Kilgore Clinches Playoff Berth With Win Against Chapel Hill

NEW CHAPEL HILL -- It wasn't pretty, but Kilgore served notice Saturday afternoon that they are, well, the top dogs of District 9-4A Division I.

Kilgore got a 164-yard, two-touchdown performance from Ja'Quorius Smith in addition to 145 yards on the ground from quarterback Patrick Jackson and another solid defensive performance to deal Chapel Hill a 27-7 loss Saturday.

The victory allowed Kilgore to hold onto first place outright within the league.

Kilgore (6-2, 3-0) fumbled twice in the second half and had a field goal blocked, but it overcame mistakes for a strong final body of work.

The game was played on Saturday because, like many games in East Texas, the contest was postponed due to weather the day prior.

Kilgore hosts Brownsboro on Friday.

Chapel Hill, which dropped to 2-6 overall and 1-2 in district, simultaneously hosts Henderson.

Kilgore secured a playoff berth with the win, and it has made the playoffs every year since head coach Mike Wood's first season in 2010.

Smith got Kilgore on the scoreboard first with a 1-yard run, with just over two minutes off the first quarter clock. The team added another score, a 22-yard run by Smith, with just over a minute left in the first quarter for a 13-0 lead.

Chapel Hill executed a 99-yard drive and cut into Kilgore's lead. Reggie King scored for Chapel Hill on a 2-yard run.

Chapel Hill had 187 yards rushing, but it turned the ball four times.

Kenyotta Henderson ran for 117 yards to lead Chapel Hill.

Kilgore took a 13-7 lead into halftime and then added to it in the third quarter on a 20-yard run by Terrell Shelton. Caylon Williams scored Kilgore's final touchdown of the night, a 30-yard run with 1:44 left in the game.

In total, Kilgore racked up 357 rushing yards in the game.