In a contest of top 10 teams in Class 4A on the day after Thanksgiving, Van (10-2) vs Kennedale (11-1), it was the Wildcats who were the most thankful as they took a hard fought win over the Van Vandals 42-28. {{more: continue …}}
Senior strong ? Kennedale Captains meet at midfield for the toss (l-r) Andrew Flanagan, Ector Rivera, Jaden Knowles and Larry Brooks
(Photo:Staci Otts)
Van had high hopes going into this game coming off of a 12-2 season last year and a quarterfinal finish. Plus they had a revenge motive going for them. It was Kennedale who had knocked them out of the playoffs last year in the regional round.
That game was another battle with Kennedale prevailing 34-28 in a comeback win. Last year, the Vandals took control of the game early and allowed the Wildcats only a single score in the first half but it was the Cats who won the second half and the game.
QB Evan Jowers (Jr) picked up 120 yards running and another 57 passing helping the Cats roll to 417 total
yards in the game
(Photo:Staci Otts)
First half …
Kennedale led early on a Tiero field goal but lost that lead in Q2 when Van went on a nine play touchdown drive and took what would be their only lead of the game at 7-3. After a 20 yard return by Larry Brooks, the Cats recaptured the lead for good with a 6 play drive highlighted by 20 yard run by Jowers and a 22 yard reception by Nathan Otts (Sr). Kennedale followed on their next possession with an eight play touchdown drive helped by a 17 yard Jaden Knowles run and a 21 yard DJ Kirven TD sprint. At the half it was 17-7.
Senior DB Ector Rivera earned defensive MVP honors from the Cats coaching staff for 11 tackles with 2 for
losses and a sack
(Photo:Staci Otts)
Of six possessions for Van in the first half, the Vandals produced one touchdown, 3 punts, one turnover on downs and had time expire on their last possession.
Quarter 3rd ?
In the third Kennedale scored on the third play of the quarter on a 53 yard touchdown yard by Evan Jowers to make the score 24-7. This gave the Cats their largest lead of the game and what seem to be the icing on the cake.
Senior offensive lineman Brett Bostad snagged an onsides kick in the 4
th for a big play for the Cats (Photo:Staci Otts)But Van was known for their comebacks this year, fashioned back to back touchdowns on their next two possessions. The first one came on a seven play 80 yard drive helped by two pass plays of 27 yards and another of 23 yards that went for a touchdown.
Van then went for an onside kick and recovered the ball at the 50 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Van pulled out the tricks and on a version of a flea flicker and completed a halfback pass for a 50 yard touchdown. And just like that, Van had pulled to within 3 points of the Wildcats at 24-21.Kennedale responded with a 31 field goal by Kevin Tiero after Van forced a 4th 5 at the Van 14. The score was 27-21. The Cats forced the Vandals on their next possession to punt just before the end of Q3.
Quarter 4th ?
Determined to maintain and extend their lead, the Cats hammered out a 8 play drive that was capped by a 2 yard Kirven run and a Larry Brooks’ 2 point conversion rush to give the Cats a two score lead at 35-21.
Freshman defensive back JD Coffey sealed the win for the Cats with a late 4
th quarter interception (Photo:Staci Otts)
Kennedale and Van swapped punts twice on their next two possessions. Then Van put together a nine play drive that chewed up 7 minutes on the clock but produced a touchdown to make it 35-28 with 2:39 in the game.Van attempted another onside kick but Kennedale’s Brett Bostad recovered on the Van 44. Jaden Knowles secured the Kennedale win with a 44 yard touchdown run on the next play giving Kennedale a 42-28 lead at 2:29 minutes in game.Kennedale iced the game with an interception by JD Coffey of a Moseley pass at the Kennedale 45. The Cats ran out the clock to end the game, take the win and move into the quarterfinals for the second year in a row.
Game Notes ?
- Jaden Knowles (Sr) led Kennedale with 148 yards and 22 carries and two rushing touchdowns while Evan Jowers (Jr) added 121 on the ground on 9 carries and one score. (This matches his personal best from 2016 when he also rushed for 121 yards in a 49-0 win over Lake Worth). DJ Kirven had 89 yards on 14 carries with 2 TDs.
- In passing Jowers completed 3 of 7 for 57 yards and no interceptions. Jowers hit David Roper (Sr) for 34 yards, Nathan Otts (Sr) for 22 and Jaden Smith (Jr) for 1.
- For the game Kennedale had 417 total yards with 361 on the ground. Van had 321 yards with 253 passing.
- For Van, Garrett Moseley completed 17 out of 40 for 203 yards with 1 interception and 2 TDs. His biggest target was Gus Brewer who had 10 receptions for 120 yards and 1 TD. Ethan Robinson had 3 for 78 yards and 2 TDs.
- Moseley who is also the team?s leading rusher managed only 45 yards at 2.6 yards per carry. (His season average is 8.8 yards per carry). For the night Van had just 68 yards on the ground. Thanks to a strong Cats defense.
- Van with 28 points was able to score the most points on Kennedale of any team this season. Back in week three, 5A Wichita Falls Rider scored 26 in a losing effort against the Wildcat who scored 62.
Next up are the Midlothian Heritage Jaguars (12-0), another team Kennedale met last year in the playoffs. Game time 7:30 p.m. at The Star in Frisco. 2017 UIL Conference 4A Divison I Playoff Bracket
