December 21, 2024

ETBLITZ.COM KHS-CHAPEL HILL PREVIEW, Part two | Tonight at Forney’s City Bank Stadium (& playoff info for every ET team)

Joe Hale 2 weeks ago
From left: Kilgore defensive lineman Cameron Christian (84), wide receiver / defensive back Javon Towns (1), WR / DB Jayden Sanders (3), and defensive back Dre’ Sanders (13), key members of a Kilgore High School football team that’s won seven straight, is now 11-2, and faces Chapel Hill (10-3) tonight in Forney, a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. For playoff information for other teams in East Texas still in the UIL playoffs, scroll down to the bottom of this story. (Photo by ALEX NABOR – ETBLITZ.COM)

Liken tonight’s University Interscholastic League Class 4A, Division I, Region 3 final between district rivals Chapel Hill and Kilgore to a high-stakes whatever you care to imagine. It’s the latest in a long line of December showdowns between Kilgore and Chapel Hill and they’re always for more than just bragging rights.

There are no moral victories. It’s mano-a-mano, possibly an instant classic: a matchup either WWE or AEW might call a loser-leaves-town – for the 2024 season.

Kilgore (11-2) faces Chapel Hill (10-3) once again, this time at City Bank Stadium in Forney (1800 College Avenue, Forney, TX, 75126), a place with which Kilgore fans are very familiar – it’s just been a while.

The game is set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

To buy tickets, which in advance are $8 for adults, $5 for students, you’ll need to go to PLAYOFF GAME – Kilgore vs Chapel Hill VARSITY Football | Forney ISD Box Office. At the gate, ALL tickets will be $10 each.

You can see it here, through the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football streaming broadcast: Chapel Hill vs Kilgore – 12/6/2024 – Football – Regional finals – Playoffs – Live from Forney City Bank Stadium. That also requires a subscription.

The game will also be available on NFHSNetwork.com for a subscription fee – if you want to do that, you can pay just the one-time fee, watch the game and then cancel, or keep it. It’s completely up to you. That link is here: 2024 UIL Football Playoffs Kilgore High School vs. Chapel Hill High School – Tyler – 12/06/2024 | Live & On Demand.

And don’t forget the Ragin’ Red Broadcasting team. They’ve been calling Kilgore games since the Reagan Administration, and we mean the FIRST Reagan Administration. Hear their broadcast on KDOK 103.5 FM, or the streaming audio here: Chalk Hill Communications.

For other games tonight and Saturday, scroll below.

The combatants know each other well enough not to need the chatter fans provide on local message boards for inspiration. They certainly should, playing each other (counting tonight) twice in each of the last four years.

This Chapel Hill team is nothing like those prior to coach Jeff Riordan’s arrival at the school six seasons ago. In the same respect, Clint Fuller (in his fourth season at KHS) has put his stamp on the Ragin’ Red’s continued success on the gridiron.

For fun, let’s meet some of the characters.

Defensively, Chapel Hill is anchored by linebacker Trevor Brooks, along with defensive lineman Isaiah Collins and Kae’den Franklin. Brooks, a senior, leads in total tackles with 96 solo stops and 136 total, while Collins, only a junior, checks in with 45 solos and 108 total. Franklin, who has come on as a sophomore, follows with 63 tackles. Brooks leads in tackles for loss, with 29 and Franklin is next with 13, along with 17 hurries.  

Meanwhile, Collins leads in hurries with 33 and is tied with Brooks for the lead in sacks with four each. Chapel Hill has 18 picks, led by junior defensive back Peaira Allen and Brooks, each with four.

Leading the way defensively for Kilgore in tackles are linebackers and brothers La’Perrion Graves (118) and Lakeyleon Graves (102), along with free safety Ja’Kalen Sheffield (102). Defensive end Wylie Mitchell leads in tackles for loss, with eight followed by La’Perrion Graves, with seven. The sack leader is junior nose tackle Cam Christian with six for minus 34 yards.

Other standouts on the ‘D’ for Kilgore have been outside linebacker Jamarian  Duncan-Morgan (74 tackles, three forced fumbles), defensive end Jackson Tucker Phillips (“JTP;” 64 tackles, three sacks) and strong safety Javon Towns (62 tackles, two interceptions on defense, and 36 catches, 565 yards, eight touchdowns offensively).

Kilgore has 36 takeaways (22 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries). Sheffield, who had two picks last week against Navasota and returned one for a touchdown, has five, as does junior Dre’ Sanders. Sanders, a cornerback, also leads in fumble recoveries with three.

Offensively, Chapel Hill is led by senior running back Rickey Stewart, quarterback Malik Gee and receivers Trevor Brooks, Jonah Riordan and Maliek Brown. The ‘Dogs have benefitted by the return of Demetrius Brisbon, Jr., who returned for playoff games against Houston Worthing in an 49-24 area victory and last week’s 28-3 win against Stafford in regional action. He’s been used in those two games as primarily a receiver and kickoff return specialist.

Stewart returned from an injury to gain more than 300 yards rushing against Huffman Hargrave in a 44-35 bi-district win and has gained 1,671 yards on 178 carries (9.1 Avg. yds per carry) for 16 touchdowns this season.

Gee at QB, in the absence of Brisbon, Jr., has rushed for 509 yards and completed 86-of-149 passes for 1,085 yards for a dozen touchdowns, with five interceptions. His primary receivers are Brooks and Riordan with 29 catches each for 364 and 315 yards, respectively. Brown is next with 19 receptions for 357 yards and five TD. Brooks, like Brown, has five scoring receptions, and Riordan has four.

Anchoring the offensive line for CH are Keldrick Davis, Deshawn Waddleton, Greg Mayfield, Amauri McCuin, Sutherland Singer and Braylen Allen.

Offensively, while Chapel Hill has gained 5,139 yards, Kilgore has 2,964 yards passing and 1,870 rushing (4,834 total).

The leading ball-carriers for the Ragin’ Red are Rashaun Williams (179 carries for 973 yards and seven TDs) and Isaiah Watters (64carries for 331 yards, and nine scores). Kayson Brooks has passed for 1,928 yards. His primary receivers are Jayden Sanders (51 catches for 878 yards and 10 touchdowns), Lakeyleon Graves (30 catches for 691 yards and 11 TDs), Towns (36 catches, 555 yards, eight touchdowns) and Williams (3 catches out of the backfield for 368 yards and three scores).

The starting O-line for Kilgore is right tackle Collin Burrows, right guard Jaden Pastor, center Jonathan Barron, left guard Daniel Garcia and left tackle Hunter Whipkey.

Kilgore has won seven in a row since a 27-24 loss to Henderson on Oct. 4, while Chapel Hill has four consecutive wins since a 20-14 loss to Pine Tree on Oct. 25.

Tonight’s winner advances to meet either La Vernia (10-3) or Bay City (12-1) in the 4A-DI semifinals – the state’s final four – next week at a site and time to be determined. La Vernia and Bay City play tonight at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Bastrop.  

Other games tonight involving teams from East Texas not in the ETBlitz.com coverage area:

  • Carthage vs. Van, UIL Class 4A, Division II Region 2 finals: Friday, 7 p.m., Pine Tree ISD Pirate Stadium in Longview (3737 W. Loop 281, Longview, TX, 75604). Carthage (12-1) is the visitor, Van obviously the home team. Texas High School Coaches Association passes, district passes, and senior citizen passes all accepted. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased here: Buy Tickets – PINE TREE ISD ATHLETICS. Van is 10-3, and in the playoffs, has beaten Athens (38-30), Van Alstyne (45-42), and Sunnyvale (42-38), all fairly-close games. Carthage hasn’t lost since the season opener at home against Kilgore. The Bulldogs shut out Spring Hill in the first round, 49-0; beat Krum, 56-13, in round two; and then beat Pleasant Grove, 28-7, last week. Hear the Carthage call of the game here: KGAS 104.3 or 1590-AM. The streaming video, again, here at NFHSNetwork.com: 2024 UIL Football Playoffs Carthage High School vs. Van High School – 12/06/2024 | Live & On Demand.
  • Daingerfield vs. Woodville, UIL Class 3A-Division II Region 3 finals: Friday, 7 p.m., Palestine ISD Wildcat Stadium (1600 South Loop 256, Palestine, TX, 75801). Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and can be purchased here: Palestine ISD – Daingerfield vs. Woodville. All passes will be accepted. And like all of the other games, it’s available for a fee on the NFHSNetwork.com site here: 2024 UIL Football Playoffs Woodville High School vs. Daingerfield High School – 12/06/2024 | Live & On Demand. Daingerfield’s Tigers started the season off 0-2, but are now red-hot and 8-5. They beat Harmony in round one, 35-14; beat what looked to be an unbeatable New Diana team, 42-35; and then beat a good Newton team badly, 62-28, last week. Woodville (11-2) beat Arp, 49-12, in round one; beat previously-undefeated Grand Saline, 48-21, in round two; and beat one-loss DeKalb, 42-12, a week ago.

And on Saturday:

  • Longview vs. DeSoto, UIL Class 6A, Division II Region 2 finals: Saturday, 3 p.m., McLane Stadium in Waco, home of Baylor University football. Tickets are $12 each and are available in advance here: HS FB Desoto vs. Longview | Baylor University Official Athletic Site. The Longview Lobos are 11-2, and have won seven straight games, including a first-round 23-13 win over Naaman Forest; a come-from-behind win over Lancaster, 38-35 in overtime; and a 42-28 win over Klein Collins last week. DeSoto (11-2) beat Willis, 55-35, last week and has scored at least 51 points in all three of its playoff games. Oh, and DeSoto’s Eagles: they’re the reigning, defending 6A-DII state champions. Longview-DeSoto is also available on NFHSNetwork.com, here: 2024 UIL Football Playoffs Longview High School vs. DeSoto High School – 12/07/2024 | Live & On Demand. Hear the Longview radio call of the game on JACK (106.5-FM) or here: 106.5 Jack FM – East Texas.

ETBlitz.com editor / publisher Mitch Lucas contributed to this story.

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