KHS HOSTS J’VILLE TONIGHT | Henderson at C-Hill, PT at Palestine, Beckville at Waskom, Overton hosts Tenaha
One of the most storied high school football rivalries in the East Texas region gets renewed tonight.
Kilgore and Jacksonville, a couple of teams still trying to find their footing in the District 8-4A Division I race, meet at 7:30 p.m. at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium in the third week of district play, one of very few high school games this week involving teams in the ETBlitz.com coverage area. Several programs have the weekend off.
But Kilgore and Jacksonville – both are looking to get back in the win column.
Kilgore sits a game behind Lindale and Pine Tree in the standings, technically tied with Palestine, Henderson and Chapel Hill with 1-1 records. Jacksonville and Bullard are both 0-2.
“Our focus is on us in the things we need to do to be successful. Ownership of our preparation and our execution,” said Kilgore coach Clint Fuller.
Is it a must-win situation, without saying it?
On Jacksonville, he continued, “They’re a much improved program and team. You can see they’re playing hard and they have some good players.”
The last time the Indians and Bulldogs played was the 2023 game at the Tomato Bowl in Jacksonville with Kilgore winning, 49-7. The year before in Kilgore, the Ragin’ Red won 49-7.
This is the 59th meeting between the two schools with the ’Dogs leading the series 31-25-2.
For the 2024-25 seasons the Tribe moved back to 5A.
The Indians (2-3, 0-2) are averaging 24.1 points per game and allowing 26.0. By comparison, Kilgore’s averages are 31.25 (points for) and 36.5 (points against).
Thus far, through four games, the Bulldogs have been pretty balanced offensively, led by running backs Maddox Wright and Rayshaun Williams, rushing for 813 yards and quarterback Braddox Johnson passing for 781.
Wright has 370 yards and four touchdowns on 42 carries with an average of 8.8 per carry, while Williams follows closely with 290 yards and three scores on 46 carries for an average of 6.3 per carry. Warren Royal has added 134 yards on 21 carries for an average of 6.38.
Meanwhile, Johnson is completing 66 percent of his pass attempts (64-of-97) for 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.
His leading receivers are Tyler Johnigan with 15 receptions for 282 yards and five touchdowns, and De’Andre Thurmond with 13 catches for 209 yards and four scores. They are followed by Wright and Williams with nine catches each totaling 126 yards. Wright has gained 69 yards and Williams 56.
Leading tacklers against Pine Tree a week ago were Zarak Hall and Brenton Mumphrey with 16 tackles each, and Blade Chitwood with 15.
Through four games, Chitwood continues to be the leader with 31, while Williams (23) and Thurmond (22) follow. Next are Jaxson Dickey (18), Mumphrey (17), Hall (15) and Landon Ector (14).
Chitwood leads in tackles for loss with one, while Johnigan has two of Kilgore’s interceptions and Chitwood has the other.
Players to watch offensively for Jacksonville are athletes Jordan McGowan (5-8, 155) and Bubba Suarez-Mosley (5-8, 150), running back Alex Polk (5-9, 170), sophomore quarterback Asher Bolton (6-0, 145) and offensive lineman Dailton McGowan (6-0, 315).
Defensively, a couple of linemen to watch are Zayden Paulk (6-0, 260) and Elijah Gallegos (6-0, 240) and linebacker Elijah Benavides (6-0, 225).
Jacksonville’s wins came against Dallas Pinkston 49-6 in the second week of the season and against Bryan Rudder a week later on Sept. 11, 28-20.
In other district action tonight, Henderson (2-3, 1-1) visits Chapel Hill (1-4, 1-1), Palestine (3-2, 1-1) hosts Pine Tree (3-2, 2-0), and Lindale (5-0, 2-0), ranked second in the state in the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 4A-DI state poll, is at Bullard (1-4, 0-2).
In games involving ETBlitz.com coverage area programs, Henderson is at Chapel Hill, Pine Tree visits Palestine, Beckville plays at Waskom, and Overton hosts Tenaha.