KILGORE — Tanner Barr's desperation fourth down toss to Desmond Pollard fell harmlessly incomplete as the Kilgore Bulldogs snatched a scintillating 34-29 upset of the state's top-ranked 3A Gilmer Buckeyes before a packed house at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium Friday night.
A game that had been billed as the Game of the Year in East Texas more than lived up to its billing as the outcome stayed in doubt until the final horn sounded.
Kilgore faifthful did not want to leave the stadium at the conclusion of the contest. They milled around and visited with one another a good 30 minutes after the game had ended.
It marked only the second district loss suffered by the Buckeyes in 12 years, while the Bulldogs earned their first outright loop crown since 2008.
The Bulldogs improve to 9-0 and face Van in Class 3A bi-district action at Lindale Friday night. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, slip to 9-1 and face Mineola Thursday night at Tyler's Rose Stadium.
Gilmer took a slim 21-20 lead into the fourth period and looked primed to put the game on ice, but facing a third and two at the Kilgore 15 to start frame Josh Walker was dropped for a 4-yard loss. Rather than try a field goal, having already had one blocked in the first half, the Buckeyes went for the kill.
The Bulldog defense, one of the best in Class 3A, forced Barr into an incomplete pass and the ball went over one downs to Kilgore.
Nine plays and 81 yards later, the Kilgore Bulldogs were celebrating a 10-yard Kevrin Justice touchdown run. Benny Colbert and Jack Johnston connected on the 2-point try to make it 28-21 in favor of Kilgore with 6:04 to play.
It was far from over at that point as Gilmer countered with a snappy 4-play, 80-yard march that culminated with a 39-yard Chase Tate to Pollard halfback pass at 5:02 of the fourth. It was Tate's second TD pass of the evening as the Buckeyes used all the tricks in their bag, including a Jaidon Parrish 2-point pass to Barr to make it 29-28.
Kilgore took the ensuing kick and proceeded to move down the field behind the running of Justice and JuJu Brown. Justice finished the night with 118 yards on 22 carries and 3 TDs, while Brown had 111 yards on 14 and one score.
It was the final score by Justice that will be talked about for some time to come. Kilgore was pounding the ball down the field and Gilmer called a timeout with 1:48 to play and nursing a one point lead.
Returning to the field following a timeout, Justice took a handoff and met little defensive resistance, racing 22 yards for the go-ahead score with 1:38 to play. The try for two failed and the Bulldogs clung to a 34-29 advantage.
It was clear at that point the Buckeyes were going to live and die with their high-octane offense, which came into the game averaging just over 60 points per contest. Barr, who finished the night 27 of 35 for 257 yards and one TD, moved Gilmer past midfield with passes to Kris Boyd.
Kilgore, which was surrendering just under 12 points per game, rose to the challenge with the District 16-3A crown in the offing, opting to rush three and drop everybody else back. The calculation worked and the Bulldogs notched their ninth straight home victory dating back to the 2011 campaign.
Gilmer committed a season-high four turnovers in the first half and Kilgore took a 20-14 lead in at intermission.
It started on the game's opening kickoff as Jacobie Vidal pounced on the muffed pooch kick and gave Kilgore prime starting position at the Gilmer 31.
But the Buckeyes averted damage on that opening fumble and would dodge disaster on three of their four miscues.
Barr worked the Buckeyes down the field to the Bulldog 27 before a fumbled exchange between he and Parrish resulted in a Stefun Tatum recovery at 7:35 of the first period.
Kilgore was three and out following Tatum's fumble recovery and Gilmer got a personal foul face mask penalty to set it up in good position.
Barr and Parrish connected for 18 yards and moved to the Bulldog 9. The Kilgore defense stiffened and forced a Pablin Olivares 25-yard field goal attempt. The kick was blocked and Quavion Mumphrey picked up the ball and rambled 61 yards.
This led to Kilgore breaking the ice when Brown slipped and dipped in from 14 yards at 2:27 of the opening frame. Christian Galvan was spot on the on point after to give the hosts a 7-0 lead.
Gilmer was not impressed and struck back when Barr and Boyd converted a 47-yard screen pass that found the money window with 1:24 to go in the first quarter. Barr, who connected on his first nine passes to open the contest, finished the first half 14 of 18 for 149 yards.
Brown got out on a 33-yard scamper only to cough it up and the end of the run. Charles Williams capped a mad scramble for the loose leather and emerged from the pile the victor for the Buckeyes.
Gilmer promptly returned the gift when Boyd was jarred loose the ball and Jake Brantley gobbled up the first of two first half Buckeye errors.
The short 36-yard field suited Kilgore to a T as Justice polished off a six-play march that consumed 3:20 of the second frame. Galvan toed the kick following the Justice TD to make it 14-7 with 6:48 to go in the first half.
Gilmer, as it did following the first Kilgore score, responded with a point-producing drive that used nine snaps and covered 63 yards. The Buckeyes used a little trickery when Barr lateraled to Chase Tate and he threw back to Barr for a 15-yard TD at 4:24. Olivares tacked on the point after to tie the score at 14-14.
The Bulldogs scored on their last possession of the half to take a 20-14 advantage in at the break. Kilgore traveled 72 yards in 10 plays as Justice slipped across from the two with 0.9.2 seconds to go before intermission. The all important point after by Galvan missed the mark to the right. It was only Galvan's second missed point after kick of the year.
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