KILGORE WRAP-UP | 2023 season another great one for Ragin’ Red, not disappointing at all

A district championship, another trip to the fourth round of the UIL Class 4A, Division I playoffs, just two losses, wins over rivals Gilmer, Henderson, Lindale and Chapel Hill, and the 11th double-digit-win season in program history – not a bad trophy case for the Kilgore High School Bulldogs in 2023.

And this senior class that played from sophomores-up – three seasons – can say they finished at KHS with a 33-8 record.

Those seniors are Mikel Dennis, P.J. Wiley, Zaylon Stoker, Taylor Oliver, Derrick Williams, Leo Yzaguirre, Zander Short, Matthew Hardy, Sage Orange, Jordan Pierce, Malachi Pierce, Aubrey Saylor, Braquan Moye, Parker Allums, Jacob Davis, Rashaud Brown, Braydon Nelson, Emmauel Young, Josh Parrish, Taylor Gibson, and Aiden Reyes.

This year’s 12-2 mark was the fourth straight year for double-digit win totals, the first time a Bulldog team has done that, and it was also the best record for a single season since the Ragin’ Red went to the state championship game in 2013. That Kilgore team, spurred on by Cody Murphy’s popular “Respect the K” song (Kilgore Bulldogs head to Semi-Finals 2013), went 14-1.

Kilgore is led by the incomparable Clint Fuller, who has guided the Bulldogs deep into the playoffs in all three of his seasons as head coach. And the future is more than bright: it’s shining, with players returning like quarterback Kayson Brooks (just a sophomore!) who came in and performed cold as ice in the playoff game against Needville, going 7-of-8 for 108 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Also back for the 2024 season: defensive back / wide receiver Jayden Sanders, DB / wideout Javon Towns, DB / wideout Chris Willilams (Kilgore is going to be loaded at receiver and in the defensive secondary again), running back / linebacker Isaiah Watters, both LaPerrion Graves and LaKeyleon Graves, Jacory Walton, defensive lineman Wylile Mitchell, sophomore DB Dre Sanders, sophomore offensive lineman Daniel Garcia, and – unfortunately for offensive linemen everywhere – defensive linemen  Jackson Tucker Phillips (a junior), Cameron Christian, and Bi’Syn Williams (both sophomores).

Also back: running back Rayshaun Williams, just a freshman, who runs like something very bad is chasing him.

Looking back at the year, Kilgore scored 516 points in 14 games – that’s almost 37 points a game.

More pointedly, the ‘Dogs’ defense, masterminded by Fuller and defensive coordinator Chad Loper, allowed only 230 points ALL SEASON, in 14 games. Guys, that means they only gave up 16.4 points a game.

Before going any further, a special tribute right here to Romulo Castro, a sophomore lineman who suffered an injured ankle in the Bulldogs’ district game against Jacksonville, at the Tomato Bowl.

Anyone who looks at Kilgore’s record, by the way, on Maxpreps – it’s incorrect. The overall record was 12-2, but Kilgore did NOT lose twice at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium this season. Kilgore lost twice as the home team this year: at home to Carthage in the very first game, the season opener, then in the final game of the season, the playoff game against Chapel Hill as the home team at Longview’s Lobo Stadium, but not at home – big difference.

The Bulldogs went 4-1 at R.E. St. John, 5-0 in true road games this year, and 3-1 in neutral-site games, the “one” being the loss to CHHS.

Kilgore lost that opening game on Aug. 25 to Carthage, 30-27 – the closest game Carthage played, until they lost in the fourth round of the playoffs to Gilmer.

After that, the Bulldogs dealt Gilmer a loss on Sept. 1, with KHS kicker Leo Yzaguirre hitting a field goal with eight seconds left to give Kilgore the come-from-behind lead, after it had trailed for the entire game, and then the Ragin’ Red survived a long kick return to get the 24-23 win.

The Ragin’ Red beat former, longtime district rival Pine Tree on Sept 9 – and Sept. 10, as it turned out – in a game that may be a preview of a district game next season (UIL NUMBERS, CUTOFFS RELEASED | Henderson stays 4A-DI, PT joins the party; Lobos to 6A (etblitz.com). The game, was put into a lightning delay by officials, and resumed the next day – and Kilgore finished that sucker with an 18-0 shutout.

September 15 brought a return trip to Longview and another old “friend,” Hallsville, another ex-district opponent. The Bobcats bit the dust, 44-9.

Kilgore hosted Palestine for homecoming on Sept. 22 and blasted them, 37-7, and then the Bulldogs made their return trip to Jacksonville for the first time in more than a decade, lighting up the refurbished Tomato Bowl scoreboard with 49 points, a 49-7 Ragin’ Red win.

“Roughing the kicker” was a theme, unfortunately, for Yzaguirre and Reyes for Kilgore’s home game against Lindale on Oct. 6. Reyes did have a big lick of his own on special teams late in the game, a measure of revenge, and Kilgore took the Eagles to the woodshed, 64-29. Lindale would go on the following week to beat Chapel Hill, so, there’s that.

Friday, Oct. 13 – Friday, the 13th – took the ‘Dogs to Henderson, where weird things almost always happen. Not this time, though, as Kilgore dealt the Lions a 46-17 loss.

Athens is likely moving down to 4A, Division II, but they did put up quite a fight for a banged-up Kilgore team missing some starters on Oct. 20, before finally going down, 28-21.

And then, after an open date on Oct. 27, Kilgore journeyed to Tyler for its game against archrival Chapel Hill, breaking a three-game losing streak and dealing out a general spanking to the yellow-and-blue Bulldogs. Kilgore completely controlled the game and – well, dominated Chapel Hill, finally winning 39-16. Rickey Stewart, one of the Chapel Hill players who actually showed up to play, was held to 80 yards in the contest by a stingy Ragin’ Red defense.

That clinched the District 9-4A, Division I championship for Kilgore, who went 6-0 in the district and the loss knocked CHHS all the way down to the third seed.

Kilgore then ran through the first three rounds of the playoffs, beating Livingston, 49-8, in Carthage on Nov. 10; going back to Houston for a 37-28 win over Bay City that was a *little* closer than Kilgore fans wanted, thanks to five turnovers; and then a 35-14 win over Needville where Brooks put on his Superman cape and helped the Bulldogs overcome an injury to Derrick Williams. He connected with Wiley for a touchdown pass, and the offensive line controlled the game, allowing for four rushing touchdowns by four different Bulldogs: Orange, Watters, Rayshaun Williams, and Hardy.

That, of course, led to the rematch with Chapel Hill in Longview, a game where Chapel Hill jumped out to a 14-0 lead, led 21-7 after the first quarter and 21-13 at the half.

Chapel Hill didn’t score a point after the first quarter, and Kilgore got within two points at the end, a 63-yard touchdown from Williams to Jayden Sanders. But the two-point conversion failed, and left the Ragin’ Red on the wrong end of the 21-19 final.

Chapel Hill advanced to the state championship game Friday night by beating San Antonio Davenport at McLane Stadium in Waco.

If a truck is only as strong as its battery, than the Bulldogs’ team this year was as strong as its offensive line, and the Bulldogs’ O-line was strong, to the tune of 3086 rushing yards, 5,372 total yards, and 62 total touchdowns (43 rushing).

The bulk of the offensive line were seniors this year: Parker Allums, Rashaud Brown, Jakob Davis, Braquan Moye, Braydon Nelson, and Emmanuel Young, with Daniel Garcia being the lone non-senior that got a good bit of playing time. Also playing a big part of the blocking scheme on offense were seniors Aubrey Saylor and Josh Parrish.

Quarterback Derrick Williams did some heavy lifting this season, his lone season as the starter. Williams stepped in and did a good job, missing only most of the playoff game against Needville, after being injured in the first quarter (2-of-3 for 25 yards before the injury).

Derrick went 144-of-237 for 2,142 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions, and also had 1,019 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns on 114 carries, about 9 yards a carry. He obviously led the ‘Dogs in passing yards and touchdowns, and led them in rushing yards, carries, and rushing TDs, as well.

Wiley led the Bulldogs in number of catches (36) and number of touchdown catches this year (11), and did have 615 receiving yards. Jayden Sanders led the Bulldogs in receiving yards (771 yards on 30 catches, with eight touchdowns).

Yzaguirre hit 39-of-45 extra points this year, and was 4-of-4 in field goal attempts, a long of 40 yards on the year, and Reyes, who handled the kickoffs this season, was 15-of-16 in extra points and hit the only field goal he attempted (26 yards).

Defensively, 2023 was one of the best years in Kilgore’s history, not necessarily for individual numbers – most individual records, if not all, are still intact. But in addition to only allowing 16 points a game, Kilgore allowed 3,781 yards – that’s 270 a game. In 137 opponents’ possessions, Kilgore forced 45 three-downs-and-out.

They allowed only 1,169 yards in 14 games; that’s just 83 passing yards allowed a game! They gave up 2,612 rushing yards the entire season, about 186 a game.

Malachi Pierce won the sweepstakes as the team’s leading tackler – he worked for it. He finished with 109 tackles, 48 of them solo, seven for loss, a sack, two pass break ups, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, two quarterback hurries and two defensive touchdowns.

Defensive back Zaylon Stoker had 106 tackles, 68 solo, one for loss, four interceptions, two pass break-ups, a fumble recovery and a touchdown.

Towns had 94 tackles, 58 solo, and led the team in interceptions (seven) and pass break-ups (seven). He also had a forced fumble and two recoveries.

Dennis had 85 tackles, 50 solo, four for loss, three QB hurries and a forced fumble that led to a touchdown by Pierce.

Wiley, who just celebrated a birthday, finished with 89 tackles, eight for loss, a sack, an interception for a touchdown (against Bay City), four break-ups, and a recovery.

Wylie Mitchell led the team in sacks (four), and Jamarian Morgan was right behind (three). Tucker Phillips’ 10 tackles for loss was the leader in that category. JTP also led the team with eight QB hurries, and Mitchell’s seven was second.

On the coaching staff along with Fuller and Loper: co-offensive coordinators Jay Dean and T.J. Gillen-Hall, Joey Pippen, Josh Lyons, Colby Rosen, D.Q. Scott, Nick Sanders, C.J. Jackson, Jason Bragg, Kaleb “KB” Brisendine, Dustin Swaim, Eugene Lafitte, Steve Lacy, Cayle Bickham, Austin Hawley, Mason McCormack, Jackson Nichols, Braden Robey, and Ben Shelton.

Trainers are Jeff Davis and LaTamera Fry. Student trainers are Brylan Winter, Candace Lee, Natalie Lightfoot, Brooklyn Polve, Jaelie Sosa, Shelby Shelton, Sam Miles, Chelsi Rocha, Pilar Baldazo, Aurelio Reyes, and James Jarman.

Former coach Mike Wood is Kilgore’s athletic director, and the KISD Superintendent is Dr. Andy Baker.

Zaylon Stoker (4) and teammates Braylon Nelson (67) and Parker Allums (63) celebrate a big play against Palestine. (Photo by ALEX NABOR – ETBLITZ.COM)

Kilgore coaches Clint Fuller (center) and Josh Lyons fire it up. (Photo by ALEX NABOR – ETBLITZ.COM)

Jayden Sanders makes a big play against Chapel Hill, shutting up some of that mouth. (Photo by ALEX NABOR – ETBLITZ.COM)

Kayson Brooks (11) and Leo Yzaguirre (10) celebrate after Yzaguirre hits a field goal. (Photo by ALEX NABOR – ETBLITZ.COM)

Sage Orange (20) burning a hole in Palestine. (Photo by ALEX NABOR – ETBLITZ.COM)

The 2023 Kilgore Bulldogs doing a little celebrating. Kilgore finished 12-2, won the District 9-4A-Division I championship, and went four rounds deep in the 4A-DI playoffs. (Photo by ALEX NABOR – ETBLITZ.COM)