IN THE BULLSEYE?
Alvarez knows district will be looking at Wildcats this season
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Newsboy file photo KIRBYVILLE'S PIERCE RHODES may have been slowed in this play, but the senior tailback is expected to shine this season for the Wildcats. Rhodes is a key player if Kirbyville is to fulfill the pre-season predictions of a firstplace finish in District 21-3A.

Read all the pre-season picks for District 21-3A title and most of them revolve around the Kirbyville Wildcats.

Just don't tell that to Kirbyville Head Football Coach Jack Alvarez.

"That is an 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 doesn'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."

And that is not to say that Kirbyville will not work hard to secure that top spot in the district.

During the pre-season workouts and early football practices, the Wildcats are working hard to show they deserve these predictions.

"They don't want to disappoint anybody and neither do our coaches," Alvarez said. "They've never been expected to be number one before. We have to earn being number one and you do that weekly."

But still Alvarez is pleased with the play his team has showed during the early going.

"I couldn't ask anymore from my kids - we haven't had anyone miss practice and everyone had great attitudes," Alvarez said. "We had a couple of injuries, but I know that just happens."

Kirbyville returns 14 offensive and defensive starters from last year's 8-4 playoff squad.

Leading the way offensively for the Wildcats will be running back Pierce Rhodes, who rushed for 1,526 yards and 23 touchdowns last year. Rhodes was a force last year as a junior and this year is expected to shoulder more of the load for Kirbyville.

Joining Rhodes in a potentially explosive backfield will be Broderick Jackson and quarterback Aaron Hazelwood, who threw for more than 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns last year.

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

Without the aid of some offensive linemen, Kirbyville's backfield wouldn't find many holes to run through. OL Chris Samuel and Ryan Jones will provide some help for their backfield mates.

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

Kirbyville also returns seven defensive starters this year. Look at some of the key players and you'll also find the name of Pierce Rhodes on the list.

Rhodes notched 105 tackles last season for the Wildcats. Alvarez said during the early practices that defensive back Fred Rhodes has also shined.

"I try every day to throw a deep ball on him and every day he defends it," Alvarez said.

While Alvarez knows the pre-season press clippings have his Wildcats tabbed for greatness, he is also leery of a West Orange-Stark squad that is hurting from losing that pre-season prediction.

"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 worst this summer and during two-a-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.

But the Wildcats open up their District 21-3A season in The Bone Yard playing against county rival Jasper before playing WO-S the following week.

"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 anybody's ballgame any night," Alvarez said. "It doesn't matter what Dave Campbell thinks, unless he's going to suit up and play for us."

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."