In District 7-4A there was somewhat an upset last week when the Mineral Wells Rams were surprised by the Springtown Pojos 35-28. Tonight’s game was suppose to be between the two leaders in district play. {{more: continue …}}
Kennedale (6-1, 2-0), Mineral Wells (4-3, 1-1) and Springtown (2-5, 1-1) were expected to finish at the top of the district standing in that order. The loss by Mineral Wells takes some shine off of this week’s game.
Diamond Hill game
First a quick review of last week game. Kennedale, ranked #7 in AP Class 4A poll, downed a seriously outmatched and winless Diamond Hill-Jarvis squad from Fort Worth by a score of 53-0. Scoring in every quarter, the Cats put 27 in the first and coasted in from there.first time to break the century mark in passing …
It was the first time this season that Kennedale passed for over a hundred yards with QB Evan Jowers (Jr) going 5/7 for 146 yard and one touchdown. The passing game was highlighted by an 86 yard touchdown reception by Jaden Smith (Jr). David Roper (Sr) caught two for 20 yards along with senior Nathan Otts who had 1 catch for 36 yards. DJ Kirven (Jr) snagged a short pass for 4 yards.
In the running game, there were six players handling the ball. In what quickly turned into a blowout game, Kennedale starters were used sparingly as the slack was shared with back up running backs. Jaden Knowles (Sr) carried a season low of 5 times for 67 yards and 1 touchdown. DJ Kirven (Jr), also with a season low, rushing 4 times for 54 yards and a touchdown.Micah Conner (So) got the most carries with 99 yards on 6 tries also with 1 touchdown. He also recorded the longest run for the night of 35 yards.
QB Evan Jowers (Jr) collected two TDs on the ground on three carries for 44 yards. Kameron Russell (Jr) scored a TD off his only run of 12 yards. David Roper (Sr) also had a single carry for 9 yards.only 27 plays were run by the Wildcats …
Overall, the Cats collected a muted 431 yards for the night as a running clock was employed for the entire second half. The Cats have average 51 plays per game up to the Diamond Hill match-up when they ran only 27.
Defensively, the Wildcats with the most tackles were Ector Rivera (Sr) with 13 followed by JD Coffey (Fr) 10 and Larry Brooks (Sr) with 8. Overall, the Cats finished with 81 tackles.
In the kicking game last week, Larry Brooks (Sr) had 2 punt returns with one for 58 yards. Kevin Tiero (Sr) had 9 kickoffs for an average of 59.8 with 7 for touchbacks. Uncharacteristically, Tiero was just 5 for 8 on extra-point kicks. Up to this game, he had only missed one PAT in 22 tries.
the take on Mineral Wells ?
If the Cats decide that this is another easy game and play without focus, the game could have some real surprises.Mineral Wells is not at the bottom of the district and they do have some talent. The team may not be as strong defensively as last year but the Rams can present a serious challenge.
Mineral Wells is averaging 402.7 yards per game with 208 on the ground and 194 passing for 36.3 points per game. (Kennedale has put up an average of 439.7 yards per game with 373 yards on the ground and 66.7 by air for 51.4 points per game).
Last year the Rams finished 4-1 in district and 9-3 overall while going two deep in the playoffs before losing to Van.close game last year …
In the game played at Mineral Wells last year, the Cats and the Rams fought each other hard with Mineral Wells leading at halftime by a score of 14-13. In the third, however Kennedale broke open the game with 15 unanswered points and went on to win by 10.play makers …Top play makers this year for
Mineral Wells include #19 Seth Slack (Sr) who has thrown for 1,349 yards and TDs
but he has also collected 7 interceptions. His longest is 78 yards and he has QB
rating of 90.2. Slack has also collected 99 yards on the ground.
Top receiver are #86
Carlos Gray (Sr) who has 29 receptions for 658 yards and 6 TDs and #11 D?ija
Kennedy (Jr) with 398 yards on 19 catches and 6 TDs.
The Rams? rushing leader
is #22 Khalil Thompson (Jr) with 179 carries for 1,236 yards and 13 TDs for an
average of 6.9 yards per. No one else on the team even breaks 100 yards.
Mineral Wells has
fumbled 11 times losing 7 and has thrown 8 interceptions in 7 games.
Defensively MW is
led by #3 Devin Hurtado (Jr) has 54 tackles (7.7), 2 fumble recoveries, 5
interceptions followed by #40 Jakob Wiesner (Sr) with 50 tackles (8.3) and 1
sack; #26 Zach Glover (Sr) with 2 fumble
recoveries, 2 sacks and 43 tackles and Brandon Hinojos (Jr) with 45 tackles and
2 sacks
As a team defensively, they have recorded 596 tackles
(85.1), 7 sacks, 8 interceptions and recovered 6 fumbles.
Game time 7:30 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium in Kennedale. Dress warmly. very warmly.
