’Dogs rock Nac, off to playoffs

CAN’T STOP HIM — Kilgore running back Ladarius Anthony (left) fights for yards Friday night in the Bulldogs’ game at Nacogdoches. KHS won the game, 48-28, and wrapped up a spot in the Class 4A postseason. Kilgore will face Marshall for the second straight year in the first round, hosting the Mavericks next Friday night. Bottom: KHS defensive back Christian Sibley (30) had a key first-half interception that led to a Kilgore score, and teammate Shaun Williams also had a pick. The Bulldogs led 24-0 before the second quarter had even begun. NACOGDOCHES — Rest easy, Kilgore High School football fans: not only are your Bulldogs in the Class 4A playoffs, but they might have had their best performance so far this season in the process.

Kilgore went up 24-0, then held off a late Nacogdoches charge for a 48-28 win on Friday night.

The win sends Kilgore to the playoffs, of course, for the 14th time in 15 years under coach Mike Vallery. The Bulldogs will get Marshall, just like they did last year, in the bidistrict, or first, round on Friday, a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

Under University Interscholastic League rules, since Kilgore played at Marshall in the playoffs last season, the Mavericks must come here to R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium this year.

The two rivals split last year, with Marshall winning the regular-season game and Kilgore taking the playoff game. The Bulldogs are hoping that happens again this year — Marshall beat Kilgore in week three.

The final week was a wild one. Kilgore guaranteed itself a spot in the postseason with a win, but could have even gotten in with a loss, and also could have been eliminated with a loss, if the right things happened.

The Ragin’ Red had the possibility of up to four different playoff opponents: Marshall, Longview, Sulphur Springs or Hallsville, depending upon what happened not just between KHS and Nac, but elsewhere in District 14-4A, and even District 13-4A.

RUNNING OF THE BULL(DOGS) — Kilgore senior Jordan Henderson (above) scored on this run, one of six rushing touchdowns on the night for KHS — Ladarius Anthony had four, and Henderson and McCarty one each. Kilgore’s offensive line — Blayne Cole, Shadow Stokes, Dylan Leach, Patrick Colbert, Donald Jackson and others — just mashed Nac. The other games weren’t on coach Vallery’s mind, he said afterward.

“We had some big breaks that let us get up on them good,” Vallery said, of the Bulldogs’ win at Nac on Friday. “...Our team knew we couldn’t worry about what else was going on in the district. They had to take care of business.”

Vallery complimented running back Ladarius Anthony on another big night, and for playing kind of beat up.

“I love my line,” Anthony laughed. “They did a great job today.”

Anthony had almost 250 yards rushing and scored four touchdowns.

Vallery said while Anthony did well, it took more than another great performance by the sophomore.

“For us to win football games, our kids know it, but we have to play good football in all phases of the game,” the coach said. “That’s why we had the chance to extend the season. ...It was important for our kids to keep the tradition up and get into these playoffs. I don’t know what we can do with it, but they’re excited about it, and we’re proud of them.”

Vallery encouraged the fans to come out and be loud, and support the Bulldogs.

In the game, Kilgore didn’t throw the ball that much — Riley Toler and Kaleb Brisendine combined for a 4-of-9 night for 64 yards — but made it count, getting a touchdown pass to Robert Morgan late in the game. The rushing game was very effective, netting 324 yards.

Kilgore was penalized 10 times for 70 yards, but was able to overcome it. One key statistic: the Ragin’ Red had no turnovers, while creating three Nac turnovers.

While the Dragons were able to throw the ball with some effectiveness in the second half, the running game never really got any traction, thanks to good play by the Kilgore front, which included the return to the lineup of sophomore defensive end Chris Paige. The Dragons’ leading rusher had just 30 yards in the game.

The first half was just about all Kilgore. Nac looked ill-prepared for the Bulldogs early-on, as KHS built a 24-0 lead.

Things kind of snowballed on Nac. KHS took the opening kickoff and then proceeded to drive methodically down the field, getting on the board on a 2-yard touchdown by fullback Braylon Mc- Carty.The key play in the drive was the very first play from scrimmage, a 38-yard run by Anthony into Dragon territory.

Kilgore linebacker Dondra Halton put the Dragons in a third-down hole on their first offensive possession, getting a sack on second down that forced the Dragons into a third-and-16. The third-down pass was picked off by Kilgore defensive back Christian Sibley, who returned it about 15 yards to the Nac 23-yard-line. This time, Kilgore didn’t pick up a first down, but did get a big 40-yard field goal from Ryan Bustin, his first of the night.

Nac’s second possession of the game ended much like the first. This time, sophomore defensive back Shaun Williams made an interception off a tipped pass, and returned it to Nac’s 12.

Three plays later, Anthony would score from 2 yards out, giving the Bulldogs a 17-0 lead after Bustin’s extra point, and still in the first quarter.

Another possession, another disaster for Nac. Kilgore’s defense held Nac to three-and-out, and on the fourth-down punt, Kilgore’s Chris Crosby came right through the middle of the line and blocked it. Crosby also recovered the loose ball, and at the Nac 5 to boot. Jordan Henderson would score on the first play from scrimmage, a 5- yard touchdown, and KHS had a 24-0 lead, all before the second quarter even began.

Nac cut into the lead shortly after the beginning of the third quarter, a 15-yard touchdown run, but Bustin would add onto that KHS advantage with a 42-yard field goal with 32 seconds left in the half, giving the Bulldogs a 27-7 advantage at the break.

Kilgore did go in front even more with another touchdown run by Anthony in the third quarter, and had to weather a comeback attempt by the Dragons.

KHS had two touchdowns called back on holding penalties in the game: one in the second quarter, one in the third, and the Dragons clawed back into it.

Nac’s comeback, such as it was, really came too little, too late. The Dragons pressed Kilgore in the second half, getting a long touchdown reception from Jermichael Smith, a rushing touchdown from the quarterback and an 80-yard punt return for a score to stay within 13 points, 41-28. But every time Nac scored, Kilgore seemed to have an answer. Anthony had scored on a 70-yard run to make it 41-28, and just when it appeared Nac had stopped Kilgore on third down and Kilgore would have to punt, the Dragons were called for a roughing-the-kicker penalty and that gave the Bulldogs a first down.

It looked like Kilgore wouldn’t score, but on fourth down in Nac territory, Vallery elected to go for it. Kilgore Toler connected with Morgan for a 29-yard touchdown, effectively putting the game away with 2:24 left.

Ryan Bustin knocked home the extra point, and KHS led 48-28. Although Morgan leads the team in receptions, it was his first score of the year. Morgan hauled in the pass over Smith for the score.

Follow the Bulldogs through the playoffs here in the pages of the News Herald, in Game Time Weekly on Wednesdays on twitter.com, keyword kilgorenews, and on kilgorenewsherald.com.