Wildcats wake up, put away late charging Bobcats 49-42
'We won but we didn't win like everybody thought we should' - Alvarez
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Courtesy photo/Esther Fuller Photography KIRBYVILLE'S BRODERICK JACKSON breaks free from a pack of Orangefield defenders during the Wildcats' victory over Orangefield Friday, Oct. 12. Wildcats wake up, put away

It was a game that the Kirbyville Wildcats were supposed to own. This one was a sure win.

But at the nail-biting end, Orangefield put a mighty scare into the Kirbyville faithful as the Wildcats held off the Bobcats behind a late Pierce Rhodes touchdown to claim a vital 49-42 victory Friday, Oct. 12.

"I think they played quite a good game - I don't think we really showed up," said Kirbyville Head Football Coach Jack Alvarez. "Those guys came down here, fired up and ready to play and we weren't ready to play.

"Defensively, we stopped them the first two times and we went into we-thoughtthe game-was-over mode and they kept playing hard," Alvarez said. "They came in here and played lights out and you have to give them credit for it. It was a great wakeup call for us."

The victory improved Kirbyville's record to 5-1, 2- 1 in district play

"Orangefield didn't quit in that game and I'm not saying that we did but I don't know if we respected them," Alvarez said. "We won but we didn't win like everybody thought we should."

Alvarez said this game should serve as a strong wake-up call for the Wildcats as they enter a portion of the season in which they should post wins.

"We need to wake-up and smell the coffee," Alvarez said. "Our kids were looking to Silsbee and Hamshire-Fannett and have been writing off these middle of the season games off and you can't do that. We will take any win we can get, whether of if we live up to the expectations of how we win or not."

Orangefield entered the contest winless on the season but that didn't stop the Bobcats from taking a 35-34 lead midway through the fourth quarter. When Jeremy Granger scored from three yards out, the Bobcats took a stunning 35-34 lead with 10:06 left in the contest.

Granger set up the score by recovering a Kirbyville fumble on a missed handoff between Kirbyville's Aaron Hazelwood and Pierce Rhodes.

But Kirbyville came right back and took the lead away from the game Orangefield squad. Hazelwood found Pierce Rhodes on a 28-yard scoring connection and a following two-point run by Rhodes gave the Wildcats the lead for good at 42-35.

But if the Kirbyville fans though Orangefield was through scaring them, they were mistaken.

Bobcat quarterback Jared Helton pulled Orangefield even in the contest when he scored from 10 yards out with 5:02 left in the game and a following Derek Evans' PAT knotted the game at 42.

Kirbyville's Broderick Jackson led the Wildcat rushing attack with 97 yards on 37 carries while Helton led the Bobcats with 95 yards on 14 carries.

Early in the contest, Orangefield grabbed the lead and let Kirbyville know they intended to fight for this district contest. Helton connected with Devin Green for a 53-yard scoring pass to give the Bobcats an early 14-7 lead.

Kirbyville came right back and tied the game right before the halftime break when JaMichael Ervine scored from four yards out at the 1:06 mark of the second quarter.

Kirbyville started the second half bent on putting an end to the contest as the Wildcats ran off 14 unanswered points to take a commanding 28-14 lead.

Jackson scored from nine yards out and then Randy Musgrove hauled in a 44- yard touchdown from Hazelwood for a 28-14 lead.

But Orangefield countered with a score of their own when Granger scored from three yards out to cut the lead to 28-21 with 6:54 left in the third quarter.

Kirbyville came right back and padded their lead when Rhodes scored from 15 yards out.

With the failed PAT, Kirbyville held a 34-21 lead as the game entered the fourth quarter.

Kirbyville will take on Hardin-Jefferson this Friday, Oct. 19 on the road.

"If we go over there and we will be refocused," Alvarez said. "We need to get all our bullets loaded when we play Silsbee and Hamshire. We need to get ready and the time is now."

CAT NOTES: Senior running back Pierce Rhodes was held out of the first half of the Orangefield game for disciplinary reasons, according to Alvarez. "It don't matter if you are my best player or worst player, you will pay the piper if you do something wrong."