Big but scary win in Alvarado as Cats prevail 42-40

What seemed a sure victory after the first three quarter for the Kennedale Wildcats, all but became a loss cause in the 4th, as the Alvarado Indians stormed back from a 35-7 deficit to come within two points of tying the game. {{more: continue … }}

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It was a thriller of a game for both sides especially for the Cats. The Wildcats’ offense bounced back from the deathbed last week to roll up 371 yards with 374 of that on the ground. RB DJ Kirven laid claim to 200 yards at 10 yards per clip and 4 touchdowns. RB Antwone Parker put up 120 yards also at 10 yards per clip and 1 touchdown. QB Evan Jowers toss in 30 yards and another TD.

But Alvarado left their mark on the game and made believers of the Kennedale defenders. While Alvarado?s QB Josh Syrus passed for 138 yards and 1 TD, it was the performance of the Indians? running back Andrew Barajas that almost stole the show. He led Alvarado with 5 touchdowns on 299 yards at 9.97 per outing.

It was a hard hitting game. Both quarterback had trouble getting the ball out of the back field. Alvarado?s Syrus was caught behind the line three times for a net loss of -31 yards and made only 8 of 24 passing attempts. Wildcat Evan Jowers was thrown for -14 yards on 4 plays and was just 4 for 12 in passing.

Game story …

• Both teams scored on their first possessions. Alvarado did it in three plays highlighted by a 57 yard pass play. It would be their only lead of the game as Kennedale responded with a 39 yard kick-off run by JD Coffey followed by a 4 play scoring drive capped with a 15 yard run by DJ Kirven. Score 7-7 Tie – time 8:34 Q1

• Both teams failed in their second attempts but moved the ball. Alvarado drove 60 yards to the Kennedale 14 but was force to attempt a field goal that missed. Kennedale?s 2nd possession went for 7 plays and 45 yards but ended at the Alvarado 41 on a 4th and 11 pass attempt.

• Alvarado 3rd possession went nowhere after getting the ball at their 41 yard line with a net loss of 21 yards (which included a 5 yard penalty) Kennedale?s defense forced a punt from the Alvarado 19. Kennedale added their 2nd touchdown of the night 5 plays later, highlighted by runs of 21 and 15 yards by Spencer Roof and Antwone Parker respectively and two catches by Jaden Smith of 8 and 14 yards with the last for the touchdown. Score 14-7 Kennedale ? time 7:21 Q2

• The fourth possession for both teams ended in 3 plays and a punt. On their 5th attempt, Alvarado was stalled once again was force to punt from the Alvarado 33 after 3 straight incompletions. But Kennedale?s last real possession of the first half found green pastures as Alvarado?s punt went just 10 yards to the AV34 and Kennedale scored three plays later with a 34 yard touchdown run by Kirven. Score 21-7 Kennedale ? time 3:35 Q2

• Alvarado?s sixth try of the game netted 46 yard in 10 plays to the Kennedale?s 24 yard line. But faced with a 4th and 5 and time running out in the half, the Indians attempted a 41 yard field goal that missed. With just seconds remaining, Kennedale ran out the clock. Halftime score 21-7 Kennedale.

Second half goes both ways ?.

• Kennedale had the first possession of the second half and made good on it with a 70 yard scoring drive in 6 plays capped by a 58 yard run by Antwone Parker. Score 28-7 Kennedale ? time 9:34 Q3

• All seemed well on Kennedale?s side as Alvarado was frustrated again on their next possession of the half and Syrus fumbled to the Wildcats on Alvarado?s 36 yard line. Kennedale covered the 36 yards in 5 plays that ws topped with a Kirven 3 yard touchdown run. Score 35-7 Kennedale ? time 4:57 Q3

• In seven legitimate possessions, Kennedale had scored 5 times. Alvarado had scored just once on the same number of attempts.

But wait this is Alvarado and there is more to come ??

• Alvarado and Kennedale traded punts on their next possessions to end the 3rd quarter. But Alvarado sounded the charge on an epic comeback attempt on a 32 yard TD run by Barajas with score on the first play of the 4th quarter. Alvarado had started chopping away of the 28 point lead held by Kennedale. Score 35-14 Kennedale ? 11:20 Q4

• After a misshap on a 4th and 8 at the Kennedale 37, the Wildcats turned the ball over to Alvarado who covered the short 38 yards in 5 plays finished by a Barajas 2 yard run. Score 35-21 Kennedale ? time 7:13 Q4

• After a failed onside attempt by Alvarado, Kennedale started in excellent position on the Alvarado 47. A seven yard run by Wildcat Marlete Joyner plus a 15 yard penalty against Alvarado placed Kennedale on Alvarado?s 25 yard line. But, the Indians? defense was on fire and Kennedale netted -15 yards (this included a 5 yard offensive penalty) on the next 3 plays and turned the ball over on downs to Alvarado on the Indians? 40 yard line. Alvarado thanked Kennedale in one play with a 60 yard touchdown run by Barajas. Score 35-28 Kennedale ? time 5:01 Q4

• Kennedale?s kickoff return only gained 7 yards and the Wildcat?s offense was looking at 85 yards to score. The Cats managed to just reach their own 34 before having to punt to the Alvarado 38. A hot Alvarado needed only 3 plays to score as Andrew Barajas covered 43 yards to give Alvarado their fourth straight touchdown in as many attempts. There was still a touch of luck with Kennedale or just good defensive play, as Alvarado?s 2 point conversion was stopped. Score 35-34 Kennedale ? time 1:49 Q4

• Kennedale, in what seems to have become a trademark in close games in the last several years, pulled out the winning touchdown in one play with a 52 yard ramble by Kirven on the first play of their next possession. Score 42-34 Kennedale ? time 1:41 Q4

• Alvarado was far from giving up on this game and scored their fifth touchdown of the half and pulled within 2 points on an eight play drive and a 35 yard Barajas TD run. Trying to tie the game, Alvarado went for two. Once again the Wildcats stands fast and stopped the 2 point conversion attempt cold. Score 42-40 Kennedale ? time 1:41

Kennedale is 2-1 while Alvarado falls to 0-3.