TEAMS: Texas High (1-2) at Kilgore (3-0)
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m., R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium
LAST WEEK: The Tigers picked up their first win, 37-23 over Liberty-Eylau, and the Bulldogs thumped Pine Tree, 64-28.
LAST YEAR: Texas High blanked Kilgore, 44-0, at Tiger Stadium in Grim Park.
GAME FACTS: This is the first big road test for Texas High. Both teams start district play next week, the Tigers hosting Marshall in the 16-5A opener and the Bulldogs travelling to Palestine to start 9-4A, Division I. THS leads the series against Kilgore, 14-3-1, dating back to 1947. The Tigers found their offensive rhythm last week after managing just seven total points in their first two games. Texas High's defense allows just 18 points per game. The Bulldogs are averaging 44 points and over 420 rushing yards per game, and the defense is giving up 23.3 points per game.
COACHES' COMMENTS: Texas High's Gerry Stanford-"This will be our first bug road test. We feel like we're going to be one of the most well-versed defensive teams around; each team we've seen a very tough offense that offers differences in their schemes. We haven't seen the same offense yet, and so we haven't gotten into any schematic consistency on defense.
"Kilgore is very talented and they do a great job with their kids. Coach (Mike) Wood has been there since 1994, and their is a lot of consistency. When you have that type of consistency, you have success. They have one of the best defensive lines we've seen to date, are very physical and fast up front. It's going to be a big challenge for us.
"We told the kids, 'we want to establish some drives and consistency throughout the game and get better with our execution as we prepare for district play.'"
Kilgore's Mike Wood-"Texas High is a very talented football team, and we certainly have our work cut out for us this week. the No. 1 thing for us is to continue to be able to run the football and improve on our passing game. Defensively, we've just got to grow up a little bit; we've got some young kids and they just need the snaps.
"This is our last game before district play, and we just need to continue to get better and, hopefully, stay healthy for next week."
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TONIGHT'S LINEUPS
(Numbers in parentheses)
TEXAS HIGH OFFENSE: LT-Daevion Williams (77), 265; LG-Elian Bustos (68), 270; C-Soloman Davis (50), 250; RG-Ladd Presdton (55), 255; LT-Mason Shoalmire (72), 265; HB-Riley Russell (11), 185; WR-Jaqualin Brown (7), 175; FLK-Chris Lyles (3), 165; QB-Coltin Clack (1), 220; SLOT-Vonderick Stanley (4), 160; WR-Tevailance Hunt (9), 180; TB-Chris Sutton (21), 170; PK-Logan Snell (34), 200.
TEXAS HIGH DEFENSE: DE-Deidrick Reeves (25), 210; DT-Jaylin Franklin (48), 275; DE-Dejonte Harper (24), 225; SLB-Keidrick Reeves (27), 170; MLB-Chris Arnold (45), 215; WLB-Davon Williams (40), 215; OLB-Tim Noble (32), 175; CB-Darrell Webster (16), 170; SS-Deshaveon Burks (35), 170; FS-Davarian Malone (31), 170; CB-Chrishad Manning (26), 155; PNT-Logan Snell (34).
Kilgore's lineups were unavailable.