Second-half surge lifts Kilgore past No. 5 Snow, 35-30

KILGORE, Texas — No. 5 Snow College built a 16-point halftime lead and forced six turnovers, but Kilgore College used three long touchdown runs to rally for a 35-30 victory Saturday.

Snow led 23-7 at halftime after scoring 23 unanswered points. Kilgore responded with 28 straight points in the second half, including touchdown runs of 62, 51 and 99 yards, before Snow pulled within five in the closing minutes.

The game started with Kilgore’s defense providing the first score. Snow quarterback Steve Smedley was sacked and fumbled on fourth down during the opening possession, and Caleb Augustus returned the recovery 29 yards for a touchdown.

Snow quickly answered. Smedley connected with Lael Rhodes for a 13-yard touchdown to tie the game, and Ian Sanches followed with a 50-yard field goal to put the Badgers ahead 10-7.

The Snow defense then forced another Kilgore fumble, recovered by Fale Atuaia at the Rangers’ 28. One play later, Smedley found Makai Peterson for a 28-yard touchdown. Sanches added a 30-yard field goal late in the quarter, giving Snow a 20-7 lead.

Snow continued creating turnovers in the second quarter. Will Warner and King Mamea forced fumbles recovered by Jaden Manwaring and Angelo Turo, respectively. Meeks Falatea later intercepted Kilgore twice.

Falatea’s second interception gave Snow the ball at the Kilgore 32 with 1:27 remaining in the half. The Badgers drove to the 3 before Sanches kicked a 20-yard field goal as time expired, sending Snow into halftime ahead 23-7.

Kilgore changed the game after the break.

Rhodes fumbled on Snow’s first offensive play of the second half, and Brayden West returned the recovery for a touchdown. A successful 2-point conversion cut Snow’s lead to 23-15.

After a Snow punt, Kilgore’s James Johnson Jr. broke a 62-yard touchdown run, trimming the margin to 23-21.

The Rangers took their first offensive lead with 9:29 remaining in the fourth quarter when Trevor Allen Jr. scored on a 51-yard run, putting Kilgore ahead 28-23.

Snow then pinned Kilgore at its own 1-yard line with a 47-yard Joseph Brandt punt. Johnson erased that field-position advantage on the next play, racing 99 yards for a touchdown and a 35-23 lead.

Snow answered with an 80-yard drive late in the fourth quarter. Story completed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Rhodes with 1:24 remaining, and Sanches’ extra point made it 35-30. Kilgore retained possession for the remaining time.

Johnson finished with 167 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries, while Allen added 92 yards and a touchdown. Kilgore rushed for 299 yards, averaging 10 yards per carry.

Snow used two quarterbacks. Smedley completed 12 of 21 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns, while Story went 16 of 25 for 111 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Rhodes caught nine passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns, Kade Haroldsen had seven catches for 77 yards and Peterson caught five passes for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Jadyn Buckner led Snow’s rushing attack with 55 yards on 20 carries. Snow finished with 322 yards of offense compared with Kilgore’s 369 and held the ball for 39:18. The Badgers recovered four fumbles and intercepted two passes but also committed three turnovers of their own.