DISTRICT 9-4A DIVISION I

Henderson Lions (5-1, 1-1)

vs.

Kilgore Bulldogs (5-2, 2-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday
R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium, Kilgore

 

Coaches

  • Henderson: Phil Castles
  • Kilgore: Mike Wood

 

Last week

 

Next week

  • Henderson: vs. Center, Oct. 27
  • Kilgore: idle

 

Playmakers

Henderson

  • QB Trae Hall, Sr., 6-3, 185 (49 of 70, 728 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs; 74 carries, 289 yards, 7 TDs)
  • WR/LB Tyrek Blanton, Sr., 6-2, 190 (9 catches, 90 yards, 0 TDs; 41 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 sack, 3 QB pressures, 2 INTs, 2 PBUs)
  • LB Garrett Lybrand, Sr., 6-2, 200 (65 tackles, 17 for loss, 2 sacks, 9 QB pressures, 1 forced fumble, 1 PBU)
  • DL De'Braylon Garrett, Sr. (42 tackles, 8 for loss, 3 sacks, 6 QB pressures)
  • RB D.Q. Murphy, Sr., 5-8, 180 (90 carries, 466 yards, 3 TDs)
  • WR Caleb Medford, Soph., 6-1, 175 (12 catches, 282 yards, 1 TD)
  • DB Keshoyn Alexander, Jr., 5-8, 165 (29 tackles, 3 INTs, 4 PBUs, 1 forced fumble, 1 defensive TD)
  • LB Brady Odom, Soph. (67 tackles, 8 for loss, 3 sacks, 6 QB pressures, 1 PBU)

 

Kilgore

  • QB Patrick "Buddy" Jackson, Sr., 5-9, 160 (22 of 46, 462 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT; 59 carries, 682 yards, 8 TDs)
  • WR Jonathan Shepherd, Sr., 6-3, 195 (9 catches, 318 yards, 5 TDs; committed to Oklahoma State)
  • DL Demorrea Richardson, Sr., 6-0, 240 (25 tackles, 10 for loss, 7 sacks, 16 QB pressures, 1 blocked punt)
  • RB Briant Mumphrey, Sr. (56 carries, 584 yards, 6 TDs; 4 catches, 31 yards, 1 TD)
  • RB Javorie Hamilton, Sr., 5-9, 170 (82 carries, 668 yards, 7 TDs; 1 catch, 10 yards, 0 TDs)
  • LB Nesba Brown, Jr. (93 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 QB pressures, 2 INTs, 1 blocked kick)
  • ATH Jaiden Zackery, Jr., 5-9, 170 (28 carries, 238 yards, 2 TDs; 1 catch, 8 yards, 0 TDs; 19 tackles)
  • LB Sebastian Mumphrey, Sr. (88 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack, 2 QB pressures, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery)

 

Just the facts

  • Henderson and Kilgore have met 36 times since 1980. Kilgore leads the series over that span, 22-14.
  • Kilgore won last year's meeting in Henderson, 28-26.
  • Henderson is averaging 30.5 points and 299.2 yards per game -- 175 rushing and 124.2 passing.
  • The Lions have defeated Kilgore once since 2012.
  • Henderson is allowing 20.2 points per game, and has forced 11 turnovers -- nine interceptions and two fumbles.
  • Kilgore is averaging 38 points and 442.4 yards per game -- 376.4 rushing and 66 passing.
  • The last time Kilgore lost to Henderson and Carthage in the same season was 2009.
  • Kilgore is allowing 31.4 points and 359 yards per game -- 179.1 rushing and 179.9 passing.

 

Key matchup: Kilgore rushing attack vs. Henderson defensive front. The Bulldogs might have East Texas' best running game, as they enter Friday's game against rival Henderson averaging 376 yards per game on the ground. And Kilgore is getting contributions from several players. The bulk of the offense goes through three players -- quarterback Patrick "Buddy" Jackson, Javorie Hamilton, and Briant Mumphrey, who have combined for almost 2,000 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns in just seven games. But there are others. Nick Hooper and Jaiden Zackery have teamed for 571 yards and four touchdowns.

Henderson QB Trae Hall. (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
Henderson QB Trae Hall. (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
loading...

Not only does Kilgore gobble up the yards on the ground, it does so in big chunks. The Bulldogs are averaging 9.2 yards per carry as a team, which has allowed the passing game to play a starring role this season as well. Jackson has only completed 22 passes in seven games, but seven of them have gone for touchdowns, and his average of 21 yards per completion is enough to make opposing defense think twice about loading the box. Senior receiver and Oklahoma State commit Jonathan Shepherd has nine catches, good for 318 yards and five touchdowns.

The key for Henderson will be to make Kilgore throw the ball when the Lions want, and not the other way around. If Kilgore is able to run the ball at will, it could be a long night for the Henderson defense.

Don't be surprised if: Henderson starts Friday night's game off strong. It's been two weeks since the Lions last played, and it wasn't a very pleasant experience. Henderson was dominated by its biggest rival, Carthage, on its home field, which probably wasn't the best way to go into the bye week. It will be up to Kilgore to match the Lions' intensity from the outset.

More From East Texas Sports Network