PREVIEW: Texas High Hits the Road to Face Unbeaten Kilgore

Texas High Tigers (1-2)

vs.

Kilgore Bulldogs (3-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday

R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium, Kilgore

Coaches

• Texas High: Gerry Stanford
• Kilgore: Mike Wood

Last week

• Texas High: def. Liberty-Eylau, 37-23
• Kilgore: def. Pine Tree, 64-28

Next week

• Texas High: vs. Marshall, Sept. 29
• Kilgore: at Palestine, Sept. 29

Playmakers

Texas High

• WR Tevailance Hunt, Sr., 6-2, 180 (16 catches, 199 yards, 2 TDs; committed to TCU)
• QB Coltin Clack, Jr., 6-3, 220 (47 of 72, 579 yards, 5 TDs, 4 INTs)
• DL/LB Dejontae Harper, Sr., 6-2, 215 (27 tackles)
• DB Davarian Malone, Jr., 6-1, 170 (8 tackles, 2 INTs)
• WR Chris Lyles, Jr., 5-10, 185 (13 catches, 157 yards, 1 TD)
• RB Chris Sutton, Jr., 5-8, 180 (186 rushing yards)
• WR Vonderic Stanley, Sr., 5-6, 160 (7 catches, 122 yards, 2 TDs)
• DL Deidrick Reeves, Sr. (18 tackles, 1 fumble recovery)

Kilgore

• WR Jonathan Shepherd, Sr., 6-3, 195 (3 catches, 66 yards, 2 TDs; committed to Oklahoma State)
• QB Patrick "Buddy" Jackson, Sr., 5-9, 160 (5 of 11, 78 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT; 23 carries, 257 yards, 5 TDs)
• DL Demorrea Richardson, Sr., 6-0, 240 (11 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 sacks, 5 QB pressures)
• RB Javorie Hamilton, Sr., 5-9, 170 (40 carries, 328 yards, 5 TDs)
• RB Briant Mumphrey, Sr. (24 carries, 281 yards, 3 TDs)
• ATH Jaiden Zackery, Jr., 5-9, 165 (11 carries, 149 yards, 1 TD; 12 tackles)
• LB Sebastian Mumphrey, Sr., 5-7, 180 (48 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 QB pressure)
• DL Nesba Brown, Jr. (37 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 QB pressure)

Just the facts

• This is the 19th meeting between Texas High and Kilgore since 1947. Texas High holds an all-time edge of 14-3-1 during that span.
• Texas High won last year's matchup, 44-0, in Texarkana.
• After being held to seven points through two games, Texas High erupted for 37 in last week's win.
• Tigers quarterback Coltin Clack threw four of his five touchdown passes against Liberty-Eylau last Friday.
• Texas High's defense is allowing 18 points per game.
• Kilgore is averaging 44 points and 453 yards per game -- 427 rushing and 26 passing.
• Five Kilgore players have rushed for at least 149 yards on the season.
• Kilgore's defense is allowing 23.3 points and 224.3 yards per game -- 147 rushing and 77.3 passing.

Key matchup: Kilgore rushing attack vs. Texas High defensive front. The Bulldogs took to the air last season more than it had in a very long time, and some thought more passing was on the way in 2017. But with a ground game that is averaging well over 400 yards per game, Kilgore is no hurry to expand the playbook.

Kilgore has five players that have rushed for at least 149 yards through three games, and that includes the running back tandem of Javorie Hamilton and Briant Mumphrey, who have combined for 609 yards and eight touchdowns. But add quarterback Patrick "Buddy" Jackson and complimentary backs Jaiden Zackery and Nickalas Hooper to the mix, and Kilgore has perhaps the deepest collection of talent in the backfield of any team in East Texas.

Jackson has attempted only 11 passes all season, but two of his five completions have gone for touchdowns -- both to receiver and Oklahoma State commit Jonathan Shepherd.

If Texas High allows Kilgore to dictate the game's pace with its ferocious running attack, the Tigers will be left vulnerable to one-on-one matchups downfield with Shepherd, who can make opposing defenses pay.

Don't be surprised if: Kilgore is met with its biggest challenge to date. Texas High left a lot to be desired, especially on offense, the first two weeks. The Tigers struggled to move the ball in 24-7 and 7-0 losses to Dallas Bishop Lynch and Arkansas High, respectively. However, the Tigers may have turned a corner on the offensive end after last week's performance. Texas High rolled up a season-high 403 yards of offense, and most of that came from junior quarterback Coltin Clack, who totaled 335 yards and accounted for all five of the Tigers' touchdowns.

Kilgore is 3-0 with convincing wins over Nacogdoches, Gladewater, and Pine Tree. However, those three teams are a combined 1-8 to begin the season. If the Bulldogs are to remain unbeaten heading into District 9-4A Division I play, they'll need to play their best game of the year.