Scranton signs scholarship to play for Baylor

KC wide receiver T.J. Scranton (RIGHT) signed a letter of intent on National Signing Day, Feb. 6, to play for Baylor University.  Scranton, a sophomore from Hitchcock High School in Houston, had 25 catches for 587 yards and 8 touchdowns this year.  Scranton played his freshman season at Ranger College before switching to Kilgore last year. He also visited Houston and had interest from Syracuse, South Carolina, Illinois and Texas Tech, is scheduled to graduate from KC in May.

Scranton joins a group of six mid-season transfers from the KC football program, including: Kendal Abron - Louisiana College, Cody Ball - Midwestern State, A.J. Billings - TAMU Commerce, Chris Burns - New Mexico Highlands University, Brad Guillory - Arkansas State, Anthony Holder - Texas State, Tony Johnson - S.W. Baptist , Kedric Manning - Troy Uinversity, Jarrod McCarty - S.W. Baptist, Prince McKinney - N.E. State, Logan Morris - TAMU Kingsville, Earnest Quander - TAMU Commerce, Shea Rodriguez - Tamu - Commerce, Jamall Skipper - Sam Houston State, Jared Wallace, Bellhaven, Robin Williams - Emporia State

KC to hold Spring game April 26

The Kilgore College Rangers football team will bring back two familiar faces to the field for its spring game this Saturday, April 26 -- former head coach Jimmy Rieves and former Ranger and current NFL player Demorrio Williams.
Rieves and Williams will serve as guest coaches for the two squads at the annual Blue and Gray Spring Game. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. at Kilgore’s R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium. Head coach J.J. Eckert said he is thrilled that Williams will be able to make the trip to help KC athletes and give back to the community that gave him a good jump start on his career.
“When former players (Williams) go on to have successful college and NFL careers, we need to get them back here to work with the young men currently trying to maintain their legacy,” Eckert said. “It will be great to have a former Ranger who is now in the NFL to come back and impart some of his knowledge with our athletes.”Williams helped lead Kilgore to an undefeated season in 2001, and a No. 2 national ranking. He transferred after his sophomore campaign at KC to The University of Nebraska where he completed his degree in sociology and was a fourth round NFL draft pick for the Atlanta Falcons in 2004.
Williams started all 16 of the Falcons' regular-season games of the 2005 NFL season recording 132 tackles, and ranking second on his team for that statistic. He had a career-high 15 tackles in a Dec. 12, 2005 game against the Saints. He will play his first season with the Chiefs this season, having signed a five-year contract with Kansas City this past March.
Rieves coached the Rangers from 2000-06, compiling a 48-27 record and winning two conference titles in 2001 and 2004, including the undefeated season in 2001. Rieves is currently the director of student success and the assistant athletic director at KC. He will take over as KC’s athletic director this summer upon David Castles’ retirement.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun. I won’t have to worry about winning or losing. I can go for it on fourth down every time if I want to. It’s like a coach’s dream,” Rieves said. “It’s the best of both worlds—I can be an armchair quarterback and not have to worry about what people think about my play-calling the next day.”
The Rangers opened spring workouts March 27, and second-year head coach Eckert said that he is excited that expectations are high this coming season for the Rangers after a successful 9-3 season. The Rangers were regular season champs last season, but lost the conference championship game to Navarro College, 56-28.
The Rangers signed more than 40 players in the offseason, and have 45 players returning to the team, including Second Team All-American Woody McClendon.
“We have some really good experience returning,” Eckert said. “Also, we don’t have to introduce a brand new scheme like we did last year. A lot of these guys have 12 games under their belt as a Ranger -- on both sides of the ball. We’re ready to get suited up and see exactly what this team is capable of.”
Eckert has reworked the point system of Saturday’s game as well. Gone is the traditional scoring of a normal contest and in its place is a structure that more evenly distributes points between offense and defense. The scrimmage will consist of four quarters, with at least 15 plays per quarter. Points will be awarded to offense and defense for specific achievements.
“A touchdown will still count six points, a PAT one and a field goal six, but additional points will be given for first downs and plays longer than 30 yards,” Eckert said. “The defense can also score by forcing a punt or a three-and-out series, and by making a fourth-down stop, a sack, a negative-yards play, a turnover and a turnover for a touchdown.”
Each drive will begin at the 35-yard line. If a punt is forced, the ensuing drive will start where the ball is fielded. If a turnover is forced, offense will again start at the 35.
“We’ve reworked this to try and give it a little more pep and make it more festive of an atmosphere,” Eckert said. “The more people we have out there taking an interest and supporting our football program, the better. Hopefully everyone that comes will enjoy themselves.”
The 33-year-old coach has also enlisted the assistance of KC Cheerleaders, who will be helping with water, T-shirt and hat sales at Saturday’s game.
Also, raffle tickets will be available for $5 each. Grand prize is two tickets to a Dallas Cowboys’ home game plus hotel accommodations.

-By Chris Craddock
KC Coordinator of Sports Information

KC finds success on National Signing Day
KC wide receiver T.J. Scranton signed a letter of intent on National Signing Day, Feb. 6, to play for Baylor University.  Scranton, a sophomore from Hitchcock High School in Houston, had 25 catches for 587 yards and 8 touchdowns this year.  Scranton played his freshman season at Ranger College before switching to Kilgore last year. He also visited Houston and had interest from Syracuse, South Carolina, Illinois and Texas Tech.  He is scheduled to graduate from KC in May.

Scranton joins a group of 15 transfers from the KC football program, including:

Kendal Abron - Louisiana College
Cody Ball - Midwestern State
A.J. Billings - TAMU Commerce
Brad Guillory - Arkansas State
Anthony Holder - Texas State
Tony Johnson - S.W. Baptist
Kedric Manning - Troy Uinversity
Jarrod McCarty - S.W. Baptist
Prince McKinney - N.E. State Univ.
Logan Morris - TAMU Kingsville
Earnest Quander - TAMU Comm.
Shea Rodriguez - Tamu - Comm.
Jamall Skipper - Sam Houston
Jared Wallace – Bellhaven
Robin Williams - Emporia State

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF INCOMING PLAYERS
THAT KC SIGNED TO PLAY IN 2008.

The Kilgore College Ranger football team held "Buddy Day"Aug. 16. Kids ages 5-12 were invited to come to R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium where they ate hamburgers, participated in football drills and met the 2007 Ranger players and coaches.