KC rattles No. 4 Butler, but falls, 29-28

For 59 minutes of Kilgore College's 2007 football season opener at El Dorado, Kan., on Saturday night, the Rangers shook the heck out of the No. 4-ranked Butler College Grizzlies.

Then the team that has won more games than any junior college program in the nation in the last seven seasons suddenly came to life, scoring with about a minute left and getting in front of the Rangers. A last-ditch drive failed, leaving KC on the wrong end of a 29-28 blockbuster game that, other than its ultimate result, was a fitting way for first-year head coach J.J. Eckert to make his KC debut.

The Rangers got off the bus in El Dorado, Eckert said, to see tailgating everywhere, and were amazed to be playing in front of a frenzied crowd of about 8,000 people at Galen Blackmore Stadium. "It was nice to play in front of fired-up crowd like that," Eckert said Monday, during the taping of his audio show. "...Naturally, we're disappointed. We're all kind of sluggish after that road trip, and the kids were just disappointed about losing."

Eckert pointed out that Butler has won more games than any JUCO program since the 2000 season, and that Butler head coach Troy Morrell has a 91 percent winning percentage. "They've had a lot of success up there," Eckert said. "It sure was weird, and nice, to walk off that field at halftime leading 28-12 and not hear anything. When we were leading, I could actually hear Manny (Almanza) and Mark (Fried) calling the game from the booth. When Butler started coming back, I couldn't hear them any more. I didn't like that."

KC (0-1), currently an unranked team that went 6-6 and won the Heart of Texas Bowl in 2006, scored 28 first-half points on the Grizzlies, stunning the largely-partisan Butler crowd. But Butler came back in the second half, mainly on the shoulders (and arm) of quarterback Press Taylor. The Grizzlies scored 17 unanswered points against KC with Taylor throwing 43 times and scoring a rushing touchdown, as well. The final touchdown was scored with 1:18 left by running back Beau Johnson, who did have two touchdowns but was held largely in check by the KC defense (he had just 52 yards rushing on the night).

KC had a last-chance drive, but couldn't get close enough to allow for a potential game-winning field goal.

The biggest play of the night probably shouldn't have even happened.

Late in the contest, with about six minutes left and Kilgore College leading 28-22, it appeared KC quarterback Logan Morris had gotten a first down when he was called down at the marker on third down. But on the spot, the Rangers came up short and failed to convert on the ensuing fourth down play.

Morris, a sophomore, played sparingly for KC last season and did a nice job in the contest, completing 15 of 26 passes for 144 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, and the interception was made by Butler's Brad Briggs on the last play of the contest - time was running out, KC had no time outs and was in fourth and very long. Morris was just trying to make something happen.

"Logan did a very nice job for us," Eckert said, also singling out the play of running back Cornelius Shackelford. KC came into the contest with a bit of a doubt as who would step up in the backfield and produce. Shackelford had a nice game, getting a touchdown and 137 yards on 31 carries. Eckert recognized the offensive line for their play - "Shackelford wouldn't have gotten all those yards without those guys in front of him" - and placekicker Daren Chappell of Kilgore. Chappell had to replace ill starter Martin Vazquez. Chappell was 4-for-4 on extra points.

Another who had a great game: former Kilgore High School standout Kurt Rossum, a cornerback. Rossum finished with nine tackles. He was flagged late in the game for a questionable pass interference call.

Woody McClendon had two catches for 21 yards and had a big game, Eckert said. Earnest Quander caught six of Morris' passes for 57 yards. Morris' touchdowns went to Tiemeyer White and to K. Johnson.

The Rangers visit Tyler Junior College at Rose Stadium on Saturday night at 7 p.m., a non-conference game between the rivals, and then take their bye week on Saturday, Sept. 8. KC finally has its home opener at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium on Sept. 15 against Navarro College - that's also the Southwest Junior College Football Conference opener for both KC and Navarro.