Kennedale tested early, but pulls away from Western Hills in battle of district leaders

Fort Worth Western Hills is arguably the toughest opponent on Kennedale’s District 6-4A Division 1 schedule this season.

Both teams came in 2-0 in district and the Wildcats were tested early. But Kennedale pulled away in the second half to down the Cougars 40-14 on Thursday night at Farrington Field.

The game was ugly from the get go with Kennedale (5-1 overall, 3-0 district) and Western Hills (3-3, 2-1) combining for 34 penalties for 300 yards. The Cougars drew 19 flags for 170 yards.

Kennedale forced a Western Hills punt on the Cougars first possession and took over at the Wildcats’ 49. Running back Cameron Lyles gave Kennedale a first and goal at the six after a 21-yard run and a personal foul on Western Hills.

Lyles bulled his way in on the next snap and Kennedale led 7-0 with 8:32 left in the first quarter.

Western Hills took advantage of two Kennedale fumbles in the first half. The first came at 6:46 of the first quarter when D’Shun Hawkins pounced on a fumble at the Western Hills 35.

Western Hills’ play-making quarterback Keyon Butler hit Johnavon Polk for 40 yards down to the Kennedale 25. Butler later scrambled for a 7-yard touchdown to knot the score at 7-7 with 2:51 left in the opening frame.

Butler had a rough night running the ball carrying 21 times for minus-6 yards, with lost yardage mostly on sacks, but did throw for 127 yards completing 10 of 18. Kennedale’s defense only allowed 50 rushing yards on 42 Western Hills attempts.

Kennedale fumbled again at the 10:24 mark of the second quarter at its own 19 where Western Hills linebacker Caleb Clark recovered. Butler tossed a 17-yard pass to Tyreke Lewis then Lewis darted in from a yard out on the ensuing play to give the Cougars a 14-7 lead with 9:37 left in the half.

It was all Kennedale from that point as Jerree Mills scored on a 6-yard run at the 4:46 mark of the second quarter. Mills added a 32-yard TD run with just 16 seconds left in the half to give the Wildcats a 21-14 lead.

Kennedale pulled away after the intermission despite losing two more fumbles. The Wildcats scored on their first four possessions of the second half, starting with a 15-yard scoring pass from quarterback Paul Donkor to Shane Hull.

Mills, who led Kennedale with 93 yards rushing on 15 attempts, added an 18-yard TD run late in the third quarter and kicker Aidan Birr booted field goals of 46 and 48 yards.

“He is awesome,” said Kennedale coach Richard Barrett of Birr, who is committed to Georgia Tech. “His kickoffs were going through the goal posts. He was making field goals from 60 yards out in warm ups so if we have a fourth down and are at the 50 yard line or closer he’s gonna kick.”

Birr missed on a 57-yard field goal attempt in the first half that was long enough, but just wide to the right.

Kennedale will likely roll through the rest of their district schedule begging the question if the Wildcats will be playoff ready when the time comes.

The Wildcats, if they win the district title, will have to face off in Round 1 against the fourth-place team from the stout 5-4A D1, likely Brownwood or Alvarado. Argyle, Kaufman or Melissa from 7-4A D1 will probably be waiting in Round 2.

“We have to play who we have to play,” said Barrett. “My goal is for us to get better each week and our kids just want to go out and play. I don’t think we’ll have any problems at all getting ready for the first round.”

Kennedale finishes with Fort Worth Dunbar and Benbrook to close out the season. Kennedale, although not as strong as the team has been in past seasons, has not lost to a Fort Worth ISD school in the past 20 years, if ever.

Benbrook took the Wildcats to overtime last season before Kennedale pulled out a 16-13 win.

This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 11:46 PM.