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A match up of an old rival translates into another battle on Friday night. The Alvarado Indians and the Kennedale Wildcats have been going at each other on and off since 1968. This will be the 5th straight year that the teams have met. {{more: continue …}}
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Running games collide …?While Alvarado has dominated Kennedale over the years (10-24-2), Kennedale has won three of the last four meetings. By some this is a toss-up game with Alvarado having home field advantage. It features a running game vs a running game and two head coaches, Jeff Dixon for Alvarado and Richard Barrett for Kennedale, who have coached against each other 8 times since 2005. Alvarado owns three of those wins, with the most recent was in 2016 that was down to the wire 21-14 thriller. All three of those wins for the Indians have come at home.?The game is being played at Charles Head Stadium in Alvarado. Simplest way is south on US 287 then east on Hwy 67 to Alvarado. Can’t miss the stadium lights on the right once you get to Alvarado. Trip approximatley 25 miles.? Directions Google Maps
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In preseason Alvarado was the underdog but not so such much now. Besides that fact that both want to claim a victory over an old foe, both teams lost last week and both have something to prove this week. Kennedale was humiliated in their 35-7 lost to Midlothian Heritage and Alvarado fought down to the wire in their defeat by Decatur 48-41. Yes, the same team the Wildcats defeated in the first game of the season 55-7 but that was before last week?s loss.
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A look at Alvarado ?
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In the lost to Decatur last week, the Indians of Alvarado (0-2) made Decatur earn their win. Alvarado won the first quarter 7-6, lost the second by 13-7 and in the third matched Decatur 14 points. Alvarado stayed in the game in the 4th losing that quarter by 15-13 and the game 48-41.
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Decatur demonstrated that it has a big running game while throwing in a toss or two. Against Heritage they accumulated 538 total yards with 397 on the ground and another 141 yards by air.?Players to watch …?Those who contributed last week and ones to watch this week start with the two players who accounted for the bulk of the running game. Senior Jonathan Wall with 174 yards on 25 carries at a 7.0 average and 1 TD. And junior Colby Sampson with 182 yards on 12 carries for a 15.2 yard average and 2 TDs. Junior Josh Syrus at QB was 9 of 22 for 141 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception.
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Sampson was a nice surprise for them at running back. Sampson is coming up off the JV squad from last and stepped in for injury RB Andrew Barajas (Sr).?In receptions Jake Mccullough had 2 catches for 69 yards with one for 51 yards and 1 TD. Jacoby Rivera (Sr) and Amir Foston (Sr) each had a TD reception.
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On defense Dylan Roudebush (Sr) had 10 tackles followed by D Wothington (Sr) with 8 and with 6 each were Mason Caruther (Jr), A Rodriquez (Jr) and Nick Woods.
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?Alvarado was picked by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football picked to finish second in District 8-4A behind Dallas Carter. Coming off a 3-8 season they are expected to improve their record and are a certain playoff team. The Indians returned 11 starters from last season with 7 on offense and 4 on defense.?
?To-date and up next …?
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Alvarado?s first game of the season was a loss to Van (1-1) 34-7. They will follow this Friday?s game with Kennedale by travelling next week to play China Springs (1-1). Kennedale will host Springtown (2-0) in two weeks.?
