A look back: Kennedale?s dramatic win over Midlothian Heritage
It is history now but it goes up there with the one of the best offensive games in Kennedale?s history as the Wildcat pulled out a 33 second miracle to beat a determined Heritage team 45-43 in a Region 2 semifinal game last week in Frisco. {{more: Continue …}}
It was a repeat of history as last year these two teams met last year in the playoffs and Kennedale survived that shootout game by two points at 49-47. Over 1000 yards of offense was on display that night and again it went down to the final seconds of the game with Heritage scoring with 15 seconds left in the game but unable to score on a two point conversion play to tie the game and send it into overtime. It was air against ground and Kennedale which always controls the ground won the battle.
Act Two …
Almost same game played out again this year with Kennedale sealing off any real Midlothian ground game and Heritage going to the air for 431 yards. Jaguar quarterback, Landon Ledbetter was the best throwing quarterback that Kennedale has faced all year. He was 29 for 41 attempts with 5 touchdowns and no interceptions. But Heritage mustered only 63 yards on the ground with 20 attempts for an average of 3.2 yards and 1 touchdown.
Kennedale on the other hand rushed for 360 yards on 42 attempts for an average of 8.6 yards per carry and 6 touchdowns. The Cats also had a crucial 98 yards in the air going 4-5 in passing attempts with one interception, averaging 24.5 yard per.
Cats get upper hand by scoring first ?
It was Kennedale who got on the scoreboard first with a 46 yard DJ Kirven (Sr) run. Kirven finished the night with 138 yards, 6.9 average, and 5 TDs. The the Cat defense made a crucial stop on Heritage?s first possession of the game leaving the Jaguars to play catchup the rest of the game.
In the give and take of the game Kennedale forced Heritage to punt twice all in first half. A third stop on Heritage came has time ran out in the half. Heritage forced the Cats to turn the ball over once on downs and once on an interception all in the first half.2nd half non- stop scoring …Neither team was successful at preventing the other from scoring in the second half.
Heritage tied the game for the first time on their first possession of the second half. They tied it twice more before taking their first lead of the game with 33 seconds left in the game on a two point conversion at 43-42.
Kennedale just like Heritage had scored on each of their possession in the second half had the ball last and proved that they were pretty much unstoppable scoring with a 40 yard field goal with 17 seconds left in the game, setup by an uncharacteristic 38 yard halfback pass by Kirven to Jaden Smith (Jr). Kennedale succeeds on an onside kick and denies the Jags a last chance while sealing the win.
Individual stats for the Cats ?.
Besides Kirven, Jaden Knowles (Sr) had 98 yards on 14 carries for a 7.0 average and 1 TD. David Roper (Sr) had 70 yards on 4 carries for a 17.5 yard average. Evan Jowers (Jr) had 53 yards on 4 carries for a 13.3 average and was 4-5 for 99 yards with 1 interception. Jaden Smith (Jr) ended with 2 receptions for 82 yards and David Roper (Sr) had 2 catches for 17 yards.
Larry Brooks had a hundred yards in kickoff returns. Jaden Knowles added another 21 to his 98 yards rushing for a combined 119 in all purpose.
Larry Brooks also led in tackles with 13 followed by 9 by Avion Jenkins who also had 4 tackles for loss including two sacks and Ector Rivera with 9 tackles. David Roper had a fumble recovering.
Kevin Tiero had 3 touchback kicks with 8 total kickoffs for an average of 54.4 yards. He was 6 for 6 on extra point attempts and 1 for 1 in field goal attempt.
Game story by possessions ?
QUARTER 1
Possession 1
- Kennedale starts on the KD24 after Larry Brooks 20 yard return. Cats travelled the field on a 5 play drive helped by a QB Evan Jowers 18 yard run and a RB DJ Kirven 46 yard TD run. Kevin Tiero (Sr) point after was good.
- Midlothian Heritage started on MH25 and was forced to punt after 5 plays on a 4th and 5 at the MH36.
- SCORE 7-0 Kennedale
Possession 2
- Kennedale starts on KD39 after a 31 yard MH punt and MH 5 yard penalty. Kennedale scores in 4 plays on DJ Kirven 6 yard run after QB E Jowers completes a 43 yard pass to Jaden Smith on the drive. Tieor kick good.
- Midlothian Heritage gets on the scoreboard with a nine play drive that begin on the MH25 after a touchback kick by Cats? Tiero. QB Nathan Ledbetter passes for 7 yards, 24 yards and 18 yards rushes for 20. Kennedale throws in 15 yards on penalty.
- SCORE 14-7 Kennedale.
QUARTER 2
Possession 3
- Kennedale began in the closing minute of the first quarter after a 51 yard kickoff return by Larry Brooks to the MH 43. Kennedale scored in 6 plays assisted by a 10 pass to David Roper, a 14 run by Jaden Knowles and a 14 yard TD run by DJ Kirven. Tiero kick good.
- Midlothian Heritage started from its 25 after another Tiero touchback kick, comes back and score in 5 play drive with four passes for 18 yards, 8 yards, 43 yards and finally a 9 yard TD pass.
- SCORE 21-14 Kennedale.
Possession 4
- Kennedale failed to score for the first time after a Larry Brooks 27 yard return gave the Cats the ball on the KN37 but a five play drive bogged down on a 4th and 5 on the MH43. Ball goes over on downs after a Jaden Knowles 4 yard pickup.
- Midlothian Heritage takes over on the MH39. MH fails to score on a 9 play drive that ends on a 4th and 39 at the MH36 after reaching the KN35.
- SCORE 21-14 Kennedale
Possession 5
- Kennedale?s ball on the KN49 after 29 yard MH punt and 15 yard MH penalty. With 1:10 left in half, Jowers long pass down field is intercepted at MH17.
- Time runs in half runs out on MH after two plays net 43 yards and reaches the KN40.
- SCORE 21-14 Kennedale
Halftime
Possession 6
- Midlothian Heritage receive and returned ball 23 yards to MH25. MH scored to tie the game for the first time on 5 play drive with the help of 22 yard pass and a 55 yard TD pass from Landon Ledbetter.
- Wildcats come back to take the lead on a long 11 play drive that started on the KN30 assisted by a 12 yard pickup by David Roper, a David Roper catch for 7 yards, a 7 yard run by Roper, a 10 yard run by DJ Kirven and a 24 yard TD run by Jaden Knowles. The Cats had to convert a 4th and 7 at the MH41 to keep the drive alive. Tiero kick good.
- SCORE 28-21 Kennedale Time 3:31 Q3
Possession 7
- Midlothian Heritage starts on the MH25 after Tiero touchback kick. MH again ties the game in 7 plays highlighted by passes of 22 yards, 7 yards, and a 43 yard TD reception. Kick good. MH attempts on side kick but Cats recover at the ball at the KN49.
- Kennedale then scores on a 6 play scoring drive with runs of 8 by Kirven, 35 by Roper, and a 1 yard by Kirven. Kick good.
- SCORE 35-28 Kennedale Time 10:31 Q4
Quarter 4
Possession 8
- Midlothian Heritage starts on MH25 after Tiero touchback kick but drives the field in seven plays with seven completions of 12, 5, 7, 21, 16 and 14 yards. Kennedale contribute with 15 yard penalty. Kick good. Game tied.
- Kennedale starts on the KN 25 comes back with a seven play drive of their own to go ahead. Drive highlights include 12 yards by Kirven, 12 yards by Knowles 16 by David Roper and a 8 yard TD run by Kirven. Kick good
- SCORE 42-35 Kennedale Time 3:14 in Q4.
Possession 9
- Midlothian Heritage eats up the clock on a 9 play drive that covers 79 yards with big plays of 13 yard run after 9 yard loss, 17 pass to MH42, 6 and 8 yard passes to the KN43, 25 yard pass to KN18 and back to back 9 yard passes with the last for TD. MH converts on two point plays to make the score 43-42 with just 33 seconds left in the game.
- Kennedale takes over at the KN29. First play Cats pick up 5 yards to KN34 with 29 seconds in game. After timeout Kennedale goes for halfback pass from Dj Kirven who hits Jaden Smith 38 yards down field to MH28. Heritage contributes 5 yards on penalty and Kennedale is on the MH23 with 17 seconds in the game. Kennedale decides to go for 40 yard field goal. Kevin tiero?s kick is good.
- SCORE 45-43 Kennedale Time 17 seconds in Q4.
Possession 10
- Kennedale takes possession after successful onside kick and runs out the clock
With the win is back in the Region 2 finals facing Kaufman (12-1) Friday at the Star in Frisco. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
