ETBLITZ PREVIEWS KILGORE-LA VERNIA | Winner heads to AT&T Stadium for the 4A-DI state title game

Kilgore and La Vernia meet Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. at New Caney’s Randall Reed Stadium, on the line, a berth in next week’s University of Interscholastic League 4A Division I state championship game.

The winner advances to AT&T Stadium in Arlington next Friday, Dec. 20 in to play for either unbeaten Celina (14-0) or Canyon West Plains (11-3) for the title.

Some important information about Kilgore-La Vernia:

There will be a send-off for the Ragin’ Red around 12:30 p.m. from the Mitchell Field House, and an early release Friday at 1 p.m. Randall Reed Stadium, where the Bulldogs have played frequently since 2015, is at 21360 Valley Ranch Parkway, New Caney, in the Houston area.

Kilgore is the visitor, and the stadium has a clear-bag policy. That policy is here: https://www.newcaneyisd.org/uploaded/Athletics/Clear_Bag_Policy.pdf.

As for ticket information, all tickets are $8 each. You can buy them by clicking here: https://gofan.co/event/2537483?schoolid=TX98159

Texas High School Coaches Association, district passes, Gold Card passes and senior passes are all accepted.

For anyone who’d like to listen to the Ragin’ Red Broadcasting call of the game, do so on KDOK 105.3-FM, or streaming online here: Kilgore vs. La Vernia. Just click on the Kilgore helmets.

For video streaming online, for a subscription, there’s the NFHS Network here: 2024 UIL Football Semifinal Kilgore High School vs. La Vernia High School – 12/13/2024 | Live & On Demand.

And there’s this: Kilgore fans are invited to take part in a Ragin’ Red & White Rally at the game. Pine Tar Sports has donated 250 white rally towels, first-come, first-serve, that can be gotten at the game from the cheerleaders.

For other playoff games this weekend involving playoff teams: WHERE’S EVERYBODY AT?! | Schedule for East Texas teams remaining in the football playoffs.

Also, if you’re interested, Joaquin (10-4) and Ganado (13-1) play tonight, Thursday night, in the Class 2A-Division I semifinals at Shenandoah’s Woodforest Bank Stadium, a 7 p.m. kickoff

The Joaquin-Ganado winner plays either Stamford or Hamilton next week in the 2A-DI state title game.

If you can’t wait until tomorrow night and want high school football tonight, check out Joaquin-Ganado, for a subscription fee, right here: 2024 UIL Football Semifinal Joaquin High School vs. Ganado High School – 12/12/2024 | Live & On Demand.

Coach Clint Fuller’s Kilgore Bulldogs, the top seed from District 9-4A-DI, are 12-2 this year, having won eight in a row since a 27-24 loss to Henderson nine weeks ago.

La Vernia’s Bears are 11-3, finishing third in 15-4A, but avenging both district losses earlier in the season to Port Lavaca two weeks ago in the Region III semifinals, and against Bay City a week later in the quarterfinals.

{La Vernia is the San Antonio area; here’s more about La Vernia: HEARD OF LA VERNIA? | More about the Bears’ community, Kilgore’s next playoff opponent)

The Bears’ other loss came 13 weeks ago, against Cuero 35-28. Kilgore’s only losses were versus Gilmer in the third game of the season (24-22), and three weeks later against Henderson.

La Vernia has outscored its opponents 533-259 for the season and 128-72 in the playoffs. And La Vernia coach Brian Null points to his team’s back-to-back losses (Oct. 11 and 18) against PLC and BC in the regular season as making the difference in the Bears’ turnaround.

They closed district with wins over Jones (49-14), Floresville (66-0) and on the final week of the regular season against fourth-place El Campo (28-7).

Fuller told ETBlitz Wednesday that he’s proud of the way his Bulldogs have responded and grown together as a team the last three months, but realizes the task is not yet complete.

Just looking at La Vernia you could easily be deceived by statistics: run, run and seemingly more runs.

Kilgore’s defense is anchored by inside linebacker La’Perrion Graves (136 tackles), free safety Ja’Kalen Sheffield (112), and Lakeyleon Graves (111), its leading tacklers. Slowing the Bears’ running game falls to defensive ends Wylie Mitchell and Jamarian Duncan-Morgan, nose tackle Cameron Christian and defensive tackle Jackson Tucker-Phillips (“JTP”) across the front, with support of the linebacking corps of Graves, Isaiah Watters and Graves.

That foursome up front has been game-tested thus far. Mitchell has 88 tackles, nine for loss (for -25 yards) and four sacks (for -36 yards). Duncan-Morgan has 83 stops, two for loss, three sacks and three forced fumbles. Christian has 86 tackles, four tackles for loss, six sacks and eight quarterback hurries, while Tucker-Phillips has 40 unassisted tackles along with 28 assists, five for loss, three sacks and eight hurries.

“(La Vernia’s) running game is dangerous,” Fuller said. “They use two running backs and a tight end for power. It’s imperative we keep their running game in check because when it’s clicking, it opens up their entire offense.”

La Vernia quarterback Keegan Hajek, who missed some of district play, returned and has thrown for 839 yards (48-of-106) and 15 touchdowns with nine interceptions. “He’s a good leader,” Fuller said, “and runs the football effectively.”

He’s rushed for 738 yards on 98 carries (a 7 ½-yard average per carry), and nine touchdowns.

He’s joined in the backfield by Sean Garza and Ty Carter. Garza is a junior, who has team-highs in yards (2,142), carries (299) and touchdowns (27), while Carter, a sophomore, follows with 915 yards on 127 carries for 11 TDs.

Although Garza has carried the bulk of the load, against Calhoun in the playoffs, Carter rushed for 233 yards and two touchdowns and has surpassed the 100-yard plateau on five occasions.

The Bears have thrown for 1,018 yards and 15 scores. Their leading receiver is senior Logan Maytum ( 31 receptions for 666 yards and 12 touchdowns in 11 games). After Maytum, senior Brennan Little has nine catches for 81 yards.

The ‘Dogs have come away with an almost unheard-of 38 turnovers: 23 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries.

“The interceptions are a team effort: putting pressure on the quarterbacks and having a secondary playing with a lot of discipline with their eyes and leverage on the receivers,” Fuller added. “The pressure and our defensive backs being in great position to go get the football helps.”

Sheffield has taken the lead in picks the last few weeks and has six this season. Dre’ Sanders follows with five, Jayden Sanders and Lekeyleon Graves have three each, and Javon Towns has two, while Jacory Walton, Duncan-Morgan, David McGowan and Donovan Rider each have one.  

Time of possession was a key in last week’s 18-point Bears’ victory, running 71 offensive plays to Bay City’s 41 (32:28 to 15:32 in elapsed time, 18:50 to 5:10 at halftime).

The stalwarts for the Bears’ defense have been senior middle linebacker Dedric Williams, senior Kolby Gates, who can play both safeties, and junior Remington Rohde. Free safety Aden Hajek leads in interceptions with three, while Gates and junior Vincent Capparelli are next with two interceptions apiece.

A couple of obvious things have driven Kilgore’s success through the 14-game schedule. Those are the cohesive play of the offensive line and the budding emergence of quarterback Kayson Brooks. “Our line has been a critical piece to our offensive production,” Fuller said. “Their ability to protect the quarterback and open holes have allowed our offense to be balanced.” Kilgore has allowed just 2,062 yds rushing and 3,172 passing yards over the 14 games.

Across the offensive front for Kilgore are right tackle Collin Burrows, right guard Jaden Pastor, center Jonathan Barron, left guard Daniel Garcia and left tackle Hunter Whipkey.

On Brooks, Fuller said, “his growth starts with him as a person. He has great character and leadership abilities. And, that foundation has allowed him to grow up very quickly as a first year starting quarterback.

“It (also) helps Kayson to have a great group of receivers around him and during this run his game experience has helped (him) adjust to what’s happening around him, and he’s seeing the field better and making better decisions, which comes with maturity.”

The junior has passed for 3,136 yards and 39 touchdowns, throwing to 13 different receivers. His leading receivers are Michigan signee Jayden Sanders (51 for 878 yds), Javon Towns (41 for 659), Lakeyleon Graves (34 for 770), and Rayshaun Williams (33 for 368 out of the backfield).

Jacory Walton (18 for 166) and Takieran White (18 for 180) are also in the mix.

Williams, only a sophomore at running back, needs just 19 yards to reach the 1,000-yard plateau.

Watters, his running mate, rushed for a season-high 130 yards on 22 carries against Chapel Hill, giving the junior 459 yards on 86 carries for 10 touchdowns.  “He really did a great job downhill running over people, and by people,” Fuller continued, when asked about Watters’ standout performance in the quarterfinal victory last week: “to get the yardage we needed.”

While this is La Vernia’s first semifinals game, Kilgore is 2-0 in semis, beating Pflugerville Connelly, 10-7, at Birdville ISD in Fort Worth in 2004, and reaching the 2013 championship game again, those Bulldogs defeated Stephenville 44-6 at Tiger Stadium in Corsicana.

As mentioned, the winner meets the winner between Canyon West Plains (11-3) and Celina (14-0) next week in the finals. They play at 7 p.m. on Friday at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene.

The 4A-Division I state championship game between the two semifinal winners is set for 3 p.m. next Friday, Dec. 20.