One for the defense

This was not a pretty win. Defensive games are not a thing of beauty. They are bone-jarring, hard hitting affairs with offenses that go nowhere. {{more:Read more …}}

 

With Kennedale, we are used to an offense that puts up huge numbers. When that doesn?t happen, we say this was a bad game. This was a good game and mark it up to the Wildcat defense. They did what the needed to do.

 

the game ball goes to the defense …

#42 Michael Landers (Sr) leads the team in tackles with 82 recorded 11 against Terrell. Photo: Staci Otts

Not to take anything away from the Kennedale offense, you can?t win unless the offense scores and they did. It was a thing of beautiful to see, when not once but twice, the offensive play calling caught Terrell?s defense spread out and with great blocking, DJ Kirven (Sr) sprinted up the middle of the field untouched for TDs runs of 67 and 61 yards. The first came on the third of play of the game within a minute of the kickoff.

But both teams’s offense were kept well below their season offensive averages. Kennedale finished with 290 yards, under their season average of 404.4 yards. Terrell with 276 yards was below their average of 355.4 per game. And for teams, who averaged more than 30 points per game (over 40 for Kennedale) during the season just 3 touchdowns between them was a due to the defensive play on both sides.

 

both defenses were on fire …

So, both defenses were on fire, but in the end, it was the Cats-D that prevailed and they did in the 3rd quarter. It wasn?t the two points on a safety that Terrell gave to Kennedale when a Terrell player caught the second half opening kick on the one yard line and then inexplicably stepped back into his end zone to down the ball. Rather, it was the repeated pounding that the Terrell quarterback Tiyea Zanders (Sr) received from the Kennedale defense.

#28 DJ Kirven (So)had TD runs of 68 and 61 yards Friday night. Photo: Staci Otts

Multiple times Zanders was sandwiched between at least three Cats who would hit from different angles and almost at the same instant. More than once he got up staggering and on wobblingly legs. Zanders (Sr) stayed in the game when the average player would have been helped to the sidelines, but he was not the same. It is safe to say that Zanders is the spark for this team but he is much more, he has been the fuse and the dynamite. Reduce this threat and you can control the game.

in the 2nd half, Terrell gained only 59 yards …

Zanders finished the game going 9-15 for 124 yards and 1 TD plus rushing 18 times for 98 yards. Elijah McQueen (Sr) who had averaged 117 yards was held to just 53 yards. McQueen also had 3 catches for 34 yards along with Jarvis Walker (Sr) who had 2 receptions for 62 yards.

On the Kennedale side, QB Evan Jowers (So) was 2-5 for 19 yds and had 7 carries for -27 yds. D.J. Kirven (So) had 201 yd on 15 atts and 13.3 avg and 2 TDs. Jaden Knowles (Jr) had 15 att for 98yds and 6.5 avg. Tyler Alphin (Sr) had 1 rec for 16 yards and David Roper (Jr) had 1 rec for 3yds.

 

Defense stats: Michael Landers (Sr) 11 tckls, 1 TFL, 1 sack; Ector Rivera (Jr) 10 tckls; Baron Browning (Sr) 8 tckls, 1 TFL, 2 passes defensed; Devan Mason (Jr) 6 tckls, 1 TFL, 1 passed defensed; Mayfield Hayes (Jr) 6 tckls, 2 TFL, 1 sack; Gjemar Daniels (Sr) 5 tckls, 1 TFL; Stephone Jackson (Sr) 4 tckls; Avion Jenkins (Jr) 3 tckls; Larry Brooks (Jr) 3 tckls, 1 pass defensed; Jakahri Stafford(Jr) 2 tckls; Kade Stephenson (So) 2 tckls and Kevin Tiero 1 tckl.

Terrell had 276 total yards, 13 first downs, 158 yds rushing (3.83 avg) & 124 yds passing. Kennedale had 290 total yards, 11 first downs, 271 yds rushing (7.37 avg) & 19 yds passing.

Team-wise, neither team punted. Both teams were 0-1 on field goal attempts. Terrell was flagged 6 times for 55 yards and Kennedale had 8 penalties for 65 yards. Kennedale recorded the lone turnover of the game.

SCORING:

• Quarter 1 – Both teams scored once: Cats-Kirven 68 yard run, Tiero kick; Tigers -J Walker 58 yard pass from Zanders, B Lara kick).
• Quarter 2 – Neither team scored, both teams missed field goal attempts
• Quarter 3 – Kennedale was awarded a safety
• Quarter 4 – Kennedale scored on a Kirven 61 yard run, kick failed.

The Cats as a team seemed to have come together at the right time with their 7th straight win Photo: Staci Otts

Regionals:

Kennedale (9-3) advances to round three of the UIL state playoffs and will meet Midlothian Heritage (11-1) 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 25 at Newsome Stadium in Mansfield.

UIL

4A D1 Playoff Bracket