LONGVIEW -- Kilgore finally went back to Mr. Reliable, Ja'Quorius Smith. He didn't let them down.

The running back rushed for 284 yards and three touchdowns, lifting the Bulldogs past Pine Tree, 30-9. Smith's touchdown runs broke open what had been a 10-9 game.

Daniel Bonamy did his best to keep the Pirates (1-2) in the game. The quarterback passed for 175 yards and a touchdown to Konnor Johnson).

Pine Tree rushed for 160 yards. But it seemed the Pirates did it all outside of the red zone.

Kilgore quarterback Patrick Jackson threw the ball 11 times, completing five of them for 47 yards. But he did use his legs well, giving Kilgore a 7-0 lead in the first half on a 64-yard touchdown run.

Pine Tree tied the game with Johnson's touchdown catch.

Kilgore kicker Christian Galvan broke the tie with a 29-yard field goal just before halftime.

The Pirates notched a safety in the third quarter when a snap on a punt play went over the head of Kilgore's Livan Torres. The punter kicked the ball and a Pine Tree defender fell on it, but officials ruled he wasn't in bounds.

Pine Tree was awarded the two-point safety rather than the go-ahead touchdown.

Then Smith took over, hitting on touchdown runs of 45 yards, 65 yards and 75 yards to blow the game open.

Kilgore finished with 425 yards of total offense.

Pine Tree's best chance to score came late in the contest, at Kilgore's 3-yard line. Shaffer Russell was thrown for a loss on the fourth-and-goal play.

Kilgore hosts Texas High next week. The Pirates will be idle this week and visit cross-town rival Longview on Sept. 25.

More From East Texas Sports Network