Second article in series on the surprising 2015-16 KHS sport year.
A Richard Barrett coached team can?t be too much of a surprise. You know that it is going to be a winner. In his 21 years as a head coach, he has only had one losing season and that was back in 1999 while at Godley. {{more:read more…}}never had a losing season …
Head Coach Richard Barrett only 1 losing season in 21 years
In his 15 seasons at Kennedale, Barrett has won eight district titles, finished 2nd six times (leaving one season where the Cats finished 3rd). He has never had a losing season while at Kennedale High School.
It is also true that the Wildcats last year started the year at #10 and were picked to win the district title once again and to finish at #2 in the region, so where was the surprise?
have to go back to 2014 …
In 2014 Senior Juwan Washington had 2,756 total yards and scored 41 TDs
You have to go back to the year before, when Kennedale had their first ever undefeated regular season and the best record ever at 12-1. That team totaled 5,948 yards on offense (425.6 per gm), 6,634 all-purpose yards (510.3 per gm) and scored 97 touchdowns (4 by pass). They scored a total of 685 points or 52.7 per gm (TDs, ExPts, FGs, Sfs). The defense allowed just 128 points, recorded 3 shutouts, 24 sacks, 5 interceptions, 12 fumble recoveries, caused 12, scored 3 TDs off of recoveries and blocked 2 field goals.
first undefeated regular season in 59 years …
It was team that had 21 Wildcats make All-District honors of which 17 were seniors. It was a team that had 8 all-state players, 7 were seniors. It was a team that graduated its whole backfield. It was a team that had just captured Kennedale?s best record ever and first undefeated regular season in 59 years of play.
So with a depleted defense and a questionable backfield to the start the 2015 campaign, how did that version of the Kennedale Wildcats respond? To use an English descriptor, smashingly!how did ’15 respond – smashingly …
In 2015 Senior Quardraiz Wadley had 2,517 yards and 46 TDs
The ?15 Cats rolled through pre-district and district season undefeated, to match the 2014 team as the only KHS teams to do so and finish with 12-1 record again tying the best record with the ?14 team.
They spotted the offensively minded ?14 Cats their stats and did them one better in almost every category. On total offense, they gained 6,133 yards (484.7 per) and 7,454 all-purpose yards (573.4), scoring 106 touchdowns (2 by pass) and a total of 735 points (56.5 av).
The ’14 defensive unit had a stronger showing in some categories but the ’15 bunch were no slouches. They allowed 220 points, recorded 2 shutouts, 11 sacks, 10 interceptions, returned 3 for TDs, 23 fumble recoveries, caused 25, returned 4 for TDs, 3 safeties, blocked 5 punts and 2 field goals.12 All-State selection, 24 All-District …
The honors started flowing in before the final playoff games were played for Kennedale player – a record 12 selections for the 4A AP Sports Writers All-State honors including the Offensive Player of the Year, 3 players on 1st team, 7 on the 2nd team and 2 Honorable Mentions; 24 selections for District 5-4A All-District teams including 6 MVP selections, 1 Newcomer award, 12 first team selections, 4 second team selections plus Coaching Staff of the Year.
- Quardraiz Wadley (Sr) ? ALL State 4A Offensive Player of the Year & 1st Team Offense Running Back (AP Sports Editors); ?Unsung Player of the Year (Inside High School Sports); DFW Super Team 2nd Team Offense (dfwVarsity); SportsDay All-Area 2nd Team Offense; ALL District 5-4A MVP
- Andrew Flanagan (So) ? All State 1st Team Offense (AP Sports Editors), DFW Super Team 2nd Team Offense; ALL District MVP Offensive Lineman
- Baron Browning (Jr) ? Junior All-America 2nd Team (Max-Preps), All State 1st Team Defense (AP Sports Editors), DFW Super Team 2nd Team Defense; All District 1st Team Defense
- Devan Mason (So) ? All State 2nd Team Defense (AP Sports Editors); DFW Super Team 2nd Team Defense; All District 1st Team Defense
- Matt Naugle (Sr) ? All State 2nd Team Offense (AP Sports Editors); All State Academic, All District 1st Team Offense
- Dailyn Wells (Sr) ? All State 2nd Team Offense (AP Sports Editors); All District 1st Team Offense
- Zace Zeller (Sr) ? All State 2nd Team Kicker (AP Sports Editors); All District MVP Special Teams
- Gjemar Daniels (Jr) ? All State 2nd Team Defense (AP Sports Editors; All District MVP Defensive Line
- Dustin Masner (Sr) – All State 2nd Team Defense (AP Sports Editors); All District 1st Team Defense
- Michael Landers (Jr) ? All State 2nd Team Defense (AP Sports Editors); All District MVP Defense
- Nic Stroud (Jr) ? All State Honorable Mention Offense (AP Sports Editor); All District 1st Team
- Ector Rivera (So) ? All State Honorable Mention Defense (AP Sports Editors); All District Defensive Newcomer of the Year
- Johnny Zielinski (Sr) ? All State Academic, All District 1st Team Offense Tackle
- Kaiser McGlothen (Sr) – All State Academic, All District 2nd Team Offense Quarterback
- Mason Malone (Sr) – All State Academic
- Hayden Brock (Sr) – All State Academic
- Andrew Long (Sr) – All State Academic
- Cameron Norris (Sr) – All State Academic
- Tyler Alphin (Jr) ? All District 1st Team Offense Tight End
- Aaron Williams (Jr) ? All District 1st Team Defense End
- Jaden Knowles (So) ? All District 1st Team Defense Outside Linebacker
- Malik Burgess (Jr) ? All District 1st Team Defense Cornerback
- Larry Brooks (So) ? All District 1st Team Defense Cornerback
- Brett Bostad (So) ? All District 2nd Team Offense Tackle
- Colton Hall (Jr) ? All District 2nd Team Defense Line
- Stephone Jackson (Jr) ? All District 2nd Team Defense End
