EMBARASSED | Kilgore delivers early knockout, sends LC-M packing; will face Stafford next, on Friday
If you had Rayshaun Williams scoring four touchdowns and Dre’ Sanders returning the opening kickoff 86 yards for another Kilgore score as part of your predictions for the Bulldogs in their first-round playoff game against Little Cypress-Mauriceville Friday night at home, your prize should be in the mail.
Just kidding about your prize, but in all seriousness, this was one of those kind of games.
Third-ranked Kilgore scored early and often to eliminate LC-M from the playoffs and end the Bears’ 2025 season, 61-14, on Friday night in the “friendly” confines of Kilgore’s R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium.
What people were likely talking about when they left, though, was one incident after another involving dust-ups that officials — from the Houston chapter — answered by ejecting players, something that could affect Kilgore in the next round. Remember, LC-M’s season is over, and the Bears don’t have a game next week.
Kilgore (10-1) advances to the area round of the 4A Region III playoffs this coming week against Stafford, a 49-7 winner over Houston Wheatley.
That game, we’re hearing, will be Friday at Willis ISD’s Berton A. Yates Stadium. More information on the game when we have it.
About all LC-M (5-6) — the fourth-place entry from 10-4A, Division I — won on Friday night was the pre-game coin flip, deferring to the second half and long bus ride back to the Golden Triangle.
And, even winning the flip came back to bite the Battlin’ Bears as Sanders returned the opening kickoff for the first of eight touchdowns and a bunch of points on the scoreboard for the Ragin’ Red.
Kilgore would score on five of its first six possessions, building an insurmountable 47-point halftime lead.
Kilgore’s QB1, Kayson Brooks continued his stellar senior season, completing 15-of-18 passes for 260-yards and two touchdowns. Kilgore outgained the visiting Bears 468 to 167 in total yardage.
Williams rushed for 110 yards and three touchdowns, and caught two passes for 78 yards and another score. Sophomore running back Maddox Wright scored on a 62-yard sprint right through the middle of the Bears’ defense for the final Kilgore score of the evening in the fourth quarter. He finished with 68 yards rushing on just four carries.
Brooks’ initial completion of the game was to T.K. White covering 79 yards, thanks to White’s crafty maneuvering through and around LC-M defenders on Kilgore’s first play from scrimmage.
Eddie Jimenez would convert the first of his eight extra points just 14 seconds into the ballgame. Jimenez would also kick a 22-yard field goal, extending an already big lead from 30 to 33 points with 6:58 remaining until halftime.
Rayshaun’s scoring runs covered nine- and 37-yards in the first quarter. He would add a five-yard run with 3:32 remaining in the third quarter, stretching the advantage to 54-to-zip.
Bi’Syn Williams and the defense got in on the scoring act as well by blocking a Battlin’ Bear punt into and out of the end zone for a safety as Kilgore’s advantage climbed to 23 points with 58.8 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Williams’ second rushing touchdown (37-yards) capped a two-play, 53-yard march with 6.3 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Cam Christian then collected an LC-M fumble at the five, carrying it in for his first touchdown of the season, that’s a TD for the defense, pushing the lead up to 40.
Brooks’ second touchdown completion, a little swing pass to Rayshaun Williams, came on a third-and-nine call from the Kilgore 40-yard line. And, yes, with 2:57 remaining in the second quarter, the Ragin’ Red led 47-0.
You could’ve turned the lights out then, but we didn’t.
Williams would score his fourth touchdown of the game, and third rushing on a five-yard run to complete a 12-play march that took 6:07 off the scoreboard clock in the third period.
J’Lynn Morris, the Bears leading rusher this season, score both of Little Cypress-Mauriceville’s touchdowns. The first of those came on a one-yard run to complete a 12-play 75-yard drive with 10:48 left to play in the game.
Morris’ second touchdown, also on a one-yard run, came with 6:16 left to play, capping a 58-yard march with 6:16 on the scoreboard clock.
The two LC-M scoring drives sandwiched Wright’s scoring run for his fourth touchdown of the season, coming at the 10:35 mark in the fourth quarter.
Besides Kilgore’s Sanders kickoff return for a touchdown, playing a corner in Kilgore’s secondary, returned a Jakson Struwe interception 50 yards to set up Jimenez’s sixth field goal of the season.
Lakeyleon Graves and Tyler Johnigan led the Bulldogs’ receiving corps with four catches apiece. Graves had 4-for-42 and Johnigan 4-for-32. Others, besides Williams and White, catching passes were Ja’Kalyn Sheffield (2-15), Tre’ Hutchinson (1-1) and Isaiah Watters (1-13).
Kilgore’s backup quarterback Shaun Moyers came on in relief of Brooks and played the entire fourth quarter.
Struwe, LC-M’s quarterback, was 3-of-13 passing with an interception. Catching those passes for the Battlin’ Bears were Morris (1-for-30), Dystan Payne (1-4) and Dawson Stanley (1-12).
Besides Kilgore, Pine Tree and Lindale advanced to the area round of the playoffs next week. The Pirates by blanking Lumberton 35-0, and Lindale beating Huffman-Hargrave soundly 63-21.
Bridge City, the 10-4A Division I winner, spilled Chapel Hill 24-21 to end Chapel Hill’s season.
As far as ejections, several from each side were ejected throughout the game. Editor / publisher Mitch Lucas will address this more in his “What’s Causing All This?” column this weekend.
