It is the 4A Division 1 semi-finals at AT&T Stadium with the Kennedale Wildcats (13-1) playing the Stephenville Yellow Jackets (12-2) with kickoff set for 5 p.m. {{more: continue …}}
How the two teams stack up …Stephenville hails from District 3 ? 4A, DI which was labelled by Texas High School Football in preseason notes as a district to watch because it included Abilene Wylie, Brownwood, as well as, Stephenville. Both Wylie and Brownwood have faded while Stephenville who was picked to be third, remains.
Stephenville, under head coach Greg Winder, returned 16 starters this year and is on an 8 game win streak. The Yellow Jackets lost two games back to back in week 4 and 5, losing to 4A DII Graham (14-1) by a score of 30-14 and 5A Lubbock Monterey (8-5) by a score of 20-17. The Jackets swept district play 4-0.
Kennedale, who returned 15 starters under Richard Barrett, is on a 9 game win streak having lost to 4A DII West-Orange Stark (12-0) by a score of 23-20 in week 5. Kennedale swept district play 5-0.Stats …
- Stephenville mixes the run and the pass, averaging 198.9 rushing and 222 passing yards per game for an overall average per game of 420.9 yards per game.
- Kennedale averages 457.9 yards per game with 389.1 by ground and 68.8 by air.
- On defense the Yellow Jackets have averaged 85 tackles per game, 3.2 per sacks and allowed 20.0 points against per game.
- Kennedale has allowed 16.9 points per game with an average of 75.4 tackles and 2.2 sacks.
- In the playoffs, Stephenville has allowed an average of 24 points while scoring an average of 44.2 per game.
- In the playoffs Kennedale has allowed 30.2 points per game while averaging scoring 54.5 per game
The only common opponents for the two teams was Springtown. Stephenville beat Springtown 41-13. Kennedale won 70-13.
Players to watch for Stephenville …
- QB Easton Jones (Sr) with 2714 total passing yards with an average of 209 passing yard per game (61% completion) and 31 touchdowns.
- RB Krece Jones (Jr) with 1781 total rushing yards (137 yards per game) with an average of 7.6 yards per carry, 17 touchdowns and 8 interceptions combined with a total of 376 yard rushing averaging 28.9 per game and 4 touchdowns.
- Blake Aragon (Sr) with 818 yard receiving (68.2 yards per game) and 10 TD
- Blu Caylor (Jr) 166 tackles with an average of 11.9 per game and 15.5 tackle for loss
- Gage Graham (Jr) 133 tackles with an average of 9.5 per game
- Zane Walker (Jr) 108 tackles with an average of 7.7 per game and 12 tackles for loss
Players to watch Kennedale …
- RB Jaden Knowles (Sr) 2032 rushing yards (145.1 per game) with an average of 12.5 per carry and 32 touchdowns.
- DJ Kirven (Jr) 1837 total rushing yards (131.2 per game) with an average 10.6 per carry and 36 touchdowns
- QB Evan Jowers (Jr) 687 total rushing yards (49.1 per game) with an average of 7.6 per carry and 8 touchdowns combined with 963 passing yards (60% completion) averaging 68.8 per game with 10 TDs and 3 interceptions.
- Receiver Jaden Smith (Jr) 443 yards, 34.1 per game and 5 touchdowns
- DB Larry Brooks (Sr) 146 tackles with average 10.4 per game and 13 tackles for loss
- DB Ector Rivera (Sr) 141 tackles with average 10.1 per game and 19 tackles for loss
- DB Avion Jenkins (Sr) 81 tackles with 21 tackles for loss
- Kicker Kevin Tiero (Sr) 85/91 PAT, 7 for 7 field goal, 42.1 average punting, 65 touchback kicks with average of 5.0 per game.
The take ?
Stephenville is very good. The Yellow Jackets have the defense that will give Kennedale trouble and a passer to again test the Wildcat defenders. But on the scale, the balance still favors the offense power of the Kennedale Wildcats over the Stephenville defense but just slightly.
Expect a close game in which the kicking game and the special teams play of Kennedale to make a difference.
If Stephenville wins, they will have done what no other team in the playoffs has and that is to shut down the firm of Knowles & Kirven.
Kennedale wins and moves on to the state finals.
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