So far, so good for '08 Bulldogs

Photo by Dr. Jeff Davis GOING DOWN — Kilgore linebacker Greg Hill (41) takes down Palestine tailback Jamie Jones (27), as another KHS linebacker, Taylor Carter, runs onto the scene. The Bulldogs (4-1) won, 35-14, and have an open date this week. For the first time since the football season began, the Kilgore High School football team has a bit of a break.

The Ragin' Red has an open date this weekend, the calm before the October storm that is district competition. And Kilgore will open District 14-4A with a bang: Lindale, new to the district, is 5-0, and visits the Bulldogs here at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium next Friday, Oct. 10.

After that, the Bulldogs make the trek to Henderson for their annual meeting with the archrival Lions. Whitehouse visits Kilgore on Friday, Oct. 24; the Bulldogs travel to Jacksonville on -- fittingly enough -- Halloween; and the Ragin' Red's regular season ends with a home date against Nacogdoches on Friday, Nov. 7.

The top four teams, now, in each Class 4A district will make the playoffs. That means for 14- 4A, someone is staying home. Kilgore won the district championship outright last year (Whitehouse finished with the same 6-1 record, but Kilgore beat Whitehouse straight-up) and the Bulldogs are hoping to defend their title successfully.

Photo by Dr. Jeff Davis STAYING WITH THE BLOCK — Kilgore offensive lineman John Swanson (75) finishes on a rushing play against Palestine. The KHS offensive line is one of the team's primary strengths so far in 2008, helping the offense get 1,500 yards. It's been a fairly good season for Kilgore so far. Coach Mike Vallery's team only has one blemish Marshall. Otherwise, it's been smooth sailing on not-so-rough waters. Kilgore has defeated everyone else -- that's Carthage, Hallsville, Gilmer and Palestine -- and in the four wins, the Bulldogs have averaged 29 points per game. Throw in the loss at Marshall and they've still averaged 27.

The offense has leaned moreso to the running game, and that's no secret: a power running game, a good passing game and tough defense is Kilgore football. Kilgore has 1,045 rushing yards on the year, the bulk of it by Frank Reddic. Reddic has 657 yards and seven touchdowns on 120 carries, an average of 5.5 yards per carry. Courtney Maddox and Trevor Moon have also played a big role there. Maddox has 139 yards and two scores, both of those coming last week in the 35-14 win at Palestine, and Moon has 123 yards on 23 carries. Sabit Bauta and Matt Goff have been important in the running game, as well, helping the offensive line block.

Vince Cano, John Swanson, Colby Rosen, Jeff Watson and Tyler Waddle, all seniors, are the primary players on the O-line, and have done a fantastic job, both opening holes for Reddic and company and in protecting quarterbacks Steven McBryde and Ken Smith.

McBryde has played well in his first year as a starter. The senior is 26 of 61 for 423 yards, three touchdowns and an interception this season. He does a nice job of rolling out of the pocket and getting away from what little pass rush the opposition has had. Smith, a junior, is a big target for opposing defenses. He's 6-3, 200, but can move. He's only completed one pass, but hasn't had much time there. He has rushed for 74 yards and two touchdowns on the season, and has also lined up several times at wide receiver.

The primary target for McBryde on the season so far has been speedy Andrew Ector, also a senior. Ector, who had a touchdown catch of 60 yards and another grab of 46 yards against Gilmer, leads the team with 12 catches for 264 yards and two scores. Bauta and Goff both are capable of making a play by catching the ball, as is Reddic, who has four catches (he had 10 last year).

Other wide receivers for Kilgore include Xavian Sanders, Devaron Harvey and Will Mixon. Dominique Jones and Tyler Dennis are the two tight ends, who both have good hands and do a fine job blocking, as well.

Ector is also a special teams weapon. The senior had a 53-yard return against Gilmer that set up a touchdown run by Reddic.

Kicker/punter Ryan Bustin is a weapon, as well. Many high school kickers don't have nearly as much effect on the game as Bustin, who averages 44 yards per punt and regularly puts the opposition in a hole, helping Kilgore to "flip the field." Bustin has hit 13-of-14 extra points attempted this year, and he's 5-of-6 in field goal attempts, including a 42-yarder and a 45- yarder (against Hallsville).

The Ragin' Red averages 13 first downs per game.

Kilgore's defensive unit is the strongest its been, arguably, since the 2005 season. Kilgore didn't even commit a defensive penalty through the first three games, and to date has only been penalized nine times for 115 yards. The Bulldogs have given up just 619 yards on the ground all season (just 124 yards per game), and have allowed only 1,178 total yards.

In 49 opponents' offensive possessions, KHS has forced 17 threeand outs, meaning the other team didn't convert on third down.

Kilgore is led in tackles by linebacker Mishaud Austin, who has 40, 17 of them solo, one for loss, and three sacks (which also leads the team). Moon, a linebacker/safety, has 29 stops, 15 solo, three for loss, a pair of pass break-ups and a fumble recovery for a touchdown (against Gilmer).

Another newcomer, linebacker Tqyler Carter, has 28 tackles, 11 solo, one for loss, and the fumble he caused led to a touchdown by defensive end Shaun Edwards. Tight ends Dominique Jones and Tyler Dennis double as defensive ends. Jones has 27 tackles, nine solo, five for loss, a blocked punt, a caused fumble and four hurries; Dennis has 22 tackles, six solo, two for loss and three hurries.

C.J. Gary leads the team in interceptions. He had two against Gilmer and one last week against Palestine.