By Brian Gosset
X- @gosset41
FORT WORTH – Kennedale’s season last year ended at the hands of Eastern Hills in the first round of the playoffs. 356 days later, the Wildcats avenged that loss against the Highlanders on Friday night.
Behind the Wing-T offense and a big rushing night by Zarrian Carliss, Kennedale defeated Eastern Hills 34-22 to claim the District 5-4A D1 title at Farrington Field.
The Wildcats (9-1, 7-0) enter the playoffs as a #1 seed and host Dallas Carter (5-5), the fourth-place team out of District 6-4A D1 in the bi-district round. The Highlanders (8-2, 6-1) will be the 2-seed and play either Dallas Kimball, Dallas Lincoln or Wilmer-Hutchins.
Eastern Hills was seeking its first district title since winning back-to-back in 1992 and 1993. A bright side for the Highlanders – the program is going to the playoffs for the third straight year, its longest streak since going from 1996 to 2001.
Kennedale took a 7-0 lead with 8:38 left in the first quarter on Carliss’ first touchdown. Kicker Bennett Markham hit the first of two field goals, from 35 yards, to push the lead to 10-0 under four minutes to play in the opening period.
Carliss added his second TD run from near midfield to make it 17-0. Markham drilled a 43-yard field goal as time expired to give Kennedale a 20-0 advantage going into the intermission.
Eastern Hills’ running back Chris Johnson scored three touchdowns – the first on a 26-yard run. But the Highlanders missed the two-point try to leave it 20-6 midway through the third quarter.
Kennedale answered quickly with a TD from Ayden Turner on its ensuing drive.
Johnson scored his two other touchdowns from inside the 5. His second came early in the fourth. He also ran in the two-point attempt to get Eastern Hills within 27-14.
Again, Kennedale went quick and scored on a 64-yard run by Carliss.
The final score of the game came on Johnson’s third TD. After another good two-point try, it was 34-22 with 10 minutes left in the final quarter.
Kennedale managed to kill nearly seven minutes on its next possession, but the Wildcats came away with no points. Eastern Hills’ last attempt at a comeback was stalled on an interception from Ashton Venters.
Coach Richard Barrett took over as Kennedale coach in 2001 and has taken the Wildcats to the playoffs in all 26 seasons. The program missed the postseason in four straight years prior to Barrett.
The district title is the first since 2023 and 17th under Barrett’s watch.
