JUST SMASHING | Kilgore completes regular season with big win over Mabank, goes into 4A postseason as district’s No. 1 seed
EDITOR’S NOTE: Check out video of the Kilgore High School Hi-Steppers’ performance at halftime on Friday, right here: GET ON THE TRAIN! | Kilgore’s Hi-Steppers rock it out in regular season halftime finale.
You wouldn’t know the week off prior to the regular-season finale affected Kilgore much by the way the Bulldogs came out against Mabank on a rare Thursday night of football at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium.
“We wanted to play well to keep our momentum going into the playoffs, if we could,” said Kilgore football coach Clint Fuller. “Offense, defense and special teams … we were pretty close.”
Check, check, and check. Close enough. But not the game. That was 48-0, in Kilgore’s favor, in the Ragin’ Red’s regular season finale.
The sixth-ranked Bulldogs improved to 5-1 against District 9-4A Division I opponents and 8-2 overall, earning their third district championship in four seasons under Fuller’s direction. If Pine Tree, which plays at Palestine tonight, wins they will also be 5-1 and by district bylaws, considered co-champs.
Kilgore defeated the Pirates, though, in Longview on Sept. 27, 17-6.
The Bulldogs will open Class 4A Division I playoffs with a bi-district game here at R.E. St. John against either Vidor (3-3, 4-5) or Lumberton (3-3, 3-6) next week. The time and date to be determined, depending on the outcome of the games in their district. Vidor entertains winless Livingston at home, while Lumberton hosts Little Cypress-Mauriceville (6-0, 7-2).
With the loss, Mabank, which hasn’t made the playoffs since 2007, completes its season 1-9 and 0-6, respectively.
The Bulldogs scored early and often against the Panthers and led 28-0 at the end of the first quarter, and 41-0 at halftime.
Quarterback Kayson Brooks, who completed 9-of-11 passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns, ran 3 yards for another score, before turning the offense over to Shaun Moyers in the second half.
Rayshaun Williams scored on runs of 14 and 9 yards at the 9:50 and 8:50 marks of the first quarter. Yes, it was one of those types of games. Williams wound up with 107 yards on 11 carries. He also had a pass reception for 5 yards.
Takieran White scored his first touchdown of the season, breaking 88 yards on a one-play drive, down the Kilgore sideline to put the Ragin’ Red up 21-0 with 4:56 remaining in the first quarter.
Williams’ two touchdowns were two-play marches, covering 19 and 35 yards. The first was set up by a Travis Holmes recovery of a muffed punt, and then runs of 26 and 9-yards both by the sophomore running back.
Brooks’ scoring tosses covered 26 yards to Lakeyleon Graves to wrap up the longest scoring march of the evening (6 plays, 59 yards). Brooks, a junior, also completed a 24-yard scoring strike to White to complete a three-play 53-yard drive. That one was White’s second TD of the evening.
Moyers, who got the call in the second half at quarterback for Kilgore, came on hot, completing 3-of-3 passes for 38 yards and a touchdown to Brayden Williams. It was his second scoring reception of the season.
Seven different receivers had receptions for Kilgore. White led the way with four for 58 and a touchdown. Graves added two for 44 and a TD, while Williams had one for 6 and a score.
Other receivers with catches were Jayden Sanders (2-11), Ja’Kalen Sheffield (1-13), Rayson Williams (1-5) and David McGowan (1-6).
The final scoring march was set up by Jayden Sanders’ second pick of the season. The ‘Dogs also got an early interception by McGowan with just over nine minutes to play in the first quarter, which set up the 35-yard scoring drive capped by Williams’ 9-yard run.
The defense finishes the 10-game regular season with 17 interceptions.
The D also limited Mabank to just three first downs, 61 yards rushing on 26 carries and quarterback Kaden Penland was 1-for-10 passing for two yards. Maddex McCrossen made the reception.
The Panthers leading rushers were Kameron Wilkinson (7-18) and Wheeler Ranford (6-15).
Besides the fumble recovery and interceptions, other strong defensive performances were turned in by Wylie Mitchell, Jackson Tucker-Phillips, Bi’syn Williams, K’Winn Reese and Jamarian Duncan.
The Panthers only win of the season came against Kemp 20-7 on Sept. 6. A week later in a 38-27 loss to Wills Point, the Panthers scored as many total points in that game as they have in six district losses (26).
Kilgore will be making its 35th playoff appearance next week when the postseason begins. They’ll be the No. 1 seed in 9-4A, DI. Pine Tree will be seeded second, and Chapel Hill, third.
Left to be decided in the district is the fourth and final playoff spot, and that will go to the winner of Friday night’s game in Lindale between the Lindale Eagles (4-5) and the Henderson Lions (6-3). That game has been moved up to a 6 p.m. kickoff on Friday, in hopes of avoiding thunderstorms, which are in the forecast for all of East Texas.
