LIONS PULL THE UPSET | Henderson escapes Kilgore with 27-24 win

EDITOR’S NOTE: More photos in a few hours by both Dennis Jacobs and Alex Nabor from this game. – Mitch Lucas

If you doubted whether Henderson was for real, Friday should’ve at least helped convince you they should be taken seriously.

Ivan Navarro’s second field goal of the game, a 20-yarder with just 2.7 seconds left in the game, broke a 24-24 tie and gave the Lions a 27-24 upset over fourth-ranked Kilgore, spoiling the Bulldogs’ homecoming at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium.

“I’m excited for our kids, coaches and our community,” said Henderson coach Clay Baker, in only his second season as the head football coach at his alma mater. “This was a great win for our program.”

Another building block to success as the Lions improved to 2-0 in District 9-4A Division I play and to 5-1 for the season. The loss, meanwhile, drops Kilgore to 1-1 against the district and 4-2 for the season.

“I can’t say enough about the resiliency of our players and our coaches. All week we talked about ‘believing.’ You have to believe in yourselves and your brothers next to you. The kids never doubted that tonight and continued to fight for 48 minutes.”

Asked whether this was the biggest win for him at Henderson, he replied, “it’s hard to say, but it’s definitely towards the top of the list.”  

Down 21 points at halftime, and 24 after the first few minutes of the third quarter, Kilgore rallied for three touchdowns and a 37-yard Eddie Jiminez tying field goal with just 2:33 remaining in the game.

Kayson Brooks (14-of-26 for the game with an interception) threw for 208 yards and three touchdowns. His scoring passes of 26-yards to Lakeyleon Graves, 20 to Javon Towns, and 43-yards to Jayden Sanders gave the Bulldogs an opportunity, after Jiminez converted his third PAT of the game, closing the early deficit to just three points with 4:48 left to play.

Then, Jiminez would knot the score at 24-all with a 37-yard field goal with 2:33 remaining on the clock.

There was some controversy, as officials appeared to have made a mistake on the down count: Kilgore ran a first-down play on the drive, was penalized afterward, ran a second-down play, and Henderson was penalized after that – and officials called for fourth down, without Kilgore getting a third-down opportunity.

Kilgore had no choice but to send Jiminez out for what would be the game-tying field goal. He hit it, of course, and then we would see what would develop afterward.

Lemarion Coleman, who had scored earlier in the game on a short run and led the Lions’ receiving corps with five catches for 23 yards, returned Isaac Jamaica’s ensuing kickoff 44 yards all-the-way to the Henderson 49 yard line.

Four runs by Starling, totaling 18 yards, and quarterback scrambles by Howard, along with a 15-yard penalty against Kilgore moved the football to the two yard line where it looked like time could expire without any points scored, but Henderson got the timeout and Navarro won it as time expired.

Starling, who prefers the nickname “Meaty” over Jesstin, led all rushers with 111 yards on 24 carries.

Vince Howard was 8-of-16 passing for 36 yards and suffered an interception to Jamarian Duncan.

Rayshaun Williams led Kilgore’s rushing attack with 63 yards on 13 carries. Isaiah Watters followed with 37 on six carries.   

Leading 21-0, Henderson received the second-half kickoff and promptly marched 45 yards in nine plays before stalling at the Kilgore 22-yard line. Navarro came on, though, to boot a 39-yard field goal with 7:36 left in the third quarter.

The deficit the Bulldogs faced at that point was 24.

The Lions were all about the business of spoiling things for their long-time rival on Kilgore’s homecoming. And, they didn’t waste any time getting the early edge.

The defense didn’t allow Kilgore a first down and Henderson put together a 12-play, 66-yard scoring drive with Starling recording his 18th rushing touchdown of the season on a 14-yard run with 5:03 remaining in the first quarter. The Lions’ sophomore kicker, Navarro converted, giving Henderson a 7-0 lead.

Anthony Newman’s interception of Brooks and return to the Kilgore 25-yard-line gave the Lions great field position, leading to Henderson’s second touchdown. Travis Holmes made the saving tackle for the Bulldogs or the Henderson senior might have gone all the way.

The Ragin’ Red defense stiffened, but the Lions called on versatile Coleman on the eighth play of the possession, with a five-yard reverse for the touchdown, giving the visitors’ a 14-point cushion on the first play of the second quarter, after Navarro converted his second of three extra points in the contest.

Leading by two touchdowns, Henderson capitalized shortly thereafter, this time on a snap over the Kilgore punter’s head on fourth down which gave the Lions a first-and-goal at the two-yard line. Starling, who came into the contest averaging 160-yards per game, scored his second touchdown of the night and Navarro’s11th PAT of the season stretched the visitor’s lead to 21 with 10:39 remaining in the first half.

Jayden Sanders led Kilgore’s receiving corps with nine catches for 134 yards and a touchdown. Rayshaun Williams added 2-for-24, followed by Graves (1-26, 1 TD), Towns (1-20,1), and Watters (1-4).

“We’ll enjoy this for a day and then go back to work on Sunday focusing on Mabank,” said Baker.

Next week, Kilgore will look to get back into the win column as it visits Chapel Hill for a battle of the Bulldogs, while Henderson entertains Mabank.