Kinder vs. Many – The Sequel
Published 8:44 am Friday, December 12, 2014
For the Many Tigers, it’s nothing but anticipation after Kinder beat them 34-20 in last year’s Class 2A state championship game.
The Kinder Yellow Jackets are just looking to take care of business again.
It’s under those circumstances, seemingly completely different mind-sets, that today’s state championship game, scheduled for an 8 p.m. kickoff, will be played.
The way last year’s game broke has stewed within a revenge-minded Many team for the past year. Down 18-7 at halftime, Many went ahead on two Xavier Dias touchdown runs to take a 20-18 lead into the fourth quarter but a 16-play, 87-yard drive that took more than 9 minutes of the fourth quarter left Kinder walking away with the win.
“Last year’s game, going in, they seemed to be the favorites,” Fuselier said. “They had a big third quarter and took the lead … they took the momentum. When it mattered our guys made plays and found a way to win.
“That’s definitely a big factor for them. They’ve looked to this all year long; I know they’ve got pictures in their locker room. That’s a big motivation for them. We’ve just got to worry about playing good football. That’s all we can control.”
There is a high level of familiarity. Both teams return a number of key players. For Kinder, defensive ace Bryce Baker once again leads the defense into the Superdome while Many’s do-it-all quarterback and free safety Dias leads a high-powered offense.
Dias struggled offensively in last year’s game and threw four interceptions. But, Fuselier said the Louisiana-Lafayette commitment has improved throwing the ball and is a threat with his legs.
“He’s definitely a playmaker,” Fuselier said. “He’s their guy and their No. 1 threat. They’ve got good guys around him too.”
Facing high-powered offenses is nothing new to Kinder (14-0), with Sterlington having scored 50 points in five consecutive games before being held to 14 points in last week’s semifinal.
But, Many (14-0) comes in with the familiarity of Kinder and that oft-mentioned revenge on its mind.
“It’s going to take good assignment football from everybody,” Fuselier said. “But that’s how we play the game. That’s how our defense works.”
As he is wont to do, Fuselier downplayed the significance of the game as any bigger than another. What isn’t mentioned is Kinder’s chances of winning back-to-back state championships.
“The kids have had a great week of preparing for just another football game. That’s what this is,” he said. “We talked about that today. No matter how big the stage is, whether it’s John Buck Stadium or the Superdome.
“It’s still 120 yards long. It’s still the game of football. When the ball is kicked off, it’s the same game they’ve played since they were little kids.”
Kirk Meche
