MOUNT PLEASANT -- A passing game that helped Mount Pleasant get to 3-0 prior to Friday night’s home game against Kilgore became a weakness, as the Tigers turned the ball over nine times -- including five interceptions -- in a 38-6 Kilgore win at Sam Parker Field.

Kilgore (3-0) virtually had been off 13 days thanks to its game last weekend against Pine Tree being canceled after a hand full of plays because of lightning. The Bulldogs appeared to have little rust. They didn’t score on their first possession, but did score on their second, an 85-yard, 13-play drive capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by JuJu Brown. The key play in the drive was a 33-yard pass from Cooper Coldiron to Benny Colbert, who had a huge night. The junior two-way standout snagged two interceptions and recovered a fumble, all in the first half as the Dogs took a 21-0 halftime advantage.

Mount Pleasant quarterback Montravious James, who rolled up impressive numbers in his first three games, had a difficult time against Kilgore. James got the Tigers within striking distance, to Kilgore’s 15-yard-line, early in the first quarter, but was hit trying to make a play and fumbled. Colbert recovered.

It wasn’t that turnover, but rather another one, that proved costly for the Tigers. With 2:27 left in the half, James was picked off by Colbert, who returned the pick to the Tigers’ 25. Brown scored his second touchdown of the night on the first down play that followed for a 14-0 Kilgore lead.

A fumble on the kickoff recovered by Brown led to a third Bulldogs’ touchdown, this time on a 28-yard pass from Coldiron to A.J. Davis. Coldiron went 5-for-9 on the night for 91 yards, the touchdown and an interception, Kilgore’s only turnover of the game.

Kilgore's three-touchdown halftime lead grew to four early in the third on a one-yard touchdown run by Coldiron.

Mount Pleasant’s only touchdown of the night came on the Tigers’ final drive of the third quarter, a five-yard pass from James to Patrick Flannigan. Colbert blocked the extra point, and Kilgore led 28-6. Peralez hit a 23-yard field goal to increase that to 31-6, then picked off James, returning that interception 60 yards for a touchdown, the final of the game.

Kilgore's Q. Brewster had two fourth-quarter interceptions.

Kilgore opens District 16-3A play Friday at home against Spring Hill. Mount Pleasant concludes non-district play at Atlanta.

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