LINDALE -- The Kilgore Bulldogs got out of the opening gate of the Class 3A Division I playoffs like a racehorse Friday, blowing by Van, 49-7.

Kilgore (10-0) faces Kaufman next Friday at a site and time to be determined. Kaufman beat Liberty-Eylau 26-14 on Friday.

Kilgore quarterback Benny Colbert completed 4 of 6 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to tight end Jarod Wood.

Kevrin Justice had only six carries, but finished with 106 yards and and a touchdown. JuJu Brown had 95 yards and a score as the Bulldogs finished with 343 rushing yards.

Quarterback Peter Maddox and the Vandals' passing game had a difficult night. He completed 9 of 20 passes for 81 yards and a couple of interceptions. Tailback Matt Savis had 107 rushing yards and Van's lone score.

The Bulldogs quickly turned the first possession of the game into points. Colbert connected with Aaron Foy on a 56-yard touchdown on the game's third play.

Van (4-7) tied the game at 7-all on its first drive on a 1-yard run by Savis, but the Vandals simply could not stop Kilgore. With the score tied following the kickoff, Justice shot around the left side of Van's defense for an 84-yard score, his 24th of the season.

From there it was all Kilgore. Jake Brantley intercepted a pass band returned it 40 yards for a score; Colbert scored on a 12-yard quarterback keeper; Wood caught a ball that he tipped twice and hauled in for a 74-yard score; and then he caught a 19-yarder.

Kilgore led 42-7 at halftime.

The only score of the second half came on a run by Brown, just a handful of plays after Maddox was picked off for a second time, this one by Jeffrey Sanders.

 

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