By Matthew MartinezSpecial to the Star-Telegram
WACO ? Burnet stifled Kennedale in the first half Friday night, earning a 55-35 win in the area round of the Class 3A Division I playoffs at Waco ISD Stadium.
Burnet (9-3) kept 10 defenders on the line of scrimmage for most of the game, as Kennedale fed running back Juwan Washington all night. {{more}}
Coming into the game, Washington had rushed for 2,311 yards and 36 touchdowns, but the Bulldogs allowed the junior only 42 yards on 15 carries in the first half.
Washington and the Kennedale ground attack managed more than 300 yards rushing in the second half, but the Wildcats couldn?t complete the comeback from a 35-8 halftime deficit.
Fullback Donny Darville led the Wildcats (7-5) in rushing, and scored on a 24-yard run up the middle early in the second quarter to keep the deficit manageable. Quarterback Brandon Hull rushed the 2-point conversion in with 9:12 left in the first half, cutting the deficit to 21-8.
Darville finished with 185 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns. Washington broke free in the second half and ran 30 times for 175 yards and two more scores.
The Wildcats threw just five times for 28 yards. One of those was Washington?s 25-yard touchdown pass to Matt Thompson on a gadget play as time expired.
Burnet outgained Kennedale 544 yards to 427 in what turned into a shootout in the second half.
Meanwhile, Burnet?s spread offense gave the Kennedale defense problems.
Quarterback Derek Kiser threw for 388 yards and three scores. Running back Trenton Hafley caught one of those touchdown passes on a 27-yard screen pass, and rushed for two more scores in the opening half. The senior finished with 247 yards and six touchdowns.
