Challenges mount as Cats touted as best in district
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Last year, Kirbyville was the sleeper team in District 21-3A as the Wildcats surprised the district with another playoff run.

"We were the surprise team - people didn't expect us to do as well as we did," said Kirbyville Head Football Coach Jack Alvarez. "I think those guys overachieved a bit. We had some talent and I knew we had a chance but in this district, anything can happen."

This year, the Wildcats are now the hunted.

In fact, Dave Campbell's 2007 Texas Football has tabbed the Wildcats to win the District 21-3A championship.

"That is a honor for our kids, school and community and that is some respect that we are finally starting to get here in Kirbyville," Alvarez said. "I think that is due to the fact that the past three or four years we have been successful.

"You can add all that up and it still don't matter until you go out there and play," Alvarez said. "That is just an opinion. It puts a bulls-eye on our kids and us. We have never been picked for the top spot."

Alvarez said he has seen his players already working hard to prove that prediction correct with their offseason workouts.

"They don't want to disappoint anybody and neither do our coaches," Alvarez said.

He said with high school football players, good players are lost every year to graduation and new players have to be trained to fill in those spots.

"This is not college where we have someone waiting in the wings that is ready to go," Alvarez said. "We have to play with what we got. I think we're going to be very good and I hope we end up on top but we have a lot of work to end up number one in this district."

He said the pre-season ranking has done wonders in motivating his players during the summer.

"They've never been expected to be number one before," Alvarez said. "I am anxious to see how they respond to it. We have to earn being number one and you do that weekly."

He said he's not worried about what the Wildcats' ranking will mean to West Orange-Stark, who tradi- -tionally has been picked at the top of any district they are located in.

"Those guys are going to be motivated anyway," Alvarez said. "They are going to be trying to kill us anyway.

"West Orange was picked number one in the district last year and we went and played them and it had nothing to do with it," Alvarez said. "To me, it will come down to who wants it the worst that night when we play them.

"Who wants it the worse this summer and during twoa days," Alvarez said. "Whoever wants it the worst will be the district champs."

One advantage Kirbyville will have is the Wildcats will host West Orange-Stark in their second district contest.

"It should help because we haven't lost too many games at home," Alvarez said of the district home opener.

WO-S may be an important contest for Kirbyville, but Alvarez knows the importance of not letting up on any other contest either.

The Wildcats open their district season in The Bone Yard against the cross-county rival Jasper Bulldogs.

"You can't overlook anybody in this district," Alvarez said. "When you play anybody in this district, you have to as a coach point to that game and express how important it is or you will stand a great chance at losing. You have to play every night."

In fact, Alvarez believes Kirbyville and West Orange- Stark will be joined by Jasper and Silsbee to contend for the district title and playoff berths.

"With those four teams, it is anybodies ballgame any night," Alvarez said. "It don't matter what Dave Campbell thinks, unless he's going to suit up and play for us."

One reason for the high hopes for Kirbyville is the return of running back Pierce Rhodes, who rushed for 1,526 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Rhodes was an offensive and defensive machine for the Wildcats last year in leading Kirbyville into the second round of the playoffs.

"I thank the good Lord that (Rhodes) is back this year," Alvarez said.

Quarterback Aaron Hazelwood also returns after being named newcomer of the year last year. Hazelwood threw for 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns and will have linemen Chris Samuel and Ryan Jones back to defend him in the pocket.

"We have good skilled guys coming back," Alvarez said.

Alvarez said the district was all it was advertised to be last year.

"We were beat up by the time we reached the playoffs," Alvarez said. "I really felt that if we would have been healthy in that second game, we would have played on some more."

And Alvarez said just because he has a year of experience under his belt in District 21-3A, it makes it no easier this year.

"The only thing is it makes me not sleep as good at night," Alvarez said.

Along with the previous four teams, the Kirbyville coach believes any team can defeat anyone on any given night. In fact, he believes Hamshire-Fannett will wear the sleeper tag in district this year.

"I thought those guys were talented," Alvarez said. "I think its as good a district as anywhere in the state of Texas."