Tonight, it is #1 Kennedale playing #5 Terrell according to Dallas Morning News Sports Day area rankings. Last year these two teams met twice with Kennedale escaping with a win both times in down to the wire finishes. {{more: Read more …}}
Terrell this year …
Terrell lost a number of players from that team, returning 3 on defense and 3 on offense. A key loss was the district MVP Elijah McQueen, who ran for 1,359 yards and 19 touchdowns. However, according to the Kennedale coaching staff, Terrell still has plenty of big, mobile and talented athletes. This will be a physical game.
Terrell open the season last week with a 47-20 loss to Paris at Paris. The Tigers held a 20-19 lead going into the third quarter but Paris put up 28 unanswered points in the second half with 21 coming in the final quarter to win the game.
Kennedale this year …
Kennedale returns 8 offensive and 7 defensive starters. This is a senior team with 20 out of 34 players playing their final year of prep ball, most in key positions.The Cats did lose All-American Baron Browning and Gjemar Daniels, but they return their backfield, most of the o-line and a number of heavy hitters on defense. The Cats have one the best combination in the backfield in the state with senior Jaden Knowles (1,395 yards, 11 TDs) and junior 2016 all-state De?Shaun Kirven (1,914 yards, 27 TDs). Add in junior QB Evan Jowers, no longer the rookie, who contributed close to 1000 yards on the ground and another 15 TDs and Cats pose a serious threat to any defense. Look for big numbers here again.
Kennedale has not play a regular season game yet but had two good outings in scrimmages with #5 La Vega and 5A Sherman, winning both in head to head competition.
Advantage – Kennedale …
Terrell will be playing at home plus they have last year’s two dramatic losses to Kennedale with the last one that knocked Tigers out of the playoffs to further motivate them. But, Kennedale has the combination of experience and talent that should control the day.
Last year …
Kennedale came in ranked #7 in Class 4A in the AP, Terrell was #10. In the Dallas Sports Day area rankings, Kennedale was ranked #3 and Terrell #4. Terrell felt like they had the talent and the game to play in the 4A title game. As it happened, Kennedale spoiled their dream not once but twice.
Game 1: 21-20 Kennedale …
In the first game, Kennedale dominated the stats with 444 yards in offense, 27 first downs to 277 yards and 10 first downs for Terrell. But Kennedale playing in their first game after having a bye in the first week was plagued by penalties and hurt by two fumbles.
In the end, it was a safety scored by the defense in the 4th quarter that was the deciding score. Terrell managed a scored in the final minute of the game to make it a one point game at 21-20. Going for broke, the Tigers tried for a two point conversion but Kennedale held and the were able to run the final seconds off the clock for the win.
Game 2: 15-7 Kennedale …
Kennedale and Terrell met up again in the area round game of the state playoffs, playing at Desoto High School. Terrell entered the game at 9-2 after securing a three way tie in district play. Kennedale had a 7-3 record but came into the game on a six game roll after sweeping district and trouncing Wilmer-Hutchinson in first round playoff action 63-0.
This second game was a defensive battle. Both teams struggled on offense with Kennedale who averaged 404 yards per game managing 290 yards while Terrell who averaged 355 per game had 276 yards.
The game was tied at 7 at halftime but enter the Kennedale defense. The defense took control of the game in the final two quarters, limiting Terrell?s explosive?s offense to just 59 total yards. Kennedale got a safety in Q3 to move ahead 9-7 and then in the 4th, Kennedale scored their second touchdown in the waning minutes of the game but fail on the PAT. Once again the defense stepped up to preserve the 15-7 win and deny Terrell any chance.
