Reprinted from www.wcmessenger.com
?
In their first game since losing in the 4A Region I quarterfinal last year, the [Decatur] Eagles will travel to Kennedale to take on the No. 7 Wildcats. Kennedale went 14-2 in 2017, falling to Carthage in the 4A Division I title game. {{more: continue …}}
?
?We?re excited about it,? said Decatur coach Mike Fuller. ?Our kids really don?t get intimidated and don?t worry about someone?s reputation and what they look like. They?re going to go out and compete. They are looking forward to it.?
?
The Wildcats? offense is led by senior running back DJ Kirven, who ran for 2,191 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2017.
?
Kennedale?s Wing-T averaged 374.1 yards rushing last year and 52.4 points per game.
?
?They?re explosive, but they are also happy with getting three or four yards and just mashing it down the field,? Fuller said. ?They?re going to be big, physical and athletic. It?s a power-type offense, but it has a lot of misdirection. You have to really read your keys and make sure you?re in the right spot.?
?
The Kennedale defense was stingy, allowing just 19.6 points per game last season. The Wildcats recorded a pair of shutouts.
?
For Decatur?s offense to get rolling, the Eagles will need to establish the ground game with A.J. Martinez. The junior was pivotal in Decatur?s playoff push last year and racked up 1,369 yards and 18 scores.
?
?He?s what makes everything go,? Fuller said. ?Not to say it?s all him, but being able to establish a run game with our line, creating creases and him finding them. He?s hard to tackle. He?s a quick, powerful kid. That should help us be able to throw the ball, and vice-versa.?
?
Under center, the Eagles will turn to junior Roman Fuller, who took over for all-state quarterback Wilson Hicks. Roman will direct Decatur?s up-tempo attack.
?
Coach Fuller hopes the Eagles? high-octane approach can keep Kennedale on its heels and neutralize its blitz packages.
?
?What our tempo does, usually, is teams that like to do a lot on defense end up doing less,? he said. ?We haven?t played [Kennedale] the last two years, but my first two years here we scrimmaged them, and they come after you. They don?t try to hide much.?
