Put your travelin' shoes on — it's playoff time

LUCAS Kilgore really has been on an incredible run under the coaching of Mike Vallery, and another chapter was added to the book in the last few weeks.

The Bulldogs looked a little flat in a loss to Lindale in the opening week of District 14-4A play, a game that Kilgore probably could have, maybe should have, won. But KHS hasn't looked flat since. In fact, they've been playing some very good football, and I think KHS is hitting stride just at the right time.

Back on the weekend of Hurricane Ike, Kilgore went to Maverick Stadium to face Marshall, and the Mavericks had a power running game and a playmaker in quarterback Darius Jones, an Oklahoma verbal commit. Jones isn't fast: he's sudden. And he was as good as advertised that night, helping the Mavericks to a 28-18 win as Ike's winds approached.

It's nine weeks later, and the tables have turned a little bit. Since then, Kilgore has looked very, very good in wins over Gilmer, Whitehouse and others, and has had really only the one let-down against Lindale.

Still, district championships seem to find their way to the Mitchell Field House trophy case, and there's a reason for that. Kilgore is rarely ever outplayed, never outcoached, and when you have good talent, you're not going to lose many.

Photos by Lester Murray THE THIRD SEASON BEGINS FRIDAY — Kilgore High head football coach Mike Vallery will have his team ready for a UIL Class 4A bi-district playoff game at Marshall this week, sports editor Mitch Lucas says. Above: Kilgore's Devaron Harvey (8) makes a diving catch as Nac's Damian Leonard defends. • Xavian Sanders: Since getting some improvements to his vision (with contact lenses, I think) in recent weeks, there seems to be nothing that Kilgore wide receiver/corner Xavian Sanders can't catch. I honestly think if I threw pancake batter up in the air, he'd catch it all before it hit the turf.

Sanders has made some big plays in recent weeks, and made four huge ones to help the Bulldogs beat Nac. He caught a pass from Steven McBryde, then scored on the 82-yard play (with a nifty little spin move at the end that juked a Nac defender), had two fourth-quarter interceptions and a 3-yard touchdown catch from McBryde to boot.

The emergence of Sanders as a wide receiver, along with a confidence building 37-yard catch by Devaron Harvey and the speed and good hands of Andrew Ector, makes Kilgore a real threat. Teams cannot just stack the line and try to stop Frank Reddic (not that that would work, anyway). They have to respect Kilgore's passing game.

• Another player to keep your eye on: Linebacker Mishaud Austin, a junior. Austin had two sacks against Nac and seemed to be in on about every tackle. The guy's got a motor.

• Don't run this way: Big Nac running back Jacoby Ervin was introduced to Kilgore defensive end Dominique Jones the hard way in the first half — Ervin, trying to find a hole in the KHS front, ran smack into the University of Texas verbal commitment, and fell flat of his back. "Meet Mr. Jones," someone on the sidelines said. I had to agree.

• Officer Richard Stanley: If you haven't heard, KHS is losing police officer Richard Stanley to Iraq. Stanley, a member of the Naval reserve, has been called up and will be utilized in a prison in Iraq, and let me say everyone is going to miss officer Stanley, although we are proud of him. Richard, we look forward to your safe return.

• Basketball: It's roundball time for Kilgore High School and Kilgore College, although it's very early.

Kilgore's Lady Bulldogs, again coached by Davia Garrett and coming off a playoff season last year, have played two scrimmages and open the season on Tuesday at Carthage. That's a 5 p.m. freshmen start, with junior varsity and varsity afterward. Kilgore is scheduled to host Marshall on Friday night.

Coach Jimmy Williams' boys have a little longer. The Bulldogs host a scrimmage against New Diana on Nov. 18, then officially open the season at Athens on Nov. 25. The first home game for the Bulldogs is Tuedsay, Dec. 2 against Gladewater.

Kilgore College's teams are already playing. The Rangers, coached by Brian Hoberecht, were to play two games this weekend in a tournament at Fort Smith, Ark., visit Ranger on Tuesday, and come home to host Dallas Diesel on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Lady Rangers, once again coached by Roy Thomas, were on the road this weekend, too, and play in the Rose City Classic tournament in Tyler this week. KC takes on Southern- Shreveport at 4 p.m. Thursday. The Lady Rangers aren't home until Nov. 22, a doubleheader against Panola College. That opens the Region XIV Conference schedule for both KC teams.

Have a great week. God bless.