KILGORE RULES ALL-DISTRICT | Sanders, Brooks, Christian recognized, 11 first-teamers, 20 honored in all; coaches award

When you reach the state championship game, you have certain expectations when it comes to all-district awards.

Like – you’re gonna clean off the shelves, so to speak.

And that’s what the Kilgore High School Bulldogs did in the voting for the District 9-4A, Division I All-District team, chosen exclusively by the coaches of the teams in the district, in this case, Henderson, Palestine, Mabank, Chapel Hill, Pine Tree, Lindale, and of course, Kilgore.

Kilgore cornerback Jayden Sanders, a senior who recently signed to continue his education and football career at the University of Michigan, was named the overall 9-4A most valuable player. Sanders played both defensive back and wide receiver all season.

Then there’s quarterback Kayson Brooks, who was named the offensive player of the year, and for good reason: Brooks, just a junior, threw for over 40 touchdowns in his first season as a starter, re-writing the school’s offensive record books in the process.

How about Cam Christian? He was named the district’s defensive lineman of the year.

And the Ragin’ Red had 10 players named first-team all-district: offensive linemen Daniel Garcia and Jaden Pastor; defensive lineman Wylie Mitchell and Jackson Tucker-Phillips, “JTP;” linebacker La’Perrion Graves; kicker Eddie Jiminez; fullback Travis Dixon; cornerback Dre’ Sanders; safety Ja’Kalen Sheffield; wide receiver/ linebacker LaKeyleon Graves; and wide receiver/ safety Javon “JT” Towns.

Second-team all-district honors went to linebackers Isaiah Watters and Ja’Marian Duncan Morgan; offensive lineman Collin Burrows and Jonathan Barron; and honorable mention recognition to defensive lineman Bi’Syn Williams, offensive lineman Hunter Whipkey; running back Rayshaun Williams; wide receiver Jacory Walton; and wide receiver Takieran “TK” White.

And the Kilgore coaching staff was named the staff of the year: coach Clint Fuller, Jay Dean, Chad Loper, Joey Pippen, T.J. Gillen-Hall, Josh Lyons, Nick Sanders, Cale Bickham, Kaleb “KB” Brisendine, Jake Chidester, Austin Hawley, Zach Hubbard, C.J. Jackson, Mason McCormack, Cade Pippen, Braden Robey, Ben Shelton, Scott Silvey, D.Q. Scott and Dustin Swaim.

Kilgore, of course, beat No. 1 and eventual 4A-DII state champion Carthage in Carthage to open the season, and was the only team to beat Carthage all year; defeated arch-rival Chapel Hill in both the regular season and the playoffs, getting that monkey off their backs; entered the 4A-DI postseason as the No. 1 seed from District 9-4A, by virtue of a 17-6 win over the second seed from the district, Pine Tree; and beat Vidor, Needville, Navasota, Chapel Hill, and La Vernia in the five playoff games before falling to Celina in the state championship at AT&T Stadium last Friday.

More on the 9-4A, DI All-District Team to come. Congratulations to the Kilgore Bulldogs for all of these honors.