KINDLING! | Kilgore chops up Pine Tree, 17-6, in district opener for both teams
LONGVIEW – Two second-half highlight-reel catches by Javon Towns on back-to-back plays and old-school defense were Kilgore’s recipe for a win on Friday night at Pirate Stadium against old rival Pine Tree.
The second of those completions from quarterback Kayson Brooks came with 2:20 remaining in the third quarter and pretty much sealed a 17-6 victory for seventh-ranked Kilgore over sixth-ranked Pine Tree in the District 9-4A Division I opener for both teams.
Kilgore (4-1) returns home next week for its homecoming in a rivalry matchup against Henderson, a 62-38 winner over Palestine on Friday, while Pine Tree will look to get back into the win column with a road game to Mabank (1-3), who enjoyed an open date tonight.
Kilgore’s defense anchored by Jackson Tucker-Phillips, Wylie Mitchell and Cam Christian up front, along with linebackers Lakeyleon and Laperrion Graves, Jamarian Duncan and Isaiah Watters in the middle limited the Pirates to just 20 yards of offense in the first half, and 75 yards of total offense for the game.
Impressive? Yeah.
The Pirates lone touchdown of the evening came on Ashton Valentine’s 60-yard pass interception return of a Brooks pass with 3:32 left in the first quarter.
Jayden Sanders put a damper on the Bucs’ celebration, though, by blocking Julian Ibarra’s extra point attempt, leaving PT behind by one, 7-6.
The Ragin’ Red had taken a 7-0 lead, putting together a six-play 53-yard scoring march capped by a 28-yard Brooks-to-Towns completion on its opening drive with 9:06 remaining in the first period.
After the first-quarter pick, Brooks settled into a rhythm, completing 14-of-19 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns, both of those to Towns (who had five receptions for 115 yards) to lead all receivers.
Kilgore had a decided edge in total yardage 259 to 75.
Although Towns had the most catches, including the two acrobatic receptions on the scoring drive, one of those a one-hander, covering 42 yards to give the Bulldogs a first-and-10 at the Pirates’ 32 yard line.
On the very next play, another completion to Towns, Kilgore’s Z-receiver, for his second touchdown of the contest and third of the season, came on a post pattern.
Towns provided the touchdowns, but Rayshaun Williams led Kilgore’s receiving corps with seven catches for 40 yards. Jayden Sanders and Takieran White also had catches for the Ragin’ Red.
Brooks completed his final eight (passing) attempts in a row for 120 yards. Talk about settling in.
Williams led all ball carriers for the Bulldogs with 76 yards on 20 carries.
Pine Tree quarterback Matt Cates was just 3-for-15 passing for 37 yards with an interception by Kilgore cornerback Dre’ Sanders, his third of the season and Kilgore’s 11th in five games.
Sanders interception of Cates followed a Tucker-Phillips sack of the PT quarterback for a five-yard loss back to the Kilgore 25 yard line. Facing third-and-16, Cates’ threw into the end zone where the junior cornerback jumped the route and made the catch.
Jaeden Williams, Jordan Taylor and Brandon Smith each had a reception for the Pirates. Williams catch was for seven yards, Taylor’s for 10 and Smith’s for 20.
Roger Attaway led the Bucs’ rushing attack with 33 yards on nine carries.
Leading 7-6, the Bulldogs then called on Eddie Jiminez to convert a 20-yard field goal when a 10-play, 49-yard march stalled at the Pirates’ three-yard line. Kilgore’s left-footed kicker converted with 3:49 left in the second quarter, extending the ‘Dogs advantage to four points, 10-6.
