Strong finish for Kilgore with win over Mabank

Published 11:37 am Friday, November 8, 2024

KILGORE – Kilgore football erupted in the early moments of Friday’s regular season finale against Mabank at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium, and eventually pulled away for a dominant 48-0 home win and the District 9-4A Division I championship.

The Bulldogs improved their 2024 season record to 8-2 and district record to 5-1. They will enter next week’s UIL 4A Division I postseason as District 9-4A Division I’s one seed, and will face either Lumberton or Vidor from District 10-4A Division I in the bi-district round.

The eliminated Panthers, meanwhile, finished the year with a 1-9 season mark and 0-6 league mark.

“It’s big,” Kilgore head football coach Clint Fuller said of his team’s performance on Thursday. “We wanted to maintain our momentum going into the playoffs. Our kids stayed sharp and were ready to play for a district championship.”

Rayshaun Williams jumpstarted Kilgore with a 14-yard touchdown run that made it a 7-0 home team lead at the 9:50 mark of the first quarter.

The Bulldogs’ defense then stepped up when David McGowan intercepted Mabank quarterback Kaden Penland’s pass at the 9:03 mark of the period.

Kilgore took advantage of the turnover because Williams’ nine-yard touchdown run 13 seconds later grew the advantage to 14-0 at the 8:50 mark.

Williams eventually finished the game with 11 carries for 107 rushing yards and two scores.

Takieran White joined the scoring party when his 88-yard touchdown run grew the gap to 21-0 at the 4:56 mark of opening frame.

Kilgore starting quarterback Kayson Brooks followed with the final three scores of the first half. He connected with Lakeyleon Graves on a 26-yard touchdown pass to make it a 28-0 score with 56.2 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Brooks then scrambled for a three-yard touchdown run to grow Kilgore’s lead to 35-0 at the 8:02 mark of the second quarter.

He went to the air again during a 24-yard touchdown pass to White to give the Bulldogs a 41-0 advantage before Eddie Jimenez missed the extra point attempt with 5:04 remaining in the opening half.

Brooks’ start only lasted one half, but he still completed nine of his 11 pass attempts for 111 yards and two touchdowns and carried the ball four times for 17 yards and one score.

Kilgore turned to backup quarterback Shaun Moyers in the second half. He connected with Brayden Williams on a six-yard touchdown strike to grow the Bulldogs’ lead to 48-0 at the 7:01 mark of the third quarter.

Moyers completed all three of his passes for 31 yards and one touchdown.

Kameron Wilkinson’s seven carries for 20 rushing yards led Mabank in the loss.

Penland, meanwhile, completed one of his nine pass attempts for two yards and finished with two interceptions.