Kennedale survives scare by Kaufman 43-35

The #6 Kennedale Cats (4-0) played their toughest game of the young season last Friday night and came away with a 43-35 win over an upset-minded Kaufman team (3-1). Kaufman was still trying in the last moments of the game when any hopes they had were dashed on a last second pick-off by Kennedale?s Malik Burgess. {{more}}

Jaden Knowles MaxPreps Overal Player of the Game vs Kaufman w 155 yards & 2 TDs (file photo: JockSnap Photography)

Kaufman surprised the Cats by their ability to move the ball. For the game, Kaufman had 488 total yards compared to Kennedale?s 374 yards. Kaufman offered a balance attack with 36 attempts for 232 rushing yards and 30 passing attempts for 256 yards but the Cats came up with three key turnovers by Kaufman – 2 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery. Kennedale rushed for 325 yards on 49 attempts with one successful pass for 49 yards.

Kennedale controlled the scoreboard in the first half by scoring five touchdowns to Kaufman?s three. The Lions could not make up the difference in the second half even though they outscored Kennedale 2-1.

Jaden Knowles (So) had a good night for the Cats with 155 yards on 16 tries at 9.69 yards per attempt and 2 TDs. Quardraiz Wadley (Sr) finished with 124 yards on 20 attempts with 3 TDs followed by Kaiser McGlothen (Sr) with 54 yards on 12 attempts. McGlothen also passed for one touchdown to Devan Mason for 49 yards.

For the defense Michael Landers (Jr) led Wildcat tacklers with 16 followed by Mason and Ector Rivera (So) with 10, Aaron Williams (Jr) with 9, Gejmar Daniels with 7, Darious Sanders (Jr) and Stephone Jackson (Jr) with 6, Dustin Masner (Sr) with 5, Baron Browning (Jr) with 4, Larry Brooks (So) with 3 and Eubanks Devon (Sr) with 1. Masner also recorded one sack for 8 yards. Mason and Burgess both had 2 successful pass defenses along with Landers, Knowles and Browning with 1 each.

The game story …

The Kaufman Lions came to play last Friday night and quickly showed that they were not impressed with Kennedale?s top ten state ranking. The fireworks began in earnest in the the first half with 7 touchdowns and field goal.

Devan Mason MaxPreps Defensive Player of the Game w 10 tackles, interception, fumble recovery and 1 TD (Action Shots by Staci Otts))

• The Lions stopped the Kennedale Wildcats on their first possession with a 4 and out. Then the Lions? Dru Prox (14/136 rushing and 1/26 receiving) on first down popped a 74 yard run for first score less than two minutes into the game.

• But, the Wildcats, who were not about to be embarrassed in their home stadium where they have not lost since playing Argyle at home in 2013, scored on their next 6 possessions. Quardriaz Wadley started it all with a 32 yard kickoff return and the Cats drove down the field for a Jaden Knowles touchdown off of a 10 yard run to tie the game at 7 at the 10:11 mark. Wadley went on to pick up 84 yards in kickoff returns for the game.

It was the middle section of the first half that Kennedale dominated and provided the winning margin. Kennedale defense kept Kaufman bottled up by forcing 2 four and outs, a fumble and an interception.

Head coach Richard Barrett & QB Kaiser McGlothen huddle (Action Shots by Staci Otts))

• After the Cats forced the Lions on their second possession to go 4 and out, Kennedale drove down the field in a nine-play drive to set up a Jace Zeller 22 yard field goal at 2:11 in the first quarter for a 10-7 lead.

• Kennedale forced another Lion 4 and out at start of the 2nd quarter and the Cats scored in a 3 play drive score on a Wadley 39 yard run to make the score 17-7 at 10:11 mark in the quarter.

• On their forth possession, the Lions fumbled on a 3rd at 8 on their 46 yard line. Darius Sanders for Cats recovered. Kennedale scored in a six play drive that was capped by a Wadley nine yard score.

• The score was 24-7 at 7:14 in Q2 and the Cats seemed to have this one wrapped up. But, the Lions showed that they still had a lot of fight when they responded with a 6 play drive that included 3 passes for 54 yards and a touchdown and the Lions were back in the game at 24-14 at 4:24 in Q2.
  

  Ector Rivera with Barron Browning in for tackle (Action Shots by Staci Otts))

• With both teams showing off their offensive power, Kennedale answered with a three play drive that was capped by a QB Kaiser McGlothen 49 yards pass and touchdown to Devan Mason. (McGlothen is now 3 for 3 for the year, having thrown three passes, all for completions and all for touchdowns). The score was now 30-14 at 3:47 in the half.

• In less than two minutes, Kaufman matched Kennedale score with a 66 yard touchdown pass to cut the Kennedale lead to 30-21 with 2:06 minutes left in the half.

• The Cats then trumped that with a of their own quick score in a 3-play drive that scored on a Knowles 34 yard run. Looking for insurance, Head Coach Barrett elected to run for two points but Kaufman stopped the Cats making the score 36-21 with 52 seconds left in the first half.

• The Cats then managed to prevent another Lion score with a Devan Mason interception at the Kennedale 49 yard line.

For the half, the Kaufman had 244 yards with 88 yards rushing and 156 passing and three touchdowns. Kennedale had 285 yards with 236 rushing and 36 passing. Knowles led all rushers at the half with 115 yards.

The Wildcats continue to roll at 4-0 record and #6 AP State Ranking (Action Shots by Staci Otts))

• In the second half the scoring slowed as the two teams went head to head in long time consuming drives. Kaufman scored the only touchdown during the 3rd period in a nine play drive on the opening kick-off to cut the Cats lead to 36-28 at 8:48 in Q3.

• The Cats first two offensive possessions of the second half were 4 and outs but the Kennedale defense rose to the occasion with has two big stops. The first came with a Lion drive that ended with a 4th and 9 at the Kennedale 19. The second Kaufman drive ended with a Kennedale stop on a 4th and 5 at the Kennedale 39.

• At the beginning of the 4th quarter, Wadley took the ball over for Kenndale’s only score of the second half with a nine play drive that put Kennedale up by a score of 43-28 at 6:24 left in the game.

• Kaufman scored their 2nd touchdown in the half with a long 16 ?play drive to being the game back into reach for the Lions at 2:42 in the game with the score at 43-35.

• Despite a 48 yard run back by Larry Brooks, Kennedale could not run out the clock when Kaufman forced a punt with Kennedale at the Kaufman 44.

• Kaufman lived up to its billing as solid discipline team, refused to give up. They scored their second touchdown of the half with a long 16 play drive, keeping the game with-in reach at 43-35 and 2:42 left in the game.

• The Cats, attempting to run out the clock as they drove down the field were forced to punt at the Kaufman 44.

• The Lions on their first attempt failed but the second pass took them to the Kennedale 46 and a first down. Kaufman lost 9 yards on their next play back to the Kaufman 45. Facing a 2nd and fifty and needing a ?Hail Mary? pass, Kaufman?s Austin Gomez lofted the ball down field in the waiting arms of the Cats? Malik Burgess, ending the Kaufman threat in the last seconds of the game.

  #Kennedale beats #Kaufman 43-35. Here’s the final play of the game. #Fox4Football pic.twitter.com/m30cz0I3yE

  ? Edward Egros (@EdwardEgrosFox4) September 19, 2015

MaxPreps Players of the Game vs. Kaufman

• Overall #26 Jaden Knowles (So) – 16 Carries for 155 yards, 2 TDs
• Offensive #2 Q Wadley (Sr) – 20 Carries for 124 yards, 3 TDs
• Defensive #15 Devan Mason (So) – 10 Tackles, 2 PBUs, INT, Fumble Recovery
• Special Teams #1 Jace Zeller (Sr) – 4 Punts for 116 yards, 7 Kickoffs for 415 yards, 1/1 FGs with a long of 22 yard, 5/5 XPs

Kennedale will play Dallas Carter this Thursday night at at Dallas Kincaide Stadium. Kincaide

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