Cats claim win over Cleveland
Kirbyville to take on Caldwell in Humble Saturday
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

In the playoffs, a win is a win. Last Saturday on the campus of Stephen F. Austin University, the Kirbyville Wildcats came away with a 24-14 victory over Cleveland in the bidistrict round of the playoffs.

"To me the game wasn't that much different from the first time we played them," said Kirbyville Head Football Coach Jack Alvarez of the Wildcats opening season 27-0 victory over Cleveland. "They are a little better on offense and we had a couple of turnovers that kept us from scoring.

"Any playoff win is a good win," Alvarez said. "We can go back and analyze it all we want but a win is a win. We played good when we had to and the defense got their stops when we needed a stop. The bottom line is that we won and that's what you try to do."

The victory propels the Wildcats into a Saturday, Nov. 24 contest at Humble's Turner Stadium against the Caldwell Hornets (9-1).

Kirbyville jumped on Cleveland quickly with a score early to take a 6-0 lead. But Cleveland came right back to tie the game with a score of their own with 7:41 left in the second quarter.

Kirbyville came right back before the half and took the lead back when senior running back Pierce Rhodes scored to give Kirbyville a 12-6 lead.

The Wildcats pushed the lead out to 18-6 with a third-quarter score but Cleveland came right back and pulled to within four with a touchdown and a two-point conversion.

But Kirbyville's defense came up with a big stop to keep Cleveland from taking the lead in the contest and then drove the field to score to finish off the Indians.

Alvarez said Caldwell should be similar in nature offensively to what the Wildcats just saw with Cleveland.

"They run a lot of slot T stuff and misdirection," Alvarez said. "I feel that they are pretty good on offense and defensively they are very sound.

"They have a pretty good ball club overall," Alvarez said. "I don't think there is anybody we can compare them too that we have played."

Two key Caldwell players that Kirbyville will have to contend with are running back Xavier Cantu and quarterback Scott Ofczarak.

Alvarez knows the Wildcats will have to pick up their game a notch as they move through the playoff competition.

"We need to make our defensive stops and score when we get our opportunities," Alvarez said.

Caldwell advanced to play Kirbyville by defeated Columbus.

The game was originally scheduled to be played in Dayton but was moved to Humble. Alvarez preferred a Saturday game date for the playoff contest.

"I just wanted the extra day to get ready," Alvarez said.