KC HOME TODAY! | Rangers back in action, host NMMI in conference opener for both teams

It’s been so long ago since the Kilgore College Rangers opened football season, it seems like Joe Biden was still President.

He wasn’t – it just seems like he was, because KC hasn’t played for a couple of weeks.

The Rangers, ranked No. 4 in the nation in the latest NJCAA poll, opened the season at home against Monterrey (Mexico) Tech back on August 24, trailed early and then pulled away for a hard-fought 27-9 win, and then took two weeks off.

But they’re finally back. Coach Willie Gooden’s Rangers, who have won the Southwest Junior College Football Conference the last two years, begin the defense of the 2023 championship today with a 3 p.m. kickoff here at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium against visiting New Mexico Military (1-1).

Tickets are sold online only here: https://kilgore.hometownticketing.com/embed/all?depts=1

To see the game online, live-streaming, go here on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@kilgorecollege1935.

And for the live audio call, here you go: https://www.theteamfm.com/.

New Mexico Military, KC’s opponent today, has had two very different games to open the season.

The Broncos, where legendary Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach began his football career back in the day, opened the season back on Thursday, Aug. 29 at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, the nation’s No. 1-ranked team. And it showed – they beat NMMI, 42-10.

The Broncos then visited the Utah Islanders in Herriman, Utah, and left with a 40-18 win, and now, their third straight road game to start the season, here in Kilgore.

As for KC, fans will remember the excellent performance in game one by Devontae Mozee, the receiver. Mozee, a freshman from Jonesboro, Louisiana, had a 33-yard touchdown catch late in the game against Monterrey Tech, and also had a 99-yard kick return for a touchdown to jump-start the Rangers’ offense, opening the second half with a bang.

Monterrey Tech had nine points at halftime to lead KC 9-6 in the locker room – and the Rangers’ defense didn’t allow them another point.

Also in the game for the Rangers, in a bit of a refresher: the Webb connection was strong. Quarterback Tyler Webb went 14-of-32 for 208 yards and a touchdown (to Mozee), and also ran for a TD. Melvin Polk had four catches for 28 yards, and Samuel Mbake had three for 57.

Defensively, Jaylen Webb had two interceptions; Kase Mumphrey had one; DaeVaundric Lewis and Christian Thomas shared a sack; and Darmel Hollins had a blocked field goal for the Rangers.

On special teams, Aden Reyes, the former Kilgore High School standout, had field goals from 36 and 44 yards.

Elsewhere around the conference today: Trinity Valley plays at Tyler Junior College, and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NEO) plays at Navarro, in Corsicana. Blinn and Cisco both are open.

None of the teams have played a conference game yet. KC, Blinn, Navarro and Trinity Valley are all unbeaten (each at 1-0); NMMI and NEO are each 1-1; Cisco is 0-1; and TJC is 0-2.

After today’s game against NMMI, the Rangers will hit the road to Navarro next Saturday, Sept. 21 for a rematch of last year’s SWJCFC title game.