Another big win for the Bulldogs, who are getting better

LUCAS Some of my thoughts while standing on the sidelines (and since doing so) of Kilgore's 23-10 victory at Hallsville on Friday night:

• Reading Railroad, Boardwalk, Hallsville Stadium: Kilgore High School should really pay rent here in Hallsville.

The Bulldogs' only loss to the Bobcats in recent memory was two seasons ago at Kilgore's home stadium, R.E. St. John. The Ragin' Red has had a couple of close calls, but always seems to step it up over here.

• Kilgore-Hallsville series: Here are a few things about the Kilgore- Hallsville series you might not have known.

Friday's game was the 33rd in the football series between the schools, which believe it or not didn't even begin until 1974.

The Bulldogs lost the first meeting in 1974, and the teams played to a 0-0 tie, incredibly, in 1975 before KHS won its first against Hallsville in 1976.

The series wasn't played for a few years, then resumed in 1980, and the rivals have played every year since. The longest winning streak in the series belongs to KHS (seven in a row from 1983-89). Kilgore also won five straight from 1994-99.

The Bulldogs last lost to Hallsville in 2006, but are 6-1 in the series since 2002.

Kilgore is now 22-10-1 against the Bobcats.

• And looked fine doing it: I thought everything wasn't exactly clicking for Kilgore, but it clicked just fine enough for a win.

Andrew Ector's reverse in the first half, a key play in Kilgore's 99- yard march to the first touchdown of the game, was a great play call by offensive coordinator Chris Vallery. The Bobcats' defense bit hard on the reverse, and Ector wasn't even touched until he was probably 15 yards downfield.

Tight end Dominique Jones, who is just a monster at defensive end, has good hands, and I like to see him worked into the offense. Jones had a big catch on third-down-and-10 in the first half that went for 20 yards. He's a load to bring down.

Frank Reddic had the biggest run of the night, that second-half 72- yard touchdown run, but I thought all three tailbacks — Reddic, Trevor Moon and Courtney Maddox — ran with authority behind a Kilgore offensive line that is in good form, maybe even district cham- pionship form, already. That's two games on the season, and two games in which Colby Rosen, Jeff Watson, Vince Cano, John Swanson, and Tyler Waddle took control up front. Ditto for the defensive front of Dominique Jones, Cano, Justin Roberts, Tyler Dennis and Shaun Edwards.

• Best coming-out party: Taylor Carter, whose bone-crushing hit on Hallsville quarterback Tom Lee Hutchinson allowed Edwards to pick up a fumble and put Kilgore up by two touchdowns in the first half. That hit and fumble recovery and the score really changed the momentum, and swung it completely in Kilgore's favor. Hallsville never looked the same after that play.

• How about Bustin?: I know the missed extra point in the second half probably had him a little down, but he should have felt better after kicking a 45-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Seriously, there aren't many high school kickers who are nearly as good in the clutch — or from that kind of distance — as Bustin, who became a varsity player as a freshman. He's just a junior now. And thank goodness: we've got him for the rest of this season and all of next.

• Other goings-on: As I write this, there are a few things of note happening in the sports world this weekend:

— Kilgore College is facing Tyler Junior College, and even though it's a non-conference game, you wouldn't get any of those players to admit it mattered any less than the one they'll play in-conference on Oct. 11. KC has some bugs to work out after a less-than-impressive opener against Fort Scott. But the Rangers are talented, and J.J. Eckert and his staff will shake things up. Cornelius Shackelford, a running back who didn't play last week, was also scheduled to be back in the lineup, and that will give J.J. another offensive weapon.

— The NFL season begins. The Dallas Cowboys, as most of you know, open at Cleveland today, and I'm telling you right now: the Browns were impressive last year. Dallas comes out the least little bit flat, and it could be a long plane ride home.

— Who would have thought that Tatum or Whitehouse would have started the season at 0-2, and both have? Who would've thought Carthage would destroy Henderson, 33-3? There have been some surprises already this season, and it's only two weeks in.

• Mavericks up next: It doesn't quite feel the same as it did when Kilgore and Marshall were deciding district championships, normally in Kilgore's favor, but the Bulldogs visit the Mavericks on Friday night. Maverick Stadium is the site of some recent fun memories, including a classic 28-27 overtime game in 2004, and last year's game that helped KHS clinch the district title.

I'll look forward to seeing you there.