Kirbyville aims at long run in playoffs
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

KIRBYVILLE'S PIERCE RHODES (2), above, provides defense during a pass play attempt by Hamshire-Fannett.The Wildcats defeated Hamshire- Fannett 68-29 to close out the District 21-3A season. Pictured right, Fred Rhodes breaks through the Longhorns' defense during the contest.

Name the most maligned Class 3A playoff team in the area?

If you said the Kirbyville Wildcats, step to the head of the class.

The Wildcats enter Saturday's contest with Cleveland sporting a topnotch 9-1 record but still message boards in the area questioned how good the Wildcats really are.

"I feel like we are in the BCS with some people saying we're no good and here we are having lost only one game and that was to West Orange," said Kirbyville Head Football Coach Jack Alvarez. "We're 9-1 and in the playoffs and that's all that matters right now.

"I think we will play good in the playoffs," Alvarez said. "Right now, we are playing good at the right time of the year."

Kirbyville tuned up for the playoff race ahead by spanking Hamshire-Fannett 68-29 at home.

Photo courtesy Photo Graphix Photography/Stacey Chambers

"We were ready. We respected them and go ready for them," Alvarez said. "You had to respect them because they beat Silsbee."

Alvarez knows he has some young players that will be seeing their first playoff action and plans on relying on some of his veteran players during this playoff run.

"Some guys like Pierce (Rhodes), Chris Samuel and Ryan Jones have the most playoff experience," Alvarez said. "We will be looking for those guys to lead us and show us how it is done.

"Our kids expect to win and play for a while," Alvarez said. "I think as long as we are having fun, I think we will keep playing. Some teams expect to go round but I think this group expects to play a little longer than that. We are young enough that we keep getting better each week."

The first step in the Class 3A playoffs will take place Saturday at Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. when the Wildcats take on the Cleveland Indians.

This will be the same Cleveland squad Kirbyville opened the season against and wiped out 27-0 in Cleveland. But Alvarez believes the Wildcats are playing the same squad in name only.

"We thought coming into this season with our skilled players coming back that we would be in this position. There are expectations in the community for us to play for a while...This is the payday for our kids and community." - Kirbyville's Jack Alvarez

"They have a new coach and a new system and they wasted a lot plays during that first game," Alvarez said. "You look at them now, and they are way better on offense. They are big and physical on defense and two of their linebackers are as good as we have seen.

"We respect Coldspring and Cleveland beat them," Alvarez said. "We have a lot of common opponents. You have to respect who they have played and beat."

But Alvarez also knows his Wildcats are better than when the two teams met Aug. 31 as well.

"We didn't play Chris Samuel or Broderick Jackson much in the first game and we really didn't beat them that bad," Alvarez said. "I think they are better and we're better. You don't want to be overconfident but you want to play with confidence. I feel that if we play our game, stress ball security then I think we will come out on top."

Alvarez knows this is the time of the season that most football fans wait for - the playoffs.

"You don't want your kids to be thinking that they have to practice another week, - you want them to be looking forward to it," Alvarez said. "We have our kids looking forward to this week and playing the next week and the next week and the next week…"

He said also it helps when the community backing the team as well.

"We thought coming into this season with our skilled players coming back that we would be sitting in this position," Alvarez said. "There are expectations in the community for us to play for a while.

"I always look forward to the playoffs," Alvarez said. "This is the payday for our kids and our community."