Kilgore Erupts in Second Half to Take Down Pine Tree, 64-28

KILGORE -- Pine Tree was a scrappy bunch Friday night at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium, buoyed somewhat by a couple of Kilgore mistakes.

The Bulldogs, however, proved to once again be too strong for the Pirates, shipwrecking them by scoring 42 points in the second half for a 64-28 win.

Against the Pirates, Kilgore blistered Pine Tree's defense with 452 rushing yards, including a 144-yard, three-touchdown performance by Briant Mumphrey and 164 yards from Nick Hooper. Jonathan Shepherd caught a 43-yard pass from Patrick Jackson that he outraced defenders on for a touchdown, and Ja'Vorie Hamilton scored twice. Even defensive end Demorrea Richardson got in on the act, as a 250-plus-pound running back for a 4-yard touchdown. Jaiden Zackery scored, as well.

Mumphrey scored to give Kilgore an early lead, a 15-yard run, and then after Pine Tree tied things up on a 5-yard run by Keshon Williams, the Pirates were blessed again when a tipped pass from Jackson turned into an interception for Pine Tree, courtesy of Micah Gibson, allowing the Pirates to keep the score tied.

That wouldn't last long. Hooper put the Bulldogs in business with a 30-yard run inside Pine Tree's 5-yard-line, and then Richardson got into the end zone on the 4-yarder, taking defenders with him over the goal line. The point after was missed, the only one missed the entire night by Elivan Torres, but Kilgore led, 13-7, in the second quarter.

A safety on a bobbled punt gave the Bulldogs a 15-7 advantage, and then Jackson and Shepherd hooked up on the long touchdown pass with 3:48 left in the half. That sent the game to halftime with Kilgore up, 22-7.

The Bulldogs scored on the first play from scrimmage in the second half on a 72-yard run by Mumphrey, and then Damien Parker picked off a pass from Pine Tree quarterback Wade Seidel to give Kilgore the ball back immediately. Jackson scrambled to Pine Tree's 6, and then Hamilton scored two plays later, putting Kilgore in front, 36-7.

Pine Tree would jump back into things, sort of, with a pair of quick scores of their own. Da'Von Coleman hauled in a pass from Seidel and took it down Kilgore's sidelines for a 70-yard score, and then Kilgore fumbled the ball away to the Pirates on the kickoff, at the worst possible place: Kilgore's own 1.

Williams scored for the second time in the game on the next play, and Pine Tree had pulled within 15, 36-21, still in the third quarter.

Kilgore, though, had plenty of gasoline left in the tank. The Pirates' onside kick attempt failed (an illegal touching penalty), and Zackery scored four plays later on an option pitch from Jackson.

A 23-yard run by Hooper put Kilgore back in scoring position, and Hamilton scored his second of the night.

Pine Tree's last highlight was a 20-yard touchdown pass from Seidel to Trey Pruitt, and then Kilgore scored twice in the fourth quarter, a 1-yarder by Mumphrey and a 15-yard run by Devondrick Crowe on his only carry in the game.

Next Friday, Kilgore (3-0) hosts Texas High. Pine Tree (0-3) will host Henderson.