Cats move on to state quarterfinals …
Midlothian Heritage on a 11 game winning streak smashed up against the Kennedale Wildcats Friday night at Newsome Stadium in Mansfield for a state regional match-up creating an offensive explosion. {{more:Read more…}}With offenses running wild, a combined 14 touchdowns were scored and over 1000 yards of turf were plowed.
In the end, it was the difference of an extra point try on the first series of the game when Kennedale crashed through Midlothian lines to block the their point after kick.
The Wildcats and the Jaguars matched points through most of the rest of game until the final seconds of the game when the Jaguars scored to make it 49-47 with the Cats up by two and Midlothian couldn?t convert on the extra point try with less than 20 seconds left in the game.
For the game, Midlothian rack up 537 yard with just 39 yards of that on the ground (1.9avg) but went 29-46 in passing for 498 yards with 1 interception. Meanwhile, Kennedale amassed 467 yards on the ground for 10.4 avg while going 0-1 in passing with no turnovers.
Both team were flagged several times with Heritage collecting 9 for 67 yards and Kennedale 8 for 76 yards.keys to the win …
- zero turnovers for Cats – one for Jaguars
- four defensive stops for Cats – two for Jaguars
- 7-7 extra points for Cats – 5-7 for the Jaguars
For Kennedale RB DJ Kirven (So) made five touchdowns with 169 yards for 7.04 avg. RB Jaden Knowles (Jr) picked up the Cats first TD on a 76 yard scamper and finished with 137 yards fo 22.8 avg. QB Evan Jowers (So) attempted only one pass but did run for 105 yards finishing with one TD on a 30 yard scramble and a 15.0 avg. David Roper also carried for 48 yards on 5 carries for a 9.6 avg.
big 2nd quarter for defense ?
The Cats defense was able to stop the Jaguar twice in the second quarter with both leading to easy Kennedale scores. The first time came at the beginning of the second quarter with Midlothian bottled up at their 5 yard line. A short punt gave the Cats the ball at the MH 34 and the go ahead TD for Kennedale came two plays later. The Cats secured the lead and led the rest of the game. The Cats stepped up again on the next series when Larry Brooks intercepted a Landon Ledbetter pass at the KN 16 and returned it 88 yards to the MH 18. Kennedale scored in two plays and Kennedale had a 15 point lead.
For the game the Cats defense were able to stop the explosive Heritage offense 4 times compared to the Jaguar?s two. The first Midlothian defensive stop didn?t come until the fourth quarter.
Yet, the game came down to a final clock-eating Midlothian nine play drive aided by 3 Kennedale penalties for 35 yards. The drive started at the MH 34 yard line and went the length of the field ending with a Ledbetter 24 yard TD toss with 15 seconds left in the game. But Midlothian tried a pass for two and failed.Cats plays in December …
Kennedale moves on for the third time for Kennedale to round 4 in the state playoffs and will play Van (12-1) who defeated Paris 55-27 Friday night. Game will be played at Frisco Star next week at 7:30 p.m.
