KILGORE WINS 7-ON-7 STATE QUALIFIER | ‘Dogs headed to state tourney, but lots of talent on display Saturday at R.E. St. John

East Texas football rivalries come whether it’s on Friday nights in the fall, or a Texas 7-on-7 State Tournament Qualifier on the Saturday morning of Mother’s Day weekend in May at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium.

Henderson, Lindale, Chapel Hill and Kilgore from District 9-4A, Division I were four of the eight teams participating in the Kilgore SQT for a berth in the Division II state tourney on June 27-28 in College Station.

They were joined by Sabine, Jefferson, Van Alstyne and Crockett.

The eight teams were divided into two pools. Competing in Pool A were Sabine (1-2), Chapel Hill (3-0), Jefferson (1-2) and Lindale (1-2). In Pool B, Kilgore was 3-0, Henderson (2-1), Van Alstyne (1-2) and Crockett (0-3).

Kayson Brooks threw scoring passes to Lakeyleon Graves, Isaiah Watters and Jayden Sanders, and Dre’ Sanders had three timely interceptions of Demetrius Brisbon, Jr. as Kilgore punched its ticket to this year’s Division II state tournament with a 20-13 decision against Chapel Hill. 

You know, Ragin’ Red vs. Code Blue. Usually close and always competitive.  

Last season, Kilgore won the regular-season meeting at New Chapel Hill, but then lost in the Region III quarterfinal matchup 21-19 at Longview’s Lobo Stadium to Brisbon and friends, which went on to reach the 4A, Division I finals before falling to Anna two weeks later.

Sanders, who will be a junior cornerback this fall, also had picks against Henderson and Van Alstyne.

Brisbon’s conversion pass after its initial touchdown and the second touchdown completion against Kilgore went to Rickey Stewart.

“I’m glad to see the stuff we’ve been working on since January is coming together,” said Brooks, the Kilgore quarterback, who will be a junior when school begins again in August. “It’s a good experience for us against other teams.”

Chapel Hill scored on its initial possession, but Kilgore tied it at 7-all with the completion to Graves and the conversion pass to Jacory Walton. Kilgore scored again with Brooks finding Watters with just over a minute remaining in the first half. The conversion completion went to Javon Towns to put the Ragin’ Red ahead 14-7.

With Chapel Hill driving right before the half, Sanders picked off his third interception of the day.

Brisbon answered with a scoring toss to Stewart with 10:00 remaining on the clock, but the extra point completion failed, leaving Kilgore with a 14-13 lead.

Brooks and Jayden Sanders got the game-winning touchdown with 5:36 to play, but the conversion pass sailed incomplete.

The Kilgore quarterback was 21-of-31 for three touchdowns and two-of-three on conversions against Chapel Hill.

In the other three wins for the Ragin’ Red, Brooks was 47-of-60 for nine touchdowns.

“I’m really proud of our players. It’s good to come out and see our kids execute on both sides of the football,” said Kilgore football coach Clint Fuller when asked to summarize the day’s activities.

For Brisbon, the outcome was disappointing, but the Chapel Hill quarterback was happy to get the work in. “It gives me and my receivers a chance to get our work in. We like to compete. You know they more you compete the better you get. We all love the game and this gives us a chance to get back to state for the first time since I was a freshman.”

He’s a senior and the leaders for his signature on a future signing day, “I would say right now are Baylor, TCU and Texas,” Brisbon said.

Besides his teammate Stewart, also a senior being recruited heavily. Among others to watch for Chapel Hill this coming season will be outside receiver Malik Brown and slot receiver D’man Blaylock.

Lindale coach Chris Cochran, who guided the Eagles to a 5-1 runner-up finish to Kilgore last year in district play and to the area round of the playoffs, was in attendance. “7-on-7 helps your kids come together. It gives you an idea who your leaders are in adversity. I don’t think you can throw and catch the football enough. It makes you better, in my opinion, if you allow it to.”

The Eagles’ quarterbacks for next season will be either sophomore David Lindig, a sophomore, or junior James Weaver after the graduation of Clint Thurman.

Second-year Henderson coach Clay Baker felt his charges competed well in going 2-1 for the day. The Lions’ wins came against Van Alstyne (28-13) and Crockett (22-18). He got to see his quarterback Vince Howard, h-back Jordan Ervin, slot receiver Marmar Coleman and Brailon Walker get in some good work. Besides being a safety, Baker expects Walker to be ready to step up and be his backup quarterback.

“This is good competition for us and our kids can see things coming together. It’s an opportunity for us to learn our schemes and our system better and see how it works against pretty good competition.”

Sabine football coach Cody Gilbert got the chance to see his Cardinals beat Jefferson, but fall to Lindale (33-31) and Chapel Hill (32-7). It gave him an opportunity to see his standout quarterback Colt Sparks and among others wide receivers Chris Williams and Damin Richardson and running back Cason Patterson work in a passing format.

“It’s a learning experience for our players, but it’s good.” Gilbert said. “Hopefully, we can use it to grow and improve.”

Pool A scores: Sabine 20, Jefferson 12; Lindale 33, Sabine 31; Chapel Hill 32, Sabine 7; Chapel Hill 30, Jefferson 28; Chapel Hill 38, Lindale 35;  Jefferson 26, Lindale 13.

Pool B scores: Kilgore 41, Crockett18; Kilgore 27, Henderson 6; Kilgore 22, Van Alstyne 6; Henderson 22, Crockett 18; Henderson 28, Van Alstyne 13; Van Alstyne 27, Crockett 19.

Championship: Kilgore 20, Chapel Hill 13.