They left Jerry World with a bad taste in their mouth. Here?s how they plan to fix it
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By Brian Gosset
August 16, 2018?
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The Kennedale football program keeps re-writing history. {{more: continue …}}?
The Wildcats reached the state semifinals for the first time in 2016 only to take it a step further with a trip to the Class 4A Division I title game last year.
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The end result, though, did not play out the way they envisioned as Carthage won its second-straight title with a convincing 49-21 victory in December.
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?Carthage got the best of us,? said coach Richard Barrett, who?s been with the program for nearly 30 years. ?We found out some things about ourselves ? where to improve ? and the kids returning understand that. It serves as motivation and we?re going to try to make a run this year and see if we can do it again.?
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Oh, you better believe they?ll use that loss as motivation for this season. The Bulldogs scored on their first seven possessions.
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?We didn?t like that feeling,? all-state 2021 corner J.D.Coffey said. ?We don?t like to lose, but we?ve been practicing and getting better every day. We?re coming back this year harder, stronger and faster.?
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Added 3-star receiver Jaden Smith, who is committed to Montana State: ?Ever since that state game, I?ve been ready to go. The defense has put the work in and the offense gets better every time we touch the ball. We?ll be pretty good this season and I can see Kennedale as one of those teams that gets back to the state championship.?
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It shouldn?t be news that Kennedale is one of the top 4A teams in the state. The Wildcats haven?t missed the playoffs since 2000 and they?ve gone at least three rounds deep five of the past six seasons.
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They?ll rely heavily on senior running back D.J. Kirven, who rushed for 2,300 yards and 42 touchdowns.
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?Feels good to get back out there,? said Kirven, who will spearhead Kennedale?s Wing-T attack this season. ?We lost big in that final game, but we?re going to bounce back. We?re trying to go 10-0 in the regular season and make another playoff run.??
He?s got all the confidence in the world from his head coach.
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?We know what D.J. can do,? Barrett said. ?He can coach too because he?s been on varsity since his freshman year. His work ethic has improved and he knows he can?t rest on last year?s numbers. It only motivates him to do better and I think he?ll have another great season.?
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