Kennedale Football first contact Friday in Waco

Challenging season ahead ?

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This will be the fourth time Kennedale will jump start the season with a scrimmage against Waco La Vega. This year it is in Waco. {{more: continue ?}}

For those who make the trip you will get to see the 2018 4A DI State Champs, Waco La Vega, although a limited view since it is a scrimmage.

Tough early lineup ?

Dave Campbell?s Texas Football and MaxPreps have La Vega (14-2) ranked #1 coming into the 2019 season. No surprise there. The rest of the top five for Campbell is composed of all the likely suspects, starting with #2 Carthage (14-1) followed by Argyle (13-1), Liberty Hill (13-2) and Midlothian Heritage (11-2). MaxPreps has the same list with the exception of Stephenville (7-4) at #5 instead of Heritage. Decatur (8-7) is ranked #10 in both rankings.

If you are keeping track with the schedule, this means the Wildcats will scrimmage #1 La Vega, open the regular season at #10 Decatur and then play #5 Midlothian Heritage for the home opener. No easy pickings here.

Down in the pack ?

Where does Kennedale fit in the early rankings? Dave Campbell?s has the Cats at #19 while MaxPreps booted Kennedale to #23.

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Why the drop for the Wildcat program, which has finished 9-3, 14-2, 11-4, 12-1 and 12-1 over the last 5 years? Plain terms, Kennedale on paper is returning two starters on offense and 4 on defense ? the lowest numbers in the top 25.

However, if you know anything about Kennedale football and the resident football wizard, Richard Barrett, you know never to count out the Wildcats. Besides, Barrett loves the underdog role. Add to that fact, he truly believes in his starters this year.

In his 19th season as head coach and athletic director at Kennedale and 40+ years in coaching, Richard Barrett has earned the respect of his peers, many who have seen him across the field once too often, and the hometown crowd. For him there is nothing like a challenge, but he is still approaching this season as he would any other – no bragging, no boasting just determination and hard work.

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Our time …?

You can catch his love of the game and respect for Kennedale in the quote that he recently gave to Brian Gosset of the Star-Telegram.

?It?s our time of year. Texas high school football and Friday night lights. There?s nothing like it,? Barrett said. ?High school football here [Kennedale] is special. Each day we get a little better. Aug. 30 rolls around and we?ll see what we have.?

Friday scrimmage at La Vega is set for 7:00 p.m. The season opener is at Decatur with game time at 7:30 p.m. 2019

Football Schedule

More to come about Kennedale football and the new season.