Ragin' Red opens 14-4A with Lindale

Photo by Dr. Jeff Davis AN ESCORT TO THE END ZONE — Kilgore defensive end Shaun Edwards (30) scoots down the KHS sidelines and into the end zone against Hallsville as teammate Javarri Kelly (21) blocks. Edwards picked up a fumble caused by Taylor Carter and did score on the play. KHS (4-1) hosts Lindale (5-0) Friday night at 7:30, as District 14-4A play begins. The non-district schedule and now the open date behind them, the Kilgore High School Bulldogs return to work Friday night.

And "work" now means facing the District 14-4A opposition.

Kilgore (4-1) will host Lindale (5-0) on Friday night here at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium, the good old 7:30 kickoff time in place. And while some say Lindale hasn't really played strong competition yet — the Eagles' opponents so far have a combined 10-17 record — KHS head coach Mike Vallery says "respect 'em": after all, they are 5-0.

"What's obvious when you look at them is that they're playing good football right now," said Vallery, whose Ragin' Red last suited up Sept. 26 and beat Palestine, 35-14. "Most people know about their quarterback (Nathan Simmons), but they've actually got two that they play pretty regular, and they both do some things well. They're a pretty good football team."

Photo by Dr. Jeff Davis LOOKING FOR ROOM TO RUN — Kilgore fullback Sabit Bauta (right) looks for a hole after making a catch against Palestine. Kilgore (4-1) hosts Lindale on Friday. Lindale hasn't been a regular opponent for the Bulldogs. In fact, LHS and Kilgore both have programs that date back to the early 1930s, but according to Kilgore News Herald records, the two

have only met on the football field five times, all won by Kilgore. The first football meeting between the programs didn't happen until 1984, a 40-0 KHS win. Kilgore also beat Lindale in 1985, 1991, 1992 and 1993. The programs haven't met since.

The Bulldogs and Eagles are new district rivals this year as a result of the University Interscholastic League's realignment. The Eagles had been in the 4A district with schools north and west of here, such as Sulphur Springs, Mount Pleasant and Texas High in Texarkana.

Lindale, coached by Mike Meador in his third season, went 5-5 last year and 7-3 the year before, missing the playoffs both seasons. Their last playoff appearance was 2005.

The Eagles had an open date last week, too. The week before, on Sept. 26, Lindale beat Pittsburg 32-0. Their other wins this season have came over Spring Hill (50- 21), Wills Point (48-0), Pine Tree (29-15), and Paris (31-24). Simmons, named the preseason District 14-4A offensive player of the year by local media, is helping the Eagles average more than 400 yards per game. His favorite target, wide receiver Logan Lawrence, is re-writing the school's receiving record book. The "other" quarterback who will likely also see time against KHS is Matt Broussard.

But the Eagles don't just throw it. They run it, too. They ran for 239 yards two weeks ago in the rout of Pittsburg. Trevean Ray had 109 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. The Eagles' defense did its job, too, holding Pittsburg to 44 total yards in the first half.

And they're confident. Here's what Meador told the Tyler Morning Telegraph about Kilgore earlier this week.

"They're a great football team," Meador said. "They are extremely well coached. I expect smashmouth football. They are going to do their best to control the clock. We match up very well. They are bigger than we are, but if we play disciplined we can stop them. And if we do our job executing our offense, we will move the ball on them."

Offenses haven't done a lot of that this season, including arguably the most heralded offense in East Texas right now: the Gilmer Buckeyes. Kilgore shut down Gilmer's offense three weeks ago in a 28-14 game that wasn't that close. The Bulldogs have given up 1,178 yards this season (that's 235 yards per game), and have forced 10 turnovers, including three interceptions by cornerback C.J. Gary in the last two games.

Linebacker Mishaud Austin has played like a man on a mission. Austin leads the team with 40 tackles, and has three sacks. The front defensive wall in front of him, which includes players like University of Texas commitment Dominique Jones, Vince Cano, Shaun Edwards, and Tyler Dennis, is quick and good at stopping the run.

Austin is joined at linebacker by a lot of good ones: Trevor Moon, Javarri Kelly, and Taylor Carter, to name a few. Moon didn't play at Palestine due to an injury but has 29 tackles, three for loss, on the season and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Austin, Carter and Kelly combined for 27 tackles in Palestine, where the KHS defense allowed PHS just 178 yards.

The Bulldogs' secondary has some talent and some speed. Gary has been the big-play man of late, and is having a great season. Also doing well are Andrew Ector and Xavian Sanders, as well as Kendall Moore. Ector leads the team with five pass break-ups.

Offensively, Kilgore comes at the opposition straight-on with a big offensive line and a talented group of tailbacks, led by Frank Reddic. The senior has 657 yards and seven touchdowns on 120 carries. He's joined by Courtney Maddox, who has 139 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 26 carries, and by Moon, who has 123 yards on 23 carries. Fullback blocking duties are handled well by Sabit Bauta, who caught a pass for 9 yards against Palestine, as well as Matt Goff and Braylon McCarty.

Those backs are only as good as the offensive line, but in this case, that's pretty good. Center Colby Rosen is a force in the middle, and joined by the aggressive Vince Cano, Jeff Watson and Tyler Waddle. John Swanson, who looks to be every bit of 300 pounds, is a force on the line, as well, and all are seniors.

Steven McBryde is the senior starter at quarterback, and McBryde hasn't disappointed. He hasn't been asked to throw it all that much, but he has completed 26-of-61 passes for 423 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He's backed up by Ken Smith, who brings not only a good arm with him, but almost another running back from under center. Smith had two rushing touchdowns against Palestine, and also lines up at wide receiver from time to time.

Ector has been the big target this year for McBryde. Ector has 12 catches for 264 yards and two touchdowns, and has made a big play in the passing game in just about every game so far. All the backs can catch, and Sanders, Devaron Harvey and Will Mixon will all see time at wide receiver. Tight end is played nicely by Tyler Dennis and Dominique Jones, big guys with good hands.

The kicking game is a weak point in many high school programs, but not for Kilgore — not with Ryan Bustin running the show. Bustin, a junior, has been kicking on varsity since his freshman season, and here's why: he's got a 45-yard career long to his credit that would have been good for another 5 yards. Bustin is 5-of- 6 on the season in field goal attempts, 13 of 14 in extra-point attempts and averages a very impressive 44 yards per punt, better than many college punters.

To hear the game live, tune in to 1240-AM to "Ragin' Red Broadcasting" — Don Hedrick, Ronnie Chappell and Doug Smith. You can also hear their broadcast online at tsrnsports.com, the Texas Sports Radio Network website.