GLEN ROSE – For the third time in four seasons, the Kennedale Wildcats brought the Brownwood Lions’ football campaign to an end in the bi-district round of the playoffs.
In Class 4A Division I Region II bi-district action here Friday night, the Lions kept Kennedale’s offense in check for the majority of the first three quarters, but Brownwood’s offense was unable to match its opening-drive success, which in turn eventually allowed the Wildcats to pull away for a 37-7 victory.
The District 5 fourth-seeded Lions – making their 13th consecutive postseason appearance – ended their fourth season under head coach Sammy Burnett with a 4-7 mark, while District 6 champion Kennedale improved to 10-1 and will prepare to face Argyle (10-1) in the second round.
“I thought our kids tried hard, but we experienced a lot of the same ol, same ol tonight,” Burnett said in regard to mistakes that plagued the Lions.”We just got in our own way. We got behind the sticks on offense and never could continue drives like we did the first one to start the game.”
Facing a Kennedale defense that had recorded seven shutouts, including four in a row, and yielded just 43 points all season, Brownwood took the opening possession of the contest and advanced 68 yards to the end zone. Konlyn Anderson – who finished the season with 1,880 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground – punched in a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal to give the Lions a 7-0 edge at the 9:36 mark of the first period.
Anderson rushed for 49 of his 92 yards on the possession, while Chance Jones recorded two of his three completions – both to Elias Huerta-Doud totaling 15 yards – and the bulk of his 26 yards through the air.
By night’s end, however, the Lions had amassed just 157 total yards, with 131 coming on the ground, and committed three turnovers while Kennedale registered seven sacks.
“We didn’t protect well enough to get the ball off,” Burnett said. “Chance was under duress all night long. He never had a chance to set and throw the football.”
Defensively, the Lions fell victim to a 44-yard touchdown pass from Paul Donkor to Jaylan Webb that tied the game at 7 at the 7:32 juncture of the first period, and allowed a 51-yard scoring sprint by Jerree Mills – who churned out 132 yards overall – with 3:19 left in the first half. A Kennedale interception also set up a 22-yard field goal by Lance Pate, as the Wildcats led 17-7 at intermission.
Kennedale finished with 386 yards of total offense, including 342 rushing, which is 93 yards fewer per game than the Lions surrendered during the regular season.
“Defensively I thought we played pretty good in a lot of spots,” Burnett said. “We got off the field in the first half several times, but we were just on the field too long in the second half.”
The Lions still trailed by just 10 points with 90 seconds left in the third period, but E.J. Higgins – who finished with a game-high 172 rushing yards – chipped in a pair of late touchdowns on carries and 1 and 3 yards to boost the advantage to 30-7. Then, with 2:09 left in the contest, Tyler Choice returned an interception 63 yards for a Kennedale touchdown and the final 30-point margin.
A couple of golden opportunities slipped through Brownwood’s fingers earlier in the contest as, after Kennedale muffed a punt, the Lions failed to capitalize as their first interception followed, which led to the Wildcats’ field goal and a 10-7 lead.
Then, in the second half, Kennedale failed to pick up on a yard on a fourth-and-10 fake punt attempt at the Brownwood 39. On the Lions’ first play of the ensuing possession, however, Kameron Sallis picked off a pass to swing the momentum right back to the Wildcats.
Reflecting on a trying season, Burnett said, “It was a tough season. It was tough everybody, but I thought they grew and our kids did the best they could. We’ve got a long way to go with the younger ones who still have to grow. Our seniors did everything they could to try and lead and I’m proud of them because they never quit. We just have to continue to work and continue to grind to get where we want to be as a program.”
***
Kennedale 37, Brownwood 7
SCORE BY QUARTERS
| Kennedale | 7 | 10 | 6 | 14 | -37 |
| Brownwood | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -7 |
SCORING SUMMARY
B: Konlyn Anderson 1 run (Junior Martinez kick), 9:36, 1st
K: Jaylan Webb 44 pass from Paul Donkor (Lance Pate kick), 7:32, 1st
K: Pate 22 FG, 5:18, 2nd
K: Jerree Mills 51 run (Pate kick), 3:19, 2nd
K: E.J. Higgins 3 run (Pate failed), 1:29, 3rd
K: Higgins 1 run (Pate kick), 2:39, 4th
K: Tyler Choice 63 interception return (Pate kick), 2:09, 4th
***
| TEAM STATS | K | B |
| First Downs | 16 | 12 |
| Total Offense | 386 | 157 |
| Rushes-Yards | 48-342 | 42-131 |
| Passing Yards | 44 | 26 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 1-3-0 | 3-11-3 |
| Punts | 3-44.3 | 7-40.5 |
| Fumbles Lost | 2 | 0 |
| Penalties-Yards | 6-55 | 6-38 |
***
PLAYER STATS
RUSHING: Kennedale – E.J. Higgins 23-172, 2 TDs; Jerree Mills 15-132, TD; Kenaj Washington 5-25; Paul Donkor 4-13; Braden Walters 1-0. Brownwood – Konlyn Anderson 24-92, TD; Chance Jones 17-32; Jaylan Brown 1-7.
PASSING: Kennedale – Donkor 1-3-0-44, TD. Brownwood – Jones 3-10-3-26; Jason Jackson 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING: Kennedale – Jaylen Webb 1-44, TD. Brownwood – Elias Huerta-Doud 2-15; Jackson 1-11.
