Bulldogs get out of scrimmages healthy

The "preseason" is officially over for the Kilgore High School Bulldogs football teams following Friday's scrimmages at Mount Pleasant.

Kilgore head coach Mike Vallery said Saturday morning that his team had a productive scrimmage against the Tigers Friday night, and that they're now moving on to preparing for this Friday's season opener against Carthage.

"We came out of it healthy," Vallery said, of the scrimmage.

That's the main thing. But we got in some good work in a game-style situation, because we wound up the scrimmage by playing a half of football. We feel like we accomplished what we needed to, and now we're going to get ready to see a good football team on Friday night."

Friday's game against Carthage, a 3A school but longtime rival with Kilgore, will be the first game between the programs since the 2003 season, a Kilgore win at Carthage. Kickoff for this week's season opener (and all KHS varsity games) is 7:30.

The freshmen and junior varsity programs will open their seasons at Carthage on Thursday night at 5:30 p.m.

beginning with freshmen). The Maude Laird Middle School eighth-grade Bulldogs won't open until Thursday, Sept. 11 at Marshall.

For all things KHS football and for more on Carthage and other Ragin' Red opponents this season, check out the Kilgore News Herald's annual football preview, which will be in Thursday's News Herald.