Linebacker Chris Gipson wants to be remembered as a leader and playmaker when he finishes his senior season at Kimball.

If he keeps delivering hits like some of those against Carter last Friday, opponents will remember him more as a bulldozer or even a Mack truck.Gipson played against several friends in the opener, including quarterback Jarvis Phillips. The booming pop when Gipson and Phillips collided during a play echoed throughout Kincaide Stadium. The tackle was one of 15 Gipson made against Carter.

"They put 'Ouch' on the scoreboard," Gipson said, laughing as he often does when discussing one of his punishing hits.

Delivering the big hit has been Gipson's forte throughout his high school career. That, along with his quickness and nose for the ball, has been a reason recruiters are hoping to land Gipson (6-0, 228) for the 2008 season.

"He's really learned a lot in the last couple of years. [Defensive coordinator Carlton] Nelson has done a great job with him," Kimball coach Darrell Jordan said of Gipson, ranked No. 75 in SportsDay's Area Top 100.

"The thing is, it's just Week 1 for him. He's just getting started."

Gipson, 17, mixes humility with confidence and leads by example, particularly in the weight room. He bench presses 325 pounds and squats 600. He's gained nearly 30 pounds since his sophomore year.

Gipson's hard work has attracted the attention of recruiters from Arizona, Oklahoma, Florida, Nebraska and Notre Dame, among others.

"He's somebody you want to be around because everybody feeds off his energy," Kimball quarterback/safety Tashaun Gipson said of his cousin. "He's got that edge."

Gipson had 133 tackles last season. He said he set personal goals of recording 20 tackles in a game at least once and 200 tackles for the year.

Gipson concedes his expecations are lofty, but he purposely set them high to challenge himself. He and Tashaun grew up together, and Tashaun said Chris always has been the biggest competitor.

"Even in dominoes, he's competitive," Tashaun said. "This summer, we were playing, and it got a little heated. There was a lot of talking, and it escalated a little bit. But it was nothing serious.

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Kimball's Chris Gipson has set a lofty goal of 200 tackles for the year.

"That's just Chris. He wants to win at everything."

Chris, because of his competitive nature, was one of the players who took last week's last-second loss to Carter the hardest. Had Kimball held Carter on its final play – a 10-yard touchdown run by Phillips – it would have been the Knights' first win against Carter in six tries.

But Gipson and the rest of the team are moving on and preparing for Friday's home test against Lufkin, which edged Longview, 16-13, last week. A win against Lufkin, traditionally one of the state's top 5A teams, would help ease last week's loss and also show just how dangerous Kimball can be.

It'll also be another opportunity for Gipson to show his talents – and build his legacy.

"I want people to say, 'That's how a linebacker should play,'" he said.

CHRIS GIPSON

School, class: Kimball, Sr.

Height, weight: 6-0, 228

Position: Strongside linebacker

Age: 17

Notable: Gipson was an All-District 14-4A linebacker and is one of five returning players who earned all-district honors. He was the District 13-4A Sophomore of the Year in 2005. ... Gipson is being recruited by most colleges as an outside linebacker because of his speed.

Quotable: "Expect 100 percent, nothing less. If I'm going do it, I'm going do it right."

QUICK HITS

Favorite video game: NCAA Football '08 on PlayStation 2

Song that hypes you up: "Duffle Bag Boy" by Playaz Circle featuring Lil Wayne

Favorite periodical: ESPN The Magazine

Favorite subject: Science

Lufkin (1-0) vs. Kimball (0-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sprague Stadium