BIGGEST GAME OF OPENING WEEKEND | Top dogs Kilgore, Carthage meet in Kilgore tonight, as the state looks on
KILGORE – BIG is big, but it doesn’t really describe Friday’s 2025 season-opening football game between Carthage and Kilgore, the ‘Dogs vs. the ‘Dawgs at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. of course, and if you’re like most in both communities, you’ve had it circled on your calendar since — well, maybe since the teams played in the both 4A state championship games last year. Or maybe even since they opened the season against each other last year.
It’s just one of those games.
Hear it live, if you’re Kilgore-partisan, on Ragin’ Red Broadcasting, through the call of Doug Smith, Jason Smith and Don Hedrick. Do so by tuning in on the radio, on KDOK 105.3-FM, by going to the station’s website directly at www.kdokradio.com and following the links, or go to ETBlitz.com, and click on the Kilgore helmet on the left side of the home page.
If you’re for Carthage, now also a part of the ETBlitz.com coverage area (as of this school year), watch the game streamed live HERE or listen on KGAS 104.3-FM.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has it as one of the premier games in the state. In the magazine’s preseason football poll, Carthage is No. 1 in Class 4A Division II, while Kilgore sits third in 4A-Division I, behind defending state champion Celina and Canyon West Plains.
Carthage won its 10th state football championship, beating La Vega, 28-14, in the 4A-DII championship game, right before Kilgore faced Celina in the 4A-DI title game at
AT&T Stadium in Arlington back in December.
Carthage, led by Scott Surratt, has won 10 state football championships since 2008, and has never lost in the state title game.
And Kilgore, led by Clint Fuller, appears to have all the tools necessary to make its own return trip this year.
“Expectations are really high, both outside and inside our program,” said Kilgore coach Clint Fuller. “We’ve had a really good camp, really competitive. I do think we’ve checked all the boxes we needed to through camp and in our two scrimmages. Now, it’s time to play some football.”
Beginning his fifth season of guiding the Bulldogs, Fuller continued, “reaching state was an invaluable lesson for us, but now we go back to square one and work to be the best we can be.”
You can’t argue with the standard of excellence coach Scott Surratt and his staff have worked toward and enjoyed in 18 years: 16 district titles and an average 11.38 wins a season, and of course, the 10 state titles. They have more state championships than they do playoff losses.
Carthage is one of five pre-season state-ranked opponents on Kilgore’s schedule this season. The two other non-district foes are Gilmer (ranked ninth in the 4A-DII preseason poll) and Pleasant Grove (second in 4A-DII), while district rivals Chapel Hill and Lindale in 4A-DI, are 11th and 18th, respectively.
“It is tough, but we want to be in big games to get that experience for our kids and our program,” the Kilgore coach continued, referring to the schedule. Fuller is 46-11 since returning to Kilgore, where he grew up, and his Bulldogs have won three outright district championships in four seasons.
“We want to play great programs,” said Surratt. “I think it will be a great atmosphere for the game and both of our programs.”
There’s obviously mutual respect on both sidelines. “They’re a really good football team and a really good program,” Fuller said.
Certainly, there is a lot of talent on both sides of the football: offensively such as Carthage running back K.J. Edwards, or Kilgore running backs Isaiah Watters and Rayshaun Williams, quarterbacks Jett Surratt of Carthage and Kayson Brooks of Kilgore.
Edwards has rushed for 3,976 yards and 54 touchdowns in three seasons, while Kilgore’s Watters and Williams have combined for 2,670 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns in the past two seasons.
Surratt has passed for 7,196 yards and 99 touchdowns in his sophomore and junior seasons, while Brooks passed for a record-setting 3,673 yards, 43 scores and nine interceptions, and rushed for 345 yards and five touchdowns a year ago.
Defensively, Carthage inside linebacker Daquives Beck earned all-state first team honors and his second state championship last season. Kilgore defensive lineman Cameron Christian and safety Ja’Kalen Sheffield were on that same all-state first team.
Beck, like his teammate Edwards, is committed to Texas A&M. He’s also on the recently named first team of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Whataburger Preseason Super Team. He was credited with 102 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and five sacks a year ago.
Other key players to watch defensively from Kilgore are lineman Bi’Syn Williams, cornerback Dre’ Sanders and outside linebacker LaKeyleon Graves.
As good as Carthage is and has been…
“We’ve had more injuries this year than I can remember to start a season,” said Surratt when asked about the status of his son, Jett (shoulder), defensive end Carson Crawford (ankle) and wide receiver Keymian “Junior” Henderson (hamstring). “It’s helped us develop depth, and in that respect I guess it’s a good thing.”
Surratt the QB is recovering from surgery earlier this year and is expected to be a game time decision. Crawford (a Colorado commit) is doubtful and Henderson (an Arkansas commit) probably can’t go, according to his coach.
“We use this as a measuring stick to see where we’re at as a team,” said Fuller. “We’ll use it to identify our strengths and our weaknesses and grow from it to get ready for district (play).”
Interestingly enough, Carthage was 15-1 last season. Its only loss (20-15) came in the season opener against Kilgore. According to our records, that win gives the Ragin’ Red a 30-29 edge in this all-time series.
Since arriving at CHS prior to the 2007 season, Surratt’s record is 234-31. Kilgore and Carthage played for the 2013 Class 3A-Division I championship at AT&T Stadium with Carthage winning, 34-23.
Looking ahead, Carthage has its open date next weekend. The ‘Dawgs’ next game will be Friday, Sept. 12 when they entertain Liberty-Eylau at Bulldog Stadium. while Kilgore visits Whitehouse to play the Wildcats at Wildcat Stadium next Friday.
