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The Kennedale Wildcat Football team, the 2013 version, was welcomed this week by their coaches at a Kennedale tradition ? Midnight Madness.?Approximately 100 players showed up Monday August 5 at 12:01 a.m. ? the first minute of practice time allowed under UIL rules. Under lights and the somewhat cool night air, friends, family and fans watched as the team went through a workout without pads. Later that same day the team met for ?weights?, something that they will continue do throughout the season.?On Tuesday the Kennedale News talked briefly with Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Richard Barrett to get his thoughts on this 2013 Wildcat team. {{more}}?
How many players are there? ?”There are 113 now but by the time school starts I think the number will be around 120.” ?Football is a no-cut sport for the high school. Coach Barrett knows that he will lose some but he likes the numbers.?Players to watch this season? Barrett mentioned many. Of course there is junior running back, Juwan Washington, who stormed into record books last year after missing much of his freshman year. Then there is Bradon Hull at quarterback who had to play behind Zac Michener but Barrett is looking for great things from him this year. He is ?very talented, athletic and intelligent?. He went on to rattle of a list of other talented players who all started last year: Donny Darville, Jake Michener, Patrick Loving, Hunter McGahan, Jose Payne, Ronald Hayes, Chris George, Nathan Brown and Hugo Giron.??We have several on offense and several on defense that we think will do a lot of good things for us.??One part of the game that he is expecting good things from is the offensive line.??The offense line can be exceptional. ?. We know that we have the talent at the skill positions but we have a veteran offensive line. Marshall Moody has been a three year starter. Victor Vilchez has been a three year starter. Nathan Ward has been a three year starter. So, we got some experience, and on top of that, they are really good players. Combine that with what we have in the backend, I think that we got the makings of something really special.??Who is the competition in the district? Barrett was cautious.??Things have change, this year you have four teams (out of six in District 6-3A) eligible for the playoffs from each district. This means that more of the games are important. In the past, a team could lost two games and know that they were out of it. Now more teams have something to play for late into the season. That being said I think Springtown is the team to compete with us but I don?t think that you can count out Mineral Wells, Castleberry Diamond Hill, Lake Worth.? He tapers off with ?who knows???What about the competition in the region? Coach Barrett was quick to name a list of prospective state playoff bound team.??In the region that is a different story. Now you are encompassing teams like Stephenville, Abilene Wylie, Monahans, Alvarado and then you got Brownwood, Liberty Hill and Lampasas. There are a lot of teams in the region that quickly get your attention.??The Wildcats will get their first public introduction at the annual ?Meet the Wildcat? activities this Friday, August 9 beginning at 7 p.m. The Meet the Wildcat will also introduce the 2013 LadyKats Volleyball team, the Cross Country team, the “rockin” KHS Marching Wildcats and Color Guard, the KHS Cheer Team, the KHS Pep/Dance Team and of course Willie the Wildcat.?Members of the city and community are invited. ?The activities start at 7 p.m. in the Kennedale Performing Arts Center at 901 Wildcat Way, Kennedale.
