Showdown
Cats face WO-S in what could be 'game of year'
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy KIRBYVILLE SENIOR PIERCE RHODES found some running room in the district opener against Jasper. Rhodes and the Wildcats will face West Orange-Stark Friday at Wildcat Stadium.

It might just be the second week of the district season but this one might just be one for all the marbles in District 21-3A.

Kirbyville will host West Orange-Stark at Wildcat Stadium Friday at 7:30 p.m. in a battle for the top spot in the district.

"Our kids will be ready to play emotionally just because who we are playing," said Kirbyville Head Football Coach Jack Alvarez. "Over the past couple of years, we continue to win but the bigger schools always seem to get all the credit so I think our kids will be ready."

In years past, West Orange-Stark has been the perennial favorite in District 3A play and has ruled the district for the past few years. In fact, the Mustangs have yet to suffer a district loss in Class 3A play.

But this year, Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine tabbed the Kirbyville Wildcats as the team to beat in District 21-3A.

The pre-season prediction raised the stakes a bit higher in the contest. Last year, West Orange-Stark defeated Kirbyville en route to an undefeated and another district championship.

"I don't know if (unbeaten in district in Class 3A) is supposed to intimidate anyone or not," Alvarez said. "But when you have one stop light in town, it's hard to intimidate somebody who have to play areas with Wal-Marts. We will not be intimidated - we are used to it."

Alvarez said it is key that the Wildcats control the football with their vaunted running attack and keep the West Orange-Stark athletes off the field.

"They are like Jasper in that they have good athletes who can make big plays on us," Alvarez said. "They don't have quite as many athletes as they had last year. They don't have all the Division I players that they have had in the past but they have some players that are really good."

So is Friday's matchup for the District 21-3A championship?

"I would like to say yes and win," Alvarez said. "Silsbee and Hamshire- Fannett are still threats but I think if you win this game you are definitely in the driver's seat for the district championship."