Lesson learned as Cats romp past Hardin-Jefferson
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Lesson learned.

After last week's close victory over Orangefield, Kirbyville Head Football Coach Jack Alvarez hoped his Wildcats would learn a lesson from the contest.

Kirbyville scored the first four times they touched the ball to cruise to a 52-16 victory on the road at Hardin-Jefferson Friday, Oct. 19.

"I thought we played pretty good," Alvarez said. "I was pleased with our efforts. We got ahead of them so fast that the game got sloppy at times but I thought we pushed through and finished on a positive note."

At the end of the first quarter, the game was literally over as Kirbyville held a 32-0 lead over the outmatched Hawks.

"I thought we were pretty focused when we got down there," Alvarez said.

The first two touchdowns came via the air when quarterback Aaron Hazelwood connected with Randy Musgrove for two touchdowns and two off-tackle runs by senior Pierce Rhodes gave the Wildcats a commanding lead they would never relinquish.

Kirbyville's final score of the first quarter came when Desmond Everett forced a Hardin-Jefferson fumble and Rhodes scooped it up and took the distance for a 32-0 lead.

"We had to work really hard to not let it get sloppy," Alvarez said. "When you get a lead like that, so quick, everybody just lets their guard down mentally and we had to stay on them for that but it was a good outing for us."

Even on the heels of the Orangefield game, Alvarez said he is pleased with the victory.

"Every win is a good win," Alvarez said. "That's what I am trying to tell everybody about the Orangefield game. I have never had a bad win. I would rather have a bad win than a good loss."

This Friday, Kirbyville will take on winless Bridge City at home and again the Wildcats will have to guard against a letdown.

"It can be dangerous because everybody in the back of their mind is thinking about Silsbee and Hamshire-Fannett but the way we are looking at it we have to win our last three games," Alvarez said. "In an eight-team district, you have to play all of them. We can't just get through them, we have to finish them. We need to stay focused throughout the whole district schedule and treat every game like a playoff game mentally.

"If you don't take it seriously, you will let your guard down and Silsbee and Hamshire can take it to us," Alvarez said. "Or you will see a team like Orangefield, which was winless at the time, take us to the limit."

Alvarez said he expects the Wildcats to be physical with the Bridge City Cardinals this week and place this game in the win column.

"They look to be younger than us and not as big so if we get physical with them we might be able to take the fight out of them," Alvarez said. "I would hope we can jump on them quick."