POWER SURGE | Fuller’s Bulldogs roll in Whitehouse, to a 49-14 win
WHITEHOUSE – Remember the old phrase about what happens when a hot knife meets butter?
It became reality here Friday night, as the Kilgore High School Bulldogs were the knife, and Whitehouse? Well, they weren’t Land O’Lakes, but let’s just say it was all Ragin’ Red.
Kayson Brooks completed 15-of-18 passes for 267 yards and four touchdowns as third-ranked Kilgore blitzed Whitehouse, 49-14, on Friday night at Wildcat Stadium.
Brooks’ scoring passes went to four different receivers as the Ragin’ Red evened their season record at 1-1, on senior night at Whitehouse.
“I’m really proud of the way our kids responded this week. We took a big step forward, I believe, as a team,” said Kilgore coach Clint Fuller.
“Offensively, it all starts up front with our O-line. They controlled the line of scrimmage, which allowed our offense to establish the run game as well as push the football down the field in the passing game.”
No doubt about it; that line for many of Kilgore’s scoring drives was Jaden Pastor, Aldo Loredo, Hunter Whipkey, Fabian Abeldano and Daniel Garcia.
Brooks was pretty good, too: 13-of-15 for 260 yards passing with scoring tosses of 12 yards to Lakeyleon Graves, 43 yards to Tyler Johnigan, 11 yards to T.K. White and 91 yards to Ja’Kalen Sheffield in the first half alone.
Before Brooks and his receiving corps started putting up those pinball-like passing numbers, though, Rayshaun Williams opened the scoring with a 15-yard run with 7:50 remaining in the first period.
The Bulldogs scored on five of their first six possessions and never looked back in building a comfortable 42-point halftime cushion.
It wasn’t all offense, though, as Brayden Williams intercepted two of Jojo Adams’ passes, returning one of those picks 41-yards for the third touchdown of the game and the first of four second-quarter scores for the visiting Bulldogs. Besides the interception, David “Bubba” McGowan and Isaiah Watters were credited with sacks of the Whitehouse quarterback.
Rayshaun Williams rushed for 157 yards on just 13 carries and a lot of his yards against the Wildcats.
Fuller continued, “He’s become a very good back running between the tackles. He’s very strong with great vision and speed.”
Watters, who spent most of his evening playing defense, got in on the scoring with Kilgore’s lone touchdown of the second half. It came with 9:02 remaining in the game.
There was a lot of passing yards for the Bulldogs and quite a bit of rushing also, as Kilgore finished with 459 yards of offense, compared to 278 for the Wildcats.
“Kayson distributed the football with some great reads and throws,” added Fuller.
Adams for Whitehouse was just 4-of-17 passing for 63 yards. He led the Wildcats’ rushing attack (32 carries for 215 yards) with 99 on 12 carries. Za’Majeigh Mosley followed with 52 yards and John Grimes added 40 yards, scoring the final touchdown on a 41-yard run with just 46 seconds left to play.
Whitehouse’s other touchdown came on a 1-yard Adams keeper with 4:33 remaining in the third quarter, cutting Kilgore’s lead to 36 after Joshua Tornes converted the first of his two extra points in the game.
“Defensively, we controlled the run game with our front seven and that allowed out defensive backs to go make plays,” Fuller continued. “Brayden stepped up with two interceptions and was in great coverage all night.”
Kilgore place-kicker Eddie Jimenez was 7-for-7 on extra points.
Graves led the receiving corps for Kilgore with four catches for 53 yards and White followed with three receptions for 56 yards. Also, Sheffield (2-104), Johnigan (2-49), Rayshaun Williams (2-4), Brenton Mumphrey (1-3) and De’Andre Thurmond (1-(-2)).
Kilgore returns home next Friday, Sept. 12, for its homecoming against Gilmer, also 1-1, at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium. Whitehouse (1-1) visits Chapel Hill to play the Bulldogs (2-0), coming off a 41-26 victory Friday night over the Buckeyes.
