IN FOCUS: PREVIEWING KILGORE vs. LA VERNIA | Presented by KILGORE-GILMER EYE CARE CENTERS
WACO – When we started this journey in the Class 4A University Interscholastic League Division I playoffs about four, five weeks ago, we began with 64 teams.
We cut it to 32, then to 16, to eight, and now four.
After Friday night…
There will be two.
And those two will meet next Friday at AT&T Stadium for the 4A-DI state championship. But we’ve got to get there first.
Kilgore and La Vernia meet for only the second time tonight, looking for a win in state semifinal here at McLane Stadium on the Baylor University campus at 7 p.m.
If you’re planning on going to the game and you’re a student at Kilgore ISD, you’re in luck: there’s an early release today at 1 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased for $13 each online here: High School Football | Kilgore vs. La Vernia – Class 4A, Division I state semifinals | Baylor University.
All passes are accepted as well.
The stadium’s address, if needed, is McLane Stadium, 1001 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Waco, TX 76704. The stadium does have a clear bag policy.
For those who can’t go but would like to hear the Ragin’ Red Broadcasting call of the game, do so on the radio at KDOK 105.3-FM, or on streaming audio online right here: Kilgore vs. La Vernia – Ragin’ Red Broadcasting.
And if you really want to see the game and can’t make it, if you don’t mind paying a subscription fee, here you go: 2025 UIL Football Semifinal – NFHS Network – Kilgore Broadcast Kilgore vs La Vernia – 12/12/2025 | Live & On Demand.
The Bears and Bulldogs were playing for the same thing when they met a year ago at Randall Reed Stadium in New Caney with Kilgore winning, 38-13.
The winner advances to that game at AT&T Stadium next Friday to play for that very same state title, against the winner of tonight’s other 4A-DI semifinal contest between defending state champ Celina (14-0) and seemingly always-lurking Stephenville (14-0), being played in Fort Worth at Eagle Mountain Knight Stadium.
The Bulldogs dropped their season opener to Carthage, but rebounded to win their next 13 contests. That includes winning 9-4A for the third time consecutively and now four of the last five seasons since coach Clint Fuller arrived at KHS.
This year’s ’Dogs’ string of 10 or more wins in a row (currently at six seasons) is a school record, beginning with the 2020 team coached by current KHS athletic director Mike Wood (who celebrated a birthday this week, by the way).
The Bears’ only loss came 12 weeks ago in Week 2 at Cuero (49-41).
La Vernia rebounded, winning 15-4A, after finishing third in district a year ago. This year’s Bears, coached by Brian Null, have outscored five district opponents, 192-67, and advanced through the playoffs, outscoring the opposition, 148-73. Those averages 38.4-13.4 in district and 37.0-18.2 in the postseason are impressive enough.
La Vernia’s strength, like last season, is its running game. To continue its success, Kilgore will have to slow the Bears’ rushing attack which has accounted for 4,106 yards with junior Ty Carter leading the way with 1,877 yards (on 210 carries) and scoring 31 touchdowns. He’s averaging 134.1 yards per game and 8.9 yards per carry and has rushed for more than 100 yards on nine occasions.
His 28 rushing touchdowns are one behind junior quarterback Cooper Null’s team-leading 29. Like Carter, Null (6-0, 175) has used his legs efficiently, running for 1,447 yards on 184 carries. He averages 103.4 yards per game and 7.9 yards per carry. He has gained more than 100 yards rushing seven times.
Null and Carter were the catalysts in last week’s win. Null rushed for 237 yards and three touchdowns in the Bears’ win last week against San Antonio Davenport, while Carter added 142 yards and a touchdown rushing to go with a receiving TD.
Besides his rushing ability, Null, in 14 games, has completed 63-of-98 passes for 1,045 yards and 10 touchdowns with just seven interceptions.
Following Carter and Null rushing the football for the Bears are running backs Sean Garza (5-11, 175) and Riley Salmon (5-9, 185). Garza, a senior, has 346 yards on 50 carries for an average of 6.9 yards per carry and five touchdowns. Salmon, only a sophomore, is 34-for-279 with an 8.2 average yards per carry with five touchdowns.
Wyatt Frank, who can play either wide receiver or tight end, is the premier receiver with 26 receptions for 598 yards and five touchdowns.
Garza and Carter have proven to be more than capable return men with Garza having 350 yards in kickoff returns to go with 277 punt return yards, while Carter has 364 yards in kickoff returns through 14 games.
The Bears’ offense is expected to test a Ragin’ Red defense that has been efficient all season, but especially thus far in the playoffs, allowing points and yardage, but only begrudgingly.
Inside linebacker David McGowan and safety Ja’Kalyn Sheffield led the way last week in tackles against Fort Bend Crawford with 10 apiece followed by cornerback Dre’ Sanders (9) and defensive ends Bi’Syn Williams (8) and Cameron Christian (6), and Kaeson Clayton (8).
Watters continues to be the overall leader in tackles, though, for Kilgore with 126 to go with 13 tackles for loss for -48 yards, four sacks, and an interception as well as a fumble recovery. Watters, a senior, is one of six defensive players to score a touchdown for co-defensive coordinators Chad Loper and Josh Lyons.
McGowan has 125 tackles, three for loss, to go with two sacks, along with an interception and three fumble recoveries. He also has scored a defensive touchdown. Sheffield is next with 119 tackles, four for loss, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
Middle linebacker Lakeyleon Graves has 118 tackles, two for loss and a sack to go with a team-leading six picks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a touchdown.
Defensive end Bi’Syn Williams has an even 100 tackles, seven for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and a team-leading 25 quarterback hurries. Travis Holmes continues to shine with 77 tackles, 4.5 for loss as well as two sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Christian has 70 tackles, eight for loss for minus 16 yards, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries to go with 20 quarterback hurries and a touchdown.
Kilgore’s offense enters this week’s action, after rushing for 287 yards and four touchdowns against Fort Bend Crawford. Quarterback Kayson Brooks was 11-of-16 passing for 131 yards, but didn’t need to throw much at-all in the second half of the quarterfinal victory against the Chargers.
Once again, junior Rayshaun Williams led the rushing attack with 154 yards on 20 carries. He scored twice and one of his runs (75 yards) was Kilgore’s sixth explosive offensive play (50-or-more yards) this season. Williams has rushed for 1,719 yards and scored 18 touchdowns to go with his 17 receptions for 225 receiving yards and one TD.
Maddox Wright (33-411, 5 TD), Watters (70-353, 8), Brooks (58-236, 7) and McGowan (20-196, 2) follow Williams, the rushing leader.
Brooks is 187-of- 282 passing for 2,831 yards and 25 touchdowns. His leading receivers have been Lakeyleon Graves with 52 receptions for 734 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s followed by Tyler Johnigan and Dre’ Sanders, both with 29 catches, and then White and Sheffield with 23 receptions apiece.
Johnigan has 436 yards and five touchdowns, while Sanders has 316 yards and two scores. Meanwhile, White has 380 yards on 23 catches and four touchdowns, and Sheffield has 484 yards and two scores.
Defensively, the Bears are led by linebacker Sean Garza (5-11, 175), who can also play strong safety, with 155 tackles including eight for loss. He’s followed by inside linebackers Remmington Rohde (6-0, 200) and Bryar Crane (6-0, 200). Rohde has 144 tackles, 15 for loss, a sack and 17 hurries, while Crane has 126 tackles, 11 for loss, three sacks and eight quarterback hurries.
Defensive end Kole Farmer leads in sacks with nine and also has 18 hurries, while safety Matthew Lindsey (5-9, 155) has the most interceptions for the Bears with four.
Thus far, Kilgore’s placekicker Eddie Jimenez is 82-for-83 on extra points and 9-for-12 on field goals for 109 points.
