Lindale and Kilgore secured notable victories on Friday, with Lindale defeating Chapel Hill 66-34 and Kilgore opening district play with a 40-6 win over Bullard. The Lindale Eagles played at home, while the Kilgore Bulldogs hosted their game at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium. These games marked significant performances for both local teams as the football season progresses.
In Kilgore, the Bulldogs (1-2, 1-0) started District 8-4A Division I play strongly against the Bullard Panthers. Junior quarterback Braddox Johnson completed 15 of 17 passes for 208 yards and five touchdowns. Senior receiver De’Andre Thurmond was the target for four of those touchdown passes, gaining 72 yards on four receptions. The Kilgore defense maintained a shutout until Bullard scored with 5:49 remaining in the game, holding the Panthers to 218 yards from scrimmage and winning the turnover battle 2-0. Kilgore's first three scores came from Johnson-to-Thurmond connections, including a seven-yard touchdown in the opening quarter and a 47-yard play later in the same frame. An interception by Kilgore’s Blade Chitwood set up Thurmond’s third touchdown of four yards early in the second quarter, establishing a 20-0 lead. Maddox Wright added a one-yard touchdown run, bringing the Bulldogs to a 27-0 lead by halftime. Wright finished the game with 132 rushing yards and a score on 12 carries, while Tyler Johnigan recorded 108 receiving yards and a touchdown on four receptions. Bullard's Drew Lane led their team with 89 rushing yards on 16 carries.
Lindale delivered a high-scoring performance at home against Chapel Hill, with Hank Thurman leading the Eagles' offense. Thurman accumulated 286 yards of offense and scored five touchdowns, rushing for 241 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries, and adding a 45-yard touchdown reception. Lindale established an early lead, with Thurman scoring on runs of four and eight yards in the first quarter, followed by a 45-yard reception from David Lindig. Lindig also scored on a seven-yard run in the second quarter, expanding Lindale's lead to 28-0. Chapel Hill responded with a 67-yard run by Lemuel Stinson and a 72-yard touchdown reception by Maliek Brown on a pass from Ja’Kaivian Snow. Thurman countered with a 60-yard touchdown run for Lindale.
Elsewhere in East Texas, the Carthage Bulldogs (3-0) secured a 41-14 victory over Legacy School of Sport Sciences on Friday. Quarterback Jacob Dixon passed for 291 yards and five touchdowns, connecting with JD Edwards, Bryston Price, and Jaden Jeffress for scores. Edwards recorded seven catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns, Price had six catches for 108 yards and two scores, and Jeffress added four grabs for 51 yards and a touchdown. Jace Harris contributed a rushing touchdown. The Carthage defense registered four sacks, seven tackles for loss, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Aiden Bagley led the defensive effort with 11 tackles, three quarterback pressures, a forced fumble, an interception, and two quarterback hits.
Pittsburg edged out Van with a 38-35 win. Pittsburg’s Camdyn Doddy completed six of nine passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Tamar Palmer rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, and Seven Duffey caught five passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns. For Van, Rawly Hinch had 204 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries, and passed for 205 yards and a touchdown. Parker Rainey added 131 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
West Rusk defeated Garrison 43-21 on Friday. Trig Pratt passed for 201 yards and four touchdowns for West Rusk, completing 14 of 19 attempts. Daylan Williams scored two rushing touchdowns for the Raiders, while Kameron Brown and Gunner Harp each caught two touchdown passes from Pratt. Garrison's Caden Leaon scored two rushing touchdowns, and Riley McGuire added one.
Arp delivered a 54-7 win against Shelbyville, driven by a strong ground attack led by Tanner Hunt, who rushed for 158 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries. Ty Langley contributed with 90 passing yards and a touchdown, alongside 105 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Union Grove remained unbeaten, securing a 40-35 victory over Tenaha. Hudson Wightman was instrumental for Union Grove, tallying 227 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries, and completing five of eight passes for 51 yards and a touchdown. He also recorded three tackles and an interception. Daniel Fernandez added 14 tackles for Union Grove. For Tenaha, Makias Norris rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
Big Sandy triumphed over Boles 56-20, with Keymarion Williams accumulating 304 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns, including 227 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Jonathan Taylor completed 14 of 23 passes for 341 yards and three touchdowns, also scoring on a rush. Carlisle defeated Lovelady 35-14. Antonio Ibarra contributed with 185 passing yards and a touchdown, and 184 rushing yards and a score.
In a Thursday game, Clarksville earned a 57-35 win against Harleton, despite Harleton’s Drake Phillips rushing for 318 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries, and passing for 49 yards and a touchdown.
Looking ahead, Kilgore will visit Pine Tree next week, while Bullard will host Palestine. Carthage is scheduled to visit West Orange-Stark on Friday.
