EDITOR’S NOTE: Super late, as this is being filed, but more to come Saturday: Henderson-Mabank; Gilmer-Pittsburg; Gladewater-Liberty-Eylau; West Rusk-New Diana and more, with photos and video from Kilgore-Chapel Hill!
NEW CHAPEL HILL – The latest battle of the Bulldogs in one of the toughest districts in the state, 9-4A, Division I, went in Kilgore’s favor.
Emphatically so.
After not scoring in the first half a week ago against Henderson, Kilgore took it out on 5th-ranked Chapel Hill, scoring four times in the first half, twice in the first period and twice in the second, and held a seemingly comfortable 28-0 halftime lead.
Big plays were the norm instead of the exception enroute to Kilgore’s thorough 42-7 victory.
“It was a bounce back game for us. Our kids took ownership and played a complete game. Offense, defense and special teams,” said Kilgore football coach Clint Fuller.
“Our offensive line really set things up for us. Our passing game set up the run and our run game set up the pass. Can’t ask for much more than that.”
Hunter Whipkey, Jayden Pastor, Jonathan Barron, Daniel Garcia and Collin Burrows take a bow.
“It’s good to get back in the win column,” he continued.
In other district games, Henderson rallied to beat Mabank 14-10 and Lindale upended Palestine 47-14, while Pine Tree enjoyed the open date.
Kilgore won by 35 on the scoreboard and by 398 total yards (529 to 131).
Kayson Brooks was 10-of-13 for 349 yards and three touchdowns. A season high for yardage by the Kilgore quarterback. His previous best was a 346-yard, three score performance in a two-point loss to Gilmer on Sept. 13.
Brooks did throw a pick by Chapel Hill inside linebacker Jamison Fasulo, who returned the interception 40 yards down the home sideline for the Bulldogs lone score with 10:24 remaining in the third quarter. Emmanuel Valencia’s PAT momentarily cut the Kilgore lead to 21, 28-7.
Javon Towns set the tempo early in this matchup of Bulldogs, and then wrapped up the scoring late with an interception return. Early, he broke a screen pass 76 yards for the opening touchdown of the contest. “The offensive line set that up for me and I was able to see some daylight and get through.”
He was a factor, again, late, as a strong safety, protecting his end zone, returning a Malik Gee pass 105 yards for the final touchdown of the evening with 6:28 left to play. “I undercut that throw. I believe it was to (Trevor) Brooks, but I’m not sure,” Towns said.
Rashaun Williams led Kilgore’s rushing efforts with a season high for the sophomore (119 yards on 18 carries). Isaiah Watters, who scored on runs of five- and six-yards, rushed for 18 yards.
Between scrambling and running, Brooks rushed for 34 yards on six carries. K’Winn Reese, who entered with backup quarterback Shaun Moyers, following Brooks’ scoring strike of 24 yards to Jayden Sanders with 10:01 remaining in the contest, added 19 yards on six carries.
Sanders, the Michigan commit, led Kilgore’s receiving corps with five catches for 147 yards. Towns added three receptions for 100 yards, and Lekeyleon Graves had a catch of his own for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Jacory Walton also had a catch for six yards.
Filling in for Demetrius Brisbon, again, was junior quarterback Gee, who was 9-of-17 for 81 yards with the interception. Texas commit Rickey Stewart played and led the blue-and-white Bulldogs rushing attack with seven carries for 36 yards. Stewart also had three receptions for 30 yards. Others with catches were Cazden Holton (2-6), Maliek Brown (2-27), Elton Calico (1-14) and Brooks (1-4).
Although Kilgore leads this all-time series by a substantial margin 37-12, the two teams are 4-4 in their last eight meetings. Three of Chapel Hill’s wins were deep in the playoffs. CH won a double OT playoff game in Tyler 41-35 in 2021, and then the last two playoff matchups by three (24-21) in 2022 also in Tyler, and 21-19 last year in Longview.
Next week, Chapel Hill plays at Mabank, while Kilgore returns home to host Lindale.
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Good write up!
Excellent!