LOCAL SPORTS IN BRIEF

FOOTBALL

KHS freshmen, JV split with J'ville

Kilgore High School split its games with Jacksonville Thursday night here at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium, with the freshmen winning, 21-14, and the junior varsity losing, 27-26.

Kilgore's freshmen are 8-1 overall, 3-1 in District 14-4A play; the JV is 7-2, 2-2, and both teams have just Nacogdoches left on the schedule. That's next Thursday at Nac, a 5:30 p.m. freshmen start.

Coach Joey Pippen's freshmen led Jacksonville 7-6 at the half. The Indians scored first after recovering a fumble, but KHS held on the two-point conversion and J'ville led just 6-0.

Kilgore scored quickly, though. The Bulldogs took the kickoff, then scored in six plays when Matthew Dickey completed a pass to Shawn Williams for a 27-yard touchdown. Hugo Orta's extra point was good, and the Bulldogs led 7-6. That would also be the score at halftime.

Kilgore extended its lead in the third quarter by scoring to cap an 11-play drive, a 19-yard pass to Williams from Riley Toler on a fourth-and-goal. Orta's point after was good once again, and KHS led 14-6 with about three minutes gone in the half.

Kilgore scored again in the fourth quarter on an 18-yard run by Deandre Halton, then held Jacksonville off. The Indians scored late, but Dickey got an onside kick to end the threat.

Jose Barron had a big play on a punt return. Halton was spectacular, rushing for 129 yards and the touchdown on 19 carries. "He ran good and ran hard," Pippen said. "He picked up some big yards for us."

Tailback Ladarius Anthony had four carries for 29 yards early, but was injured in the first quarter. Williams had three catches for 93 yards and the two touchdowns (Toler went 1-for-3 with the 19-yard TD, and Dickey went 2-for-4 for 74 yards and the other TD). Dickey had a carry for 4 yards and Deontre Williams had two for 24.

Coach Jay Dean's JV slipped by just one point.

"We were ahead 20-13 at halftime," Dean explained.

Chris Crosby had two rushing touchdowns, and Robert Morgan and Josh Medford each had a touchdown reception. Patrick Colbert caught a two-point conversion for KHS, and Robert Poland and Medford both played well defensively, Dean said.

KHS at J'ville tonight; KC home Saturday

The Kilgore High School Bulldogs continue the District 14-4A road tonight at the Tomato Bowl against Jacksonville, a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. If you can't get to the game, listen on 1240-AM, or online at tsrnsports.com.

Other high school games tonight have West Rusk (8-0) hosting Troup, Sabine (2-6) at New Diana, and Leverett's Chapel (6-2) at Oglesby in a six-man game. Overton has an open date.

Kilgore College (5-3) hosts Cisco (1-7) on Saturday, a 3 p.m. kick. The Rangers are already in the playoffs. A KC win combined with a Navarro win over Blinn would seal a home playoff game at KC next Saturday. Hear that game live on KZQX 105.3-FM or online also at tsrnsports.com.

TENNIS

KHS opens with T-High

The Kilgore High School tennis team, playing this weekend in the regional tournament at Grapevine, was to open play against Texas High this morning at L.D. Bell High School courts. Texas High is the No. 3 seed in the tournament. Highland Park, a state finalist last year, is the top seed, and Richardson Pearce is No. 2. "This will be our second time to play Texas High this year," KHS coach Jason Maroney said.

T-High beat Kilgore 10-6 the first time a few weeks ago, and Kilgore was just one game away from a seventh win.

Kilgore was to play again today against Frisco or Forney.

— BY SPORTS EDITOR MITCH LUCAS