IT’S TIME. | Here’s our preview of Kilgore vs. Celina
Kilgore High School has won 591 games, lost 378 and tied 31 in its history.
The Ragin’ Red have made 38 playoff appearances, including 14 straight and 18 of the last 20 years, and counting this year, Kilgore has 24 district championships.
The Bulldogs have won 51 playoff games, played in two state championship games before this week, and have a state championship, a 16-0 run in 2004. This week, Kilgore is making its first appearance in the state championship game since 2013.
Celina has won eight state championships in football, the last having happened in 2007, at 3A-Division II. The program has made the playoffs for 31 straight years, and owns the longest all-time consecutive games winning streak in the history of 11-man football in the state: 68 games straight from 1998-2002.
And yet none of those numbers – nothing in the past – will have an effect on what happens when Kilgore (13-2 in 2024) meets Celina (15-0) on Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, a 3 p.m. kickoff of the University Interscholastic League’s Class 4A, Division I State Football Championship Game.
Before leaving for the title game, you might want to line up along Kilgore Street downtown, between the intersection of E. Lantrip Street all the way down Kilgore Street to the intersection of that street and Highway 42 (near Chick-Fil-A), and send the team off around 9 a.m.
For anyone going to the game, here’s some important information about tickets and parking.
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There won’t be any ticket booths open on game day. The tickets are digital, not paper, and you’ll need to have your mobile device ready with the ticket pulled up prior to being allowed in to AT&T Stadium.
Most passes are allowed for this week; everyone not with a team or with media must have a ticket. Texas High School Coaches Association and other cards will be accepted for only the cardholder, not like the cardholder plus one, etc.
In addition, AT&T Stadium is now a cashless facility, so if you plan to park there, or go to a concession stand, you’ll need to have a credit card, debit card or be prepared to pay with mobile pay.
Gates open an hour before the start of the first game each day, which means 10 a.m. every day this week.
Parking is $25 per car, and $50 per bus. Lots open 90 minutes before the first games each day, which means they’ll open at 9:30 a.m.
AT&T has a clear-bag policy, and fans are required to walk through metal detectors as they enter. And don’t bring confetti, streamers, etc., because they really frown on that – they’re prohibited.
If you’d like to hear the Ragin’ Red Broadcasting call of the game, do so on KDOK 105.3-FM, or streaming online at Chalk Hill Communications.
If you can’t go, but want to see the game, here’s how.
Here’s the link to get started: FanDuel Sports Network.
You’ll need a subscription and they have three plans, including one for $19.99 a month that can be canceled any time, but if you do the monthly plan, you will have to pay for that before you cancel.
Remember: Carthage faces La Vega in the first game of the day Friday at 11 a.m., and then Kilgore faces Celina. On Friday night, it’s the 5A-DII game, with South Oak Cliff facing Richmond Randle.
Now, all of the aesthetics, all the surrounding noise, everything aside, let’s talk football.
Kilgore is coached by Clint Fuller, in his fourth season at the helm of the Bulldogs, and Kilgore, under Fuller, has a 46-10 record.
The Kilgore Bulldogs, also nicknamed the “Ragin’ Red” back in the 1980s by then-coach James Cameron, opened the season with a statement win, beating Carthage – ranked No. 1 all season in 4A-Division II – 20-15.
Kilgore opened its home schedule at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium with a 27-7 win over 5A-DI program Whitehouse. The next week, the Bulldogs dropped a very close 24-22 decision at Gilmer, when time simply ran out before the Ragin’ Red could run another play from inside the Buckeyes’ 10-yard-line, a result that was talked about for weeks afterward.
The Bulldogs bounced back with a win over Fuller’s former school, Pleasant Grove, where Fuller helped coach the Hawks to state title games as their defensive coordinator. Kilgore won that home game, 37-31.
The District 9-4A, Division I schedule started the following week, and Kilgore – ranked in the top 10 in the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football state 4A-DI poll – met another team ranked there, Pine Tree. Kilgore, which except for two occasions since 1991 has owned its series against the Pirates, won another, taking PT down 17-6.
Kilgore had a stumble in week six, however, falling behind 21-0 to archrival Henderson, bouncing back to tie the game at 24, and then losing as time expired, 27-24.
That put the Bulldogs’ backs against the wall somewhat.
And then the ‘Dogs put together another statement win, a 42-7 blowout of Chapel Hill at its stadium near Tyler, a convincing win over the team that had beaten Kilgore three straight seasons deep in the playoffs.
Kilgore would reel off four straight wins to finish the regular season, dropping Lindale, 42-21, routing Palestine, 52-7, and then Mabank, 48-0. Those results, combined with Kilgore’s win over Pine Tree and a losing streak by Henderson allowed the Bulldogs to get back in the driver’s seat in the district, and ultimately go into the 4A-DI playoffs as the district’s top seed.
Since the playoffs started, Kilgore has five more wins – a nine-game winning streak in all, with wins over Vidor (66-6), Needville (48-14), Navasota (62-7), Chapel Hill again (30-6), and then last week, La Vernia (38-13).
Kilgore is averaging just over 38 points a game and giving up only about 12 a game. If your idea of Kilgore football is 50 combined carries a game, 450 yards and 400 of them on the ground, then you need to step into 2024.
There’s nothing wrong with that kind of football, but this year, Kilgore has leaned more to an air attack, with a defense that is just unyielding.
Bill Elliott is the head coach at Celina, in his 13th season. He’s 135-37 at Celina in that time.
Celina has won all 15 times the Bobcats have taken the field this season.
They’re averaging just over 51 points a game, and giving up an average of 16 ½ a game.
Their non-district schedule included Bellville – a 4A-DII state title game participant last year (Gilmer beat Bellville) – as well as La Vega, who will face Carthage Friday morning at 11 a.m. for the 4A-DII state title.
In District 7-4A, DI, Celina routed Panther Creek, Aubrey, Sulphur Springs, Paris, Community and Lake Dallas, not a single close game in the group – the closest game was their 31-6 win over Sulphur Springs.
In the playoffs, the Bobcats routed Wilmer-Hutchins, 75-0; Kennedale, 49-7; Aubrey, who scored 49 points on Celina and still lost, 63-49; Alvarado, 55-21; and finally, West Plains, the team that upset Stephenville. West Plains took Celina to the limit before Celina finally escaped, 43-36, last week.
Harrison Williams scored what would be the winning touchdown with 1:29 left on a 22-yard run. This season, Williams has 1,418 yards and 17 touchdowns. Logan Gutierrez, his backfield mate, has 1,508 yards and 21 touchdowns.
The Bobcats are balanced, though, with a good passing game, as well. Quarterback Bowe Bentley (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) has thrown for 2,946 yards and 42 touchdowns this season, and ran for 855 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Bottom line: this game doesn’t really come down to Celina’s offense vs. Kilgore’s defense, or vice-versa. Neither team at first glance has a glaring weakness.
Kilgore has created almost 40 turnovers this season. The Bulldogs’ passing game is dangerous. Celina has a 1-2 punch on offense, a strong running game and a good passing game. Coaching is a push, with two of the best head coaches in the state.
Our view: if Kilgore can score early, keep the pressure on Celina’s offense and win the turnover battle, the Bulldogs have an excellent chance of leaving AT&T Stadium with the 4A-DI state championship. If Brooks throws for at least 250 yards and three touchdowns, and the defense holds Celina under 25 points, Kilgore wins. Prediction: Kilgore 38, Celina 24.
