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Kennedale is coming off a 9-3 season after capturing their 7th straight district title and once again with an undefeated district record. {{more: continue ?}}In just under a month, the Kennedale football 2019 season will kick off with a scrimmage against Waco LaVega HS at Waco on August 16.Originally, FW Southwest HS was scheduled for another scrimmage game following LaVega but cancelled. Athletic Director/Head Coach Richard Barrett could not find a replacement.Season opener August 30th ?Kennedale?s opener will be at Decatur on August 30 in the first of four pre-district games. Midlothian Heritage follows on September 6 and Alvarado on August 13, both games at Wildcat Stadium.?The Cats will play the Pojos at Springtown on September 20 before district play opens on September 27 at Castleberry.Early season disappointment last year ?
On the strength of their run to the state championship game in 2017, Kennedale came into the 2018 season rated #5 in the AP Top 10 preseason poll in Class 4A. But, a younger Wildcat team had a rough time in the early go and went 2-2 over the next four weeks, falling out of the top 10.
- Kennedale in game one started well and topped Decatur 55-7. However, in the next game, the Cats ran into a almost impregnable wall against Midlothian Heritage and returned home with 35-7 loss.?
- The following week, fans on both sides got their money?s worth in a 42-40 win by the Wildcats that saw the Indians of Alvarado, a longtime rival, score 33 points in the 4th quarter as the Cats managed just 7 and the win.
- Kennedale took their second loss of the season the following week against Springtown in a shutout 30-0. The game was called in the 4th because of a severe weather threat but the game was already of hand. That game also? saw the loss of the Cats’ premier running back, DJ Kirven. Kirven was knocked out of the game during the 2nd quarter. Kirven would not return to the Wildcat line-up until 4 games later.
Kennedale did go on to make a strong finish by winning the next 7 games, sweeping the district and going two-deep in the playoffs ? beating Brownwood 58-20 before and losing to Paris 35-17. Paris became LaVega?s third round victim on its march to the title.?Early outlook this season ??It still is a strong pre-season schedule and it will challenge the Wildcats early. Here is how the teams finished last year.?
- The scrimmage game this year will feature the 2019 Texas 4A DI State Champions, LaVega Pirates, who finished last season at 14-2.?
- Decatur, in the opener for the Wildcats, came alive in the playoffs last year by slashing through to the state semifinals before falling to the power of LaVega.?
- Midlothian Heritage made the 3rd round of the playoffs falling to Carthage in a thriller 50-49, finishing the season at 11-2.?
- ?Alvarado finished second in their district and made the playoffs, falling in the first round against Melissa. Melissa went on to become LaVega?s second round victim. ?
