Raiders face tough match against 3A power Kennedale

Rider hasn’t had a Class 3A opponent on its football schedule since Hirschi in 2005.

The following year the Raiders ended a 43-year tradition of playing the Huskies and started toughening up their nondistrict schedule with Frenship, Stephenvile, Cedar Hill, Sulphur Springs and Tyler John Tyler.

Now, five years later, another 3A team is back on the Rider schedule.

But don’t let the 3A fool you.

Kennedale may be a Class 3A team — two notches below Rider’s opening opponent, Abilene Cooper — but the Wildcats are one of the top 3A programs in the state.

They have put together 10 straight winning seasons and a 77.3 winning percentage (92-27) during that stretch. They went 11-2 and advanced to the Division II regional semifinals last season.

The Wildcats, ranked No. 17 in the state by The Associated Press, got off to a roaring start last week with a 34-3 road victory over Denison. It ended a 10-game home win streak for the Yellowjackets and was the first time since 2004 that they had not scored a touchdown.

Now, it’s Rider’s turn to test the strength of Kennedale when the two teams tangle at 7:30 tonight at Wildcat Stadium.

“They are really good. Their Wing-T is like a machine,” said Jim Garfield, whose head coaching debut with the Raiders was spoiled by Abilene Cooper, 40-21 last week. “We will have to find a way to disrupt it. I have to be on my game.”

Bo Burgess, a senior running back, ran 13 times for 194 yards and two touchdowns in the rout of Denison. Tony Sabando, the fullback, carried 15 times for 115 yards and a TD, and quarterback Stephen Rivera found the end zone twice.

The Wildcats ran 81 percent of the time on offense and gained 414 of their 429 yards on the ground.

“Burgess has speed, but he also has great power. He can drop his shoulder and get that extra yard,” Garfield said. “We will have to gang tackle and get to the ball quick. Sabando is a hard runner with breakaway speed.”

The first-year head coach took the blame for the loss to Cooper.

“I have to do a better job coaching the kids up this week,” he said.

Garfield inherited a pretty tough nondistrict schedule from his predecessor, Scott Ponder, but said he likes going up against good teams.

“The teams in our district are good, so it is good for us to see the game at a fast tempo early on. It always make you ready,” he explained.

The Raiders, however, have lost seven straight nondistrict games — three each in 2008 and 2009 and this year’s season opener at Cooper. They have been outscored 231-116 in those seven games.

Can losing become a bad habit that worn-down teams have trouble overcoming?

“When you play a tough schedule, you need to have leaders who can handle the situation. If you get on a downward spiral, you need leaders who can refocus the team and regain momentum,” Garfield answered.

The Rider coach said he has six captains — all elected by their teammates — to handle such a situation.

They are defensive end Blaine Townsend, quarterback Malcolm Carter, nose guard Ben Scribner, wide receiver Graham McGregor, linebacker Tyler Alaniz and offensive lineman Tyler Seale. All, but Alaniz (a junior) are seniors.

They are the nucleus of what Garfield thinks can be a good team.

“Cooper was a good team, but we gave them some things. We made mistakes,” he said. “Our guys are good and can play with anybody if they correct those mistakes.”

How to get there: Take U.S. 287 south to Fort Worth. Go onto I-35 south and take it through Fort Worth to I-20. Go east on I-20 and stay to the right. Veer off on U.S. 287 south toward Mansfield and Kennedale. Take a right at Kennedale Sublet Road. Proceed to the first paved street, which is Wildcat Way. Turn right on Wildcat Way and Wildcat Stadium will be on your left.