Bulldogs slip to J’ville in 14-4A battle

JUST OUT OF HIS GRASP — Kilgore senior defensive end Blayne Cole (70) reaches out to try and haul down Jacksonville quarterback Ryan Black (10) during Friday night’s District 14-4A game between the rivals. Jacksonville broke a six-game losing streak to Kilgore, winning 28-10. KHS, now 2-2 in district play, will play at Nacogdoches next Friday. The book that is District 14-4A’s 2009 season took another twist on Friday night when the Kilgore High School Bulldogs, who were arguably in the driver’s seat for another district championship, were asked to scoot over by the Jacksonville Indians.

And while Kilgore may not be driving the playoff “car,” the Bulldogs are still firmly one of the passengers.

Kilgore lost, 28-10, on Friday to Jacksonville, the Indians’ first win in the old series since 2002. And Kilgore has had a bit of an upand down season, not losing or winning consecutive games all year. But the Ragin’ Red will still be one of the district’s playoff teams with a win in the regularseason finale next Friday night at Nacogdoches, who journeyed to Whitehouse with an 0-3 district record and came home still winless. Whitehouse defeated Nac, 42-14, to win for just the second time all year, and Lindale handed Henderson a 42-28 loss.

IT’S GOOD! — Kilgore senior kicker Ryan Bustin (11) boots an extra point through the hold of teammate and classmate C.J. Gary. KHS will visit Nacogdoches in the regular-season finale on Friday. In the standings, Jacksonville is 3-1, as is Lindale. Kilgore, Henderson and Whitehouse are all 2-2, and Nac is 0-4.

Kilgore (4-5 overall this season, but 2-2 in 14-4A play) held Jacksonville to three-downs-and-out on the Indians’ very first offensive series of the game, and played much better in the first half this week, trailing 14-10 at the break. Kilgore punter Ryan Bustin helped the Bulldogs win the war of field position, averaging over 50 yards per punt in the half.

But the Bulldogs couldn’t quite get things rolling in the second half, having to punt on their first offensive possession to begin things, and then going down 21-10 with 6:47 left in the third quarter on a 1-yard score by the Indians.

Kilgore had its opportunities in the game, to be certain; the Indians held Kilgore out of the end zone on a goal line stand late in the third quarter to keep their 11-point lead, then added to it on a 5-yard scoring run by Tevin Garland just after the opening of the fourth quarter.

Kilgore had one more chance to score, getting inside Jacksonville’s 10-yardline, but tailback Ladarius Anthony, a sophomore, was thrown for a 4-yard loss and was also injured on the ensuing first-down play, and the Bulldogs couldn’t punch it in. Jacksonville didn’t score again, but kept Kilgore out of the end zone, and wrapped up the game.

Back in the first quarter, with a scoreless game, Garland broke a big run, picking up 44 yards down to Kilgore’s 24-yard-line, and then on the next play, Justin Jones scored on a run of his own. The extra point was good and the Indians claimed the 7-0 lead with 5:58 left in the quarter.

Kilgore came right back following the kickoff. Riley Toler completed passes to Matthew Dickey for 6 yards, then to Robert Morgan for 11. Anthony and Jordan Henderson then went to work behind the Bulldogs’ offensive line, moving KHS down to the 12-yard-line before a blocking foul moved KHS back to the 28. The Bulldogs had to settle for a field goal, but Bustin converted it from 38 yards out, and KHS trailed 7-3.

Jacksonville benefitted from a pass interference call on the first down of its next possession, and put together a nice drive that ended in points, a 34-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Clark to Chris Hall.

The Bulldogs stayed close, though, by forcing Jacksonville to punt on its next possession, then making the most out of good field position. Kilgore took over at the 50, and three plays later, Anthony was standing in the end zone, having scored on a 33-yard run. Bustin’s point after was good, and the 14- 10 score, in spite of some late positioning by Jacksonville, would stand into halftime.

Kilgore visits Nac next Friday. Other district games have Whitehouse visiting Henderson and Jacksonville hosting Lindale.