Kilgore Holds on for Thrilling 21-17 Victory Against Texas High

KILGORE — Devin Lawler knocked away a Texas High fourth-down pass attempt in the end zone in the final minute to protect Kilgore's 21-17 win over the Tigers Friday at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium.

The Bulldogs (2-2) made it two wins in a row by shutting out Texas High in the second half to go along with sophomore quarterback Patrick Jackson's 25-yard TD jaunt, racing around the left side untouched on a read-option play that is new to the Kilgore playbook this season.

The go-ahead score came with 9:39 left in the game and was set up by three consecutive gashing runs by Ja'Quorius Smith runs up the middle. Smith would finish with 108 yards on 18 carries for Kilgore, which travels to Gladewater next week.

Lawler's pass breakup was the fifth consecutive incompletion to end Texas High's offensive night. One of those was a spike to stop the clock on first down.

The Tigers scored twice quickly following Bulldog turnovers. Jacobi Brewer recovered a fumble int he first minute for THS, and Quan Hampton caught a 39-yard strike from Cade Pearson on the Tigers' first offensive snap.

After Jerry Wrightner intercepted a deep pass and returned it 26 yards to give Texas High the ball at the Kilgore 28, JaKardi Witcher covered that in two plays. He ran 35 yards and then plunged in for the score.

Witcher had 116 yards on 19 rushes, and Hampton had five catches for 89 yards in the game.

Cole Wood caught a TD pass from Jackson that was intended for Jonathan Shepherd but batted away by a Tiger defender, and Mateo Meraz had a 98-yard interception return for a score to tie the game with 7:10 left before intermission.

Ethan Montez broke the tie with a 31-yard field goal with 1:55 left before the half.