December 4, 2024

KILGORE, NAVASOTA MEET FRIDAY IN CORSICANA | Here’s the official ETBlitz.com preview

Kilgore running back Rayshaun Williams was shown here running free against Needville. Kilgore’s Bulldogs (10-2) meet Navasota (7-5) at Community National Bank & Trust Stadium in Corsicana on Friday at 2 p.m. The winner of that game will face either Chapel Hill or Stafford next week in the UIL Class 4A, Division I Region 3 Quarterfinals. (Photo by ALEX NABOR – ETBLITZ.COM)

There are few things better than Texas high school playoff football on Thanksgiving weekend.

Kilgore and Navasota square off on Friday at 2 p.m. at Community National Bank & Trust Stadium in Corsicana to see who’s good enough to advance a step closer to December football next week, and possibly to AT&T Stadium in Arlington and a state championship the week before Christmas.

Technically, this is the University Interscholastic League’s Class 4A, Division I, Region 3 Regional Semifinals – otherwise known as the third round of the playoffs.

There’s a send-off from the Mitchell Field House on Friday morning at 9 a.m.

For tickets, here you go: https://athletics.cisd.org/home-team-tickets.

The address for the stadium, if needed: 4001 FM 744 in Corsicana, TX.

And you can hear the game, if you can’t go, on KDOK 105.3-FM, with the Ragin’ Red Broadcasting team on the call – hear it online here:  Kilgore Bulldogs Football.

The game will be streamed live on NFHS Network (2024 UIL Football Playoffs Kilgore High School vs. Navasota High School – 11/29/2024 | Live & On Demand). That does require a subscription. Here is the link to Kilgore High School’s Bulldog Media channel on YouTube, in the event that they’re also streaming the game: www.youtube.com/@Kilgoremedia

The Kilgore-Navasota winner will meet either Chapel Hill (9-3) or Stafford (8-4) in the regional quarterfinals next week. Those two teams face off today at 2 p.m., as well, at Randall Reed Stadium in New Caney.

Chapel Hill finished third in district play, while Stafford, which beat Pine Tree in the area round, like Needville and Navasota, are members of 12-4A.

Navasota is a team with lots of playoff history, but this marks its first time in postseason since 2021. Before that, though, the Rattlers had reached the playoffs 15 straight years, winning state championships in 2012 and 2014.

This year’s team, finished third in district and have beaten Houston Yates, 49-18, and Lindale, 56-45. It needed to score twice in the final two minutes to eliminate Lindale, one of Kilgore’s District 9-4A DI rivals, in last week’s area contest, and did so.

Losing five of their first seven games, the Rattlers turned their season around in late October, beating Fort Bend Willowridge, 21-14, and are currently on a five-game winning streak, averaging 41.2 points per game and allowing opponents 23.6. Far better than their overall numbers 33.3 and 27.0, respectively, for the season.

When asked about the playoffs thus far (convincing wins against Vidor and Needville), Kilgore coach Clint Fuller, who has guided the Bulldogs to three district championships and four trips to the UIL playoffs, replied, “We’ve been playing really well and on a good level, creating a lot of momentum and we’d like to keep that going.”

About Navasota: “Their athleticism and physicality concerns me. I believe we’re pretty evenly-matched from that standpoint. It’ll come down to who can execute, who can play with discipline and who’s going to fight the hardest to keep their season alive.”

The Rattlers have been led by sophomore quarterback Jace Jablonski, junior wide receiver Daquan Pratt, senior wide receiver Cameron Ross, middle linebacker Xavier Blackshear and strong safety Jarrad Isaiah.

Jablonski has thrown for more than 1,600 yards and 19 touchdowns from Navasota’s slot T ‘spread’ offense. He has thrown nine interceptions. His primary receivers have been Cameron Ross and Daquan Pratt. Against Lindale, Pratt had the trifecta scoring receptions of 78-, 63- and 76-yards.

The Rattlers’ leading rusher is Artavian Rutherford.

Isaiah, middle linebacker Kyle Taylor, and Blackshear lead the defense. Outside linebacker Ashten Myles has four sacks and four hurries and Isaiah has three sacks and four hurries.  Navasota has a dozen interceptions with Cayden McGinty leading the way with five. The team has 10 fumble recoveries.

 An area in which Fuller spoke highly of that has come along nicely for Kilgore this season has been its offensive line. “We were a little inexperienced there early, but those players and coach (T.J.) Gillen-Hall have really come on and made a difference for us in our RPO (run-pass option).”

Along the Dogs’ O-line are right tackle Collin Burrows, right guard Jaden Pastor, center Jonathan Barron, left tackle Hunter Whipkey and left guard Daniel Garcia.

Defensively, Kilgore limited Needville to 164 yards of total offense: 117 rushing and 6-of-19 passing for just 53 passing yards. The leading tacklers against the Blue Jays were linebackers Isaiah Watters (eight tackles), and Lakeyleon Graves (seven). David McGowan, Blade Chitwood, K’Winn Reese and Jackson Tucker-Phillips followed with six apiece.

Jayden Sanders, Ja’kalen Sheffield and Dre’ Sanders had interceptions, giving Kilgore 20 for the season. Jamarian Duncan-Morgan and Wylie Mitchell recovered fumbles, giving the Ragin’ Red a dozen fumble recoveries for the season, and eight in the last two weeks.

Quarterback Kayson Brooks was 17-of-21 passing for 197 yards and two touchdowns, one to Jayden Sanders and the other to Lakeyleon Graves. Brooks has thrown for 2,641 yards and 32 touchdowns this season.

His primary receivers have been Michigan commit Jayden Sanders (46-750), Javon Towns (33-532), Lakeyleon Graves (29-674) and Rayshaun Williams (28-329).

Williams led the way rushing with 90 yards on 12 carries, giving him a team-leading 865 yards rushing, and six touchdowns thus far for the season.

Placekicker Eddie Jiminez added to his field goal totals last Friday with field goals of 31- and 35-yards, giving him 10 for the season.

Extra Points: For the season, the Bulldogs have gained almost 4,000 yards (2,517 passing and 1,456 rushing). They were 5-for-5 in the Red Zone (inside the opponents’ 20-yard-line) and are 34-of-37 there with 26 touchdowns and eight field goals. The last time Kilgore played at what was then just Corsicana ISD’s Tiger Stadium was Dec. 14, 2013 in the 3A Division I Semifinals against Stephenville, a windy rout in Kilgore’s favor, 44-6.  

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