Defense + Running Game Fuel No. 6 Kilgore’s 42-7 Road Rout of Marshall

MARSHALL -- Class 3A No. 6 Kilgore lived up to lofty expectations in its season opener in Marshall, holding the Mavericks to two second-half first downs in a 42-7 win.

Kilgore scored 28 points in the first half, including a 70-yard run by Aaron Foy. Defensive back Jeffrey Sanders picked off a pass by Marshall quarterback Justin Hart on Marshall's first offensive play of the game that led to a second Kilgore score three plays later, a seven-yard run by junior tailback Kevrin Justice.

The Bulldogs rolled up 280 rushing yards, led by Justice's 152. Senior running back Davieonta "JuJu" Brown carried the ball 18 times for 108 yards and a first-half touchdown.

Marshall's lone touchdown of the game cut Kilgore's lead in half, 14-7, a two-yard run by Jacque Kuykendall, who alternated between quarterback and running back in the game. But the Mavericks didn't have many highlights.

Kilgore added another score, an eight-yard run by Brown, with 4:31 left in the half, then scored again, this time on a 40-yard pass play from quarterback Benny Colbert to Foy right before the half for a 28-7 advantage.

Only Kilgore scored in the second half. The Bulldogs got a 17-yard run by Justice and a one-yarder by Jack Johnston with less than three minutes remaining.

As impressive as Kilgore's offense was, the defense was equally up to the task, holding Marshall to 174 total yards and only 28 rushing yards. Safety Jake Brantley, Justice and Jordan Thompson all had tackles for loss, and Chad Bornes chased Hart into a sack by multiple Bulldogs. William Colbert, a junior, had a fumble recovery late in the game that led to Johnston's touchdown run.

Colbert completed 3 of 6 passes for 60 yards.

The Bulldogs have an open date next weekend due to two games that were scheduled, then canceled by opponents. Their second game of the season is at Pine Tree on Sept. 13. Marshall hosts longtime rival Longview next week.

KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX News