LET’S FREAKIN’ GO! | It’s the playoffs! What you need to know / Presented by (who else?!) WHATABURGER!
EDITOR’S NOTE: Playoff notes and need-to-knows for the seven high school football programs still in the University Interscholastic League’s postseason, from the ETBlitz.com coverage area, presented by the World’s Greatest Restaurant, Whataburger, specifically Whataburger in East Texas, DKT Investments.
KILGORE HIGH SCHOOL
Currently: 11-1
Winner moves on to round four next weekend to meet either Pine Tree or Fort Bend Crawford.
Kilgore will be the visiting team for the game.
Tickets are $8 each for adults, $5 each for students and $10 for all at the gate. Passes are accepted.
Randall Reed Stadium is at 21360 Valley Ranch Parkway, New Caney, TX, 77357, and it does have a clear bag policy.
Here’s the link to purchase tickets: Bridge City Cardinals v. Kilgore Bulldogs Regional Championship PLAYOFF FOOTBALL | newcaneyisd Box Office.
There is a streaming video link for the game; it’s the good ol’ NFHS Network, which can be found here: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/uil/gamf3b8ce435c. That is NOT free. It’s $13.99 a month. Don’t get burned by other links, or you’ll find yourselves getting burned.
If you’d rather be safe than sorry and listen to the Ragin’ Red Broadcasting team of Doug Smith, Jason Smith and Don Hedrick, do that right here: Chalk Hill Communications, or on the radio at KDOK 105.3-FM. Or you can go to www.ETBlitz.com, go to the home page and click on the Kilgore football helmet and co straight to the broadcast.
By the way, this will be the 90th playoff game in Kilgore history. Kilgore is 53-35-1 in playoff games so far, prior to this afternoon’s in New Caney.
Coach Clint Fuller is in his fifth year, and he has a 57-12 record as Kilgore’s head coach, and as a head coach, period.
The most recent win for Kilgore – last week’s win over Stafford at Willis ISD’s Yates Stadium – was the program’s 602nd overall win in its history, dating back to the early 1930s. The Bulldogs have a 602-380-30 all-time.
Since Fuller’s arrival for the 2021 season, the Ragin’ Red has won 82 percent of its games.
In its football history, Kilgore has played in three state championship games: in 2004, when the Bulldogs went 16-0 under coach Mike Vallery and won it all, beating Dallas Lincoln in double overtime to win the 4A, Division II state championship at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco; in 2013, a loss to Carthage in a 3A state championship at AT&T Stadium; and then last season, a loss to Celina, also at AT&T Stadium.
Kilgore has won 23 district championships in school history, and has made the playoffs in 38 seasons, including the current one.
PINE TREE HIGH SCHOOL
Currently: 8-4
Faces Fort Bend / Almeta Crawford (11-1) tonight at 7 p.m. tonight at Groesbeck ISD Stadium in round III of the Class 4A, Division I playoffs.
Winner moves on to round four next weekend to meet either Kilgore or Bridge City.
Tickets are $8 each for adults each ad $6 each for students. All ticket sales, however, are online.
To purchase tickets online, use this link: events.hometownticketing.com/boxoffice/groesbeckisd/L2VtYmVkL2FsbA%3D%3D?fbclid=IwY2xjawOWMOlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEwTHllNjVMa0NvOElEMmR2c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHr4a_SrtILuYx66modZ492-Nc9IDBHHYFhBxYpAYfdgHEvSQb-1o97LVYAfi_aem_EY9H89TPivN-WJLB98g_3A.
Groesbeck ISD Stadium is located at 1202 N. Ellis Groesbeck, Texas, 756642.
The game can also be seen, for a subscription, live, online streaming here on NFHS Network: 2025 UIL Football Playoffs – Pine Tree Broadcast Pine Tree vs Fort Bend Crawford – 11/28/2025 | Live & On Demand. There will be a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
Pine Tree has won three straight, including knocking off previously-undefeated Houston Yates in round two last week.
Current head coach Jason Bachman is in his fourth season, and is the 22nd head coach in Pirates history. He has a 24-17 overall record at Pine Tree, including that 8-4 record this year.
The Pirates have made the playoffs three straight seasons counting this one (2023, 2024 and 2025) and four of the last six.
Pine Tree has 421 wins, 458 losses and 20 ties in school history, counting the playoffs.
This is the first time in the history of the Pirates’ football program (established in 1937, we believe) that they’ve made it out of the second round, but this is also the first time in the history of the very-young Crawford program that its made it out of round two, as well.
CARTHAGE HIGH SCHOOL
Currently: 8-4
Faces Pleasant Grove (11-1) at 2:30 p.m. today at McKinney ISD Stadium in round III of the Class 4A, Division II playoffs.
Winner moves on to round four next weekend to meet either Athens or Sunnyvale.
McKinney ISD Stadium is located at 4201 South Hardin Boulevard, McKinney, TX, 75070.
Carthage will be the visiting team.
McKinney ISD Stadium does have a clear bag policy.
All tickets are $10 each, and the gate will open an hour before kickoff.
Purchase tickets online here: https://events.hometownticketing.com/…/entity/schools/37.
Watch the live video stream of the game on the NFHS Network. Be careful of Victory Sports. When we tried to click on that option, laptop froze twice.
Here’s the link to Victory-Plus, which is airing the game: Victory+.
Of course, most people in the state of Texas that care anything at all about high school football know that Carthage is now one of the most decorated, winningest programs in history. Coach Scott Surratt showed up to lead the program in 2007, and went 9-3 his first season. And “all” Surratt did the next three: well, he led the program to three straight state titles. Since then, the Bulldogs have won a grand total of 10, including back-to-back championships on three occasions, and they’re going for four, having won it last year.
He’s got his son, Jett, leading the team now, and college commits all over the field, including K.J. Edwards (Texas A&M) at running back, receivers JD Edwards and Junior Henderson, linebackers Carson Crawford and DaQuives Beck, and so many more.
The Bulldogs have won 26 straight games. Their last loss was in the season opener of 2024 at home to Kilgore. They’re looking for state championship No. 11, and Pleasant Grove (11-1), a regular title contender themselves under coach Josh Gibson, should be a formidable opponent.
Carthage’s school record is 704-359-34 headed into Friday’s game against PG. The ‘Dawgs have an all-time playoff record of 99-30-1 – this would be the program’s 100th playoff win, if they can do it.
TROUP HIGH SCHOOL
Currently: 12-0
Faces Newton (11-1) at 7 p.m. today at Crockett ISD’s Monte Jack Driskell Stadium in round three of the Class 3A, Division II playoffs.
Winner moves on to round four next weekend to meet either Arp or Edgewood..
Driskell ISD Stadium is located at 1600 SW Loop 304, Crockett, TX 75835.
Carthage will be the visiting team.
Tickets are $8 each for adults, $6 each for students.
Purchase tickets online here: Playoff: Newton VS Troup | crockettisd Box Office.
Texas High School Coaches Association, district and spouse passes will all be accepted.
To hear the game live on Tigersportsnet, click here: TigerSportsNet1 | Newton vs Troup. To see the live streaming broadcast by NFHS staff, click here: 2025 UIL Football Playoffs Newton High School vs. Troup High School – 11/28/2025 | Live & On Demand.
Troup has had very few seasons as good as this one. The Tigers have gone undefeated five times (in 1967, 1968, in 1973, ’79 and ’80).
The Tigers are 24-21-1 in the playoffs all-time, including 2-0 this year, and they have an all-time record of 490-498-35.
Current coach Sam Wells has the Tigers in an enviable position: The Tigers won the District 11-3A, Division II championship, and were ranked in the top 10 in the state to begin the postseason. Wells is in his fourth season as head coach and athletic director; he has a 35-11 record so far in his fourth season, including the two playoff wins.
Troup’s last season of double-digit wins was back in 2018 (10-3), and the last time the Tigers won at least 12 games was 2004 (14 wins). They’ve already accomplished both of those.
ARP HIGH SCHOOL
Faces Edgewood (10-2) at 7 p.m. today at Van ISD Memorial Stadium in round three of the Class 3A, Division II playoffs.
Winner moves on to round four next weekend to meet either Troup or Newton.
Van ISD Memorial Stadium is located at 12124 State Highway 110 N, Van, TX.
Arp will be the home team.
Tickets are $9 each for adults, $7 each for students.
Purchase tickets online here: https://bit.ly/49xMGxj.
Texas High School Coaches Association, district and senior citizens passes will all be accepted.
Arp’s only loss all season was to Troup. The Tigers have won seven straight.
Coach Wes Schminkey is in his fourth season as AD and head football coach. The Tigers have a 29-19 record under Schminkey, and are having their best season since going 20-3 in 2016.
Arp has a 40-22 record in the playoffs. The Tigers are aiming for win No. 41 on Friday.
We haven’t found a streaming video link for this game, but we’ll keep looking.
BECKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Currently: 9-3
Faces San Augustine (9-3) at 5 p.m. today at Tyler ISD’s CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium in round three of the Class 2A, Division I playoffs.
Winner moves on to round four next weekend to meet either Elysian Fields or Joaquin.
Rose Stadium is located at 609 Fair Park Drive in Tyler, TX, 75702. Beckville will be the home team.
The stadium’s clear bag policy will be in effect.
Tickets are $10 each for adults, $5 each for students.
Texas High School Coaches Association, district and senior citizens passes will all be accepted.
Here’s a link to purchase tickets: https://shorturl.at/VcLCW.
Beckville is the Bearcats’ head coach and they don’t know what it’s like to NOT be successful. The ‘Cats haven’t won less than nine games since 2019. Since then, they’ve had double-digit win totals every season. Ross is 70-23 in seven seasons, if we added it up correctly.
Here the NHFS call of the game, for the subscription, right here: 2025 UIL Football Playoffs – BECKVILLE Broadcast Beckville High School vs. San Augustine High School – 11/28/2025 | Live & On Demand.
OVERTON HIGH SCHOOL
Currently: 8-4
Faces Mount Enterprise (12-0) at 1 p.m. today at Henderson ISD Lions Stadium in round three of the Class 2A, Division II playoffs.
Winner moves on to round four next weekend to meet either Mart or Bremond. Overton has history with both; the Mustangs have faced Bremond on occasion in the past, and ended Mart’s season in round two a year ago. Mart, of course, is the multi-time state champion and state finalist.
Henderson ISD Lions Stadium is located at 700 Lion Street Henderson, TX 75654.
Tickets are $5 each. Passes will be accepted.
Texas High School Coaches Association, district and senior citizens passes will all be accepted.
Here’s a link to purchase tickets: Overton-Mount Enterprise Tickets.
The game will be live on the NFHS Network, streaming live and available to be seen with a subscription. Here’s a link for that: 2025 UIL Football Playoffs Mount Enterprise High School vs. Overton High School – 11/28/2025 | Live & On Demand.
Many fans know that, in spite of wandering through the wilderness for several years in the late 1990s and 2000s in the football playoffs (even with a good year thrown in here and there), the Mustangs actually have a very good football tradition, and head coach Scotty Laymance has done a great job of restoring that tradition. In the last three seasons and counting this year, Overton (since the start of the 2023 season) has gone 28-9, and reached the third round of the playoffs a year ago before losing a playoff rematch with district rival Grapeland in Athens. This year, it’s another rematch with a district rival, this time with Mount Enterprise and all-everything, Texas Tech-bound running back / linebacker Kaegan Ash on the other sideline. Mount Enterprise won the regular season meeting with the M
