IT’S ON, TONIGHT | Kilgore, FB Crawford meet in Huntsville at 7
HUNTSVILLE – There are programs that have tradition, championship pedigree, legendary moments. They’re called “bluebloods.”
Then, there are the start-ups, those who are new, completely new, who have never, ever been there before.
The two cultures collide tonight in Huntsville.
Kilgore and Fort Bend Crawford square off for the first time here at Huntsville ISD Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m. with the winner advancing to the Class 4A Division I state semifinals next week.
Kilgore represents the bluebloods, one of the state’s traditional powers. FB Crawford is in its second-ever trip to the playoffs, having lost in the first round last year.
Some things to know, Kilgore fans, before you go…
There’s a send-off at 1:30 p.m. from the Mitchell Field House on campus.
Kilgore is the visiting team for the game, and even though this is a very new facility, the seating for visitors is not very big.
The stadium address is 445-A 2921 (at Hornet Way), Huntsville, TX, 77320
Advance ticket sales have ended; all tickets are $11 at the gate.
All passes are accepted.
Hear the game on Ragin’ Red Broadcasting on KDOK 105.3-FM, and here: us1.streamingpulse.com:7436/stream. If you need help, go to www.ETBlitz.com, and click the Kilgore helmet.
There will be a live, streaming video broadcast of the game for a subscription on the NFHS Network, right here: 2025 UIL Football Quarterfinal – Fort Bend Broadcast Kilgore vs Fort Bend Crawford – 12/05/2025 | Live & On Demand.
And our own Mitch Lucas will be live, doing real-time updates here on ETBlitz.com.
Now that all of that is out of the way, let’s talk football.
The goal is reaching the UIL state championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington the Friday before Christmas, Dec. 19.
Kilgore and Crawford reach tonight’s juncture in their 2025 football seasons with identical 12-1 records. And each were undefeated in their respective districts, Kilgore going 6-0 in 9-4A and Crawford, 5-0 in 12-4A.
Both are coming off impressive victories a week ago, Kilgore blanking Bridge City, 34-0 and Crawford beating Pine Tree, 48-10.
This marks only the second season of varsity football for the Chargers which were bi-district finalists a year ago with a debut 5-6 record. They’ve parlayed that into quite a run, though, this season by outscoring their district opponents 247-57 and continuing their success through three rounds of the playoffs against Houston Worthing, Lindale and Pine Tree.
The Bulldogs, who played Celina for the state championship last season, are not newcomers to making deep runs in the UIL playoffs themselves, reaching the quarterfinals now five of the last six seasons, and winning district three years in a row and four of the last five years under coach Clint Fuller.
“Crawford is certainly another test and challenge for our kids, but you expect that this time of the season,” said Fuller. “I feel (our team) they’re committed to each other and willing to do what it takes to win for each other. Their unity and trust in each other is unique.
“I feel our keys to success are the same as every week. We’re going to play fast, physical and execute at a high level.”
Crawford coach David Jackson’s team’s only loss came 11 weeks ago (Sept. 12) 36-16 against Bellville in Week 3. Since then only West Orange-Stark in the regular season (29-22) and Lindale (35-28) a couple of weeks ago in the area round of postseason have come anywhere close to slowing the Chargers down.
Crawford has outscored its opponents by 419 points. Quarterback Braylen Fisher has thrown for 3,192 yards and 39 touchdowns, completing 183-of-291 passes. The Chargers are also more than just efficient running the football for 2,248 yards and 32 touchdowns.
Fisher’s receiving corps is led by junior playmaker Alvin Mosley with 61 catches for 1,091 yards and 20 touchdowns. Justin Butler, a senior, is next with 42 receptions for 988 yards. Mosley and Butler are followed by a couple of juniors Amir Johnson (33-546, 7) and Israel Hill (19-314, 1) that are not shabby, either.
The leading rusher has been sophomore Dedrick Polk with 890 yards and nine touchdowns on 135 carries with Peyton Long following with 560 yards on 107 carries and eight scores just ahead of Fisher, the QB, with 273 yards and five touchdowns on 65 carries.
Against the Pirates last week, Fisher was 15-of-26 passing for 253 yards and three touchdowns, and Mosley, who had nine receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown, also rushed for a touchdown as did his quarterback. The leading rusher, though, was Polk with 88 yards on 15 carries.
Crawford will be a sure test for Kilgore’s defense, which for the second week in a row held an opponent to less than 100 yards in total offense. Led by linebacker David McGowan’s 13 tackles and two fumble recoveries, the ’Dogs came away with six turnovers.
McGowan’s efforts against Bridge City moves him to second behind linebacker Isaiah Watters in tackles 115 to 121. Watters also has 13 tackles for loss, four sacks as well as an interception return for a touchdown, a fumble recovery and 11 quarterback pressures thus far this season.
Not far behind them are linebacker Lakeyleon Graves and safety Ja’Kalyn Sheffield with 111 and 109 tackles, respectively. Graves also has two tackles for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery and an interception returned for a touchdown. Sheffield, meanwhile, has three tackles for loss, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
Staying with linebackers, outside backer Travis Holmes has come on lately with 75 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Defensive linemen Bi’Syn Williams and Cameron Christian continue to be forces off the edge up front. Williams has 92 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and 23 hurries and three blocked punts, while Christian has 64 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks to go with three interceptions, two fumble recoveries a touchdown as well as 18 hurries.
Defensively, heavy hitters for the Chargers have been junior linebacker Camron Alakija (6-0, 200), senior defensive back Trason Richardson (6-2, 180), senior defensive back Christian James (5-10, 165) as well as senior linebacker Jasyn Barrett and junior defensive end Khaidyn Hopson (6-1, 210).
Alakija leads in tackles with 115, an average of 8.8 per game, and includes 16.5 tackles for loss, followed by Richardson with 90 tackles (7.5 per game) and 3.5 tackles for loss. James is next with 82 stops, six tackles for loss, while Barrett has 79 total tackles, an average of 6.5 per game, and eight tackles for loss, and Hopson 72 with the most tackles for loss 20.5 .
Alakija, Hopson and senior Shemar Walls off the edge lead in sacks with 7, 6.5 and 6, respectively. Richardson and James lead in interceptions with two each, while Alakija and Richardson lead in fumble recoveries with three and two, respectively.
Offensively, Kilgore is balanced, averaging 207.6 passing yards and 206.7 rushing yards a game. Quarterback Kayson Brooks has completed 176-of-266 passes for 2,700 yards and 25 touchdowns. Graves leads a talented and deep receiving corps with 46 receptions for 661 yards and eight touchdowns.
Tyler Johnigan and Dre’ Sanders follow with 29 catches each for 436 and 316 yards, respectively, and have combined for seven touchdowns. T.K. White has 22 receptions for 362 yards and Sheffield 21 catches for 444 yards.
Rayshaun Williams continues to be Kilgore’s leading rusher with 1,565 yards and 16 touchdowns. Isaiah Watters has 264 yards and six touchdowns followed by Brooks with 210 yards and seven scores.
Kilgore continues to be lethal in the red zone, reaching the opponents’ 20-yard line 11 times since the playoffs began and scoring eight touchdowns and Eddie Jimenez kicking three field goals.
Tonight’s winner faces the winner of Region IV, either unbeaten San Antonio Davenport (13-0) or La Vernia (12-1). They play at 7 at San Antonio’s Commander Stadium.
On the other side of the bracket, also tonight, in Region I, Canyon West Plains (12-1) plays unbeaten Stephenville (13-0) at Lubbock’s Lowrey Field and in Region II unbeaten and defending champion Celina (13-0) meets Alvarado (12-1) at Manfield’s Newsome Stadium.
