“We want to come out of the spring with what we had in the fall on defense,” Gooden said. “We had the No. 1 unit overall, and we just want to tackle well and be fundamentally sound on that side of the ball like we were in 2024. We need to get better on special […]
“We want to come out of the spring with what we had in the fall on defense,” Gooden said. “We had the No. 1 unit overall, and we just want to tackle well and be fundamentally sound on that side of the ball like we were in 2024. We need to get better on special teams, and that includes personnel, chemistry and execution. We had five field goals blocked last year, and we also muffed a couple of punts. We need to fix that.”On offense, Gooden said. the key is simply finding an identity.“Wright is a kid from Duncanville. He knows how to win,” Gooden said. “He plays the way the game is intended to be played. He’s an above average pass blocker and an exceptional run blocker. Ropati, I think, was the best offensive lineman in the conference last year and I think he’ll definitely be that again this year. The quarterback spot isn’t 100%, but Jones is the frontrunner.”Gooden, who has carved out a 46-18 record as head coach since taking over in 2019, said he feels good about the KC defense and hopes to use the spring to answer questions on offense and special teams.NOTES: The Rangers averaged 307.4 yards and 27.1 points per game last season — rushing for 160.5 yards per outing and passing for 146.9 yards per game … KC allowed 17.8 points and 246.6 yards per game … The Rangers opened the season with wins over Monterrey Tech, New Mexico Military and Navarro before falling to Cisco at home. KC bounced back to defeat Christian Community College and Trinity Valley, fell to Tyler, defeated Blinn and then lost to Northeastern Oklahoma before closing out the season with a semifinal playoff loss at Tyler.Kilgore will work from 9-11 a.m. each Monday through Thursday for the next four weeks, and cap off spring drills with a spring game on Saturday, April 26.On the offensive side, key returnees include offensive linemen La’Rayvion Wright (6-4, 340) and Etueni Ropati (6-5, 310) and quarterback Jahrik Jones (6-0, 210).“Last year I felt like we went through a complete season not really knowing what we did well,” Gooden said. “We were average running the ball, and we never really knew what we were going to get throwing the ball.”Gooden listed defensive backs Imauree Holmes and Aamii Branch and linebacker Kevin Pierce as key returnees on defense. Holmes played in six games last year. Branch played in nine games, and Pierce — from Troup — played in 10 games and recorded 21 tackles.“Holmes can tackle and can cover,” Gooden said. “We had some big-time transfers last year, and Branch was right on their heels. We have high expectations for him. Piece is big, fast and physical. He’s East Texas tough, and to me he exemplifies what we stand for as a defensive unit. He’s a physical specimen.”The Rangers, coming off a 6-4 season in 2024, opened spring practice at 9 a.m. on Monday. It was the start of 16 practices and then a spring game for Head Coach Willie Gooden and the Rangers, who finished 4-4 in conference play a year ago.Wright started every game as a true freshman last season, and Jones played in seven games.The Kilgore College Rangers won’t begin playing football games that count on the schedule until late August, but the road to a Southwest Junior College Football Conference championship began on Monday.
