Gultrey, and Washington believes more colleges will come into the picture in the coming weeks.

“His arm has gotten real strong,” Washington said. “He has the delivery, and he can read (defenses) well. Once he gets into camp, they won’t be disappointed. He’ll be a sleeper for somebody.”

Gultrey, who has a 3.3 grade-point average, already has qualified academically and would like to pursue a degree in computer science. He said he wants to continue playing football, but wouldn’t mind if he didn’t get the opportunity.

“I’m mostly leaning toward Southern, but the thing is whoever gives me the best scholarship and the best offer is what I’ll take. Academics wins out,” Gultrey said. “It wouldn’t break my heart (not playing in college), because I know I ended my football career on a good note.”

2003 All-Area Offensive Team

Greg Smith, QB, Sr., Tallulah High

Blake Pierce, RB, Sr., Briarfield

Albert Williams, RB, So., Hinds AHS

Montellus Craft, WR, Sr., Briarfield

Chris Singleton, WR, Sr., McCall

Brandon Campbell, WR, So., Tallulah High

Robert Wilson, OL, Sr., SIA

Ugusta Jones, OL, Jr., Hinds AHS

Drew Powers, OL, Sr., Tallulah Academy

James Williams, OL, Sr., South Delta

Scott Rossum, OL, Sr., Central Hinds

Joe Spears, K, Sr., Central Hinds