Kinder and Welsh may not be the oldest of rivals, but that doesn’t mean when they get together is doesn’t feel like their towns have had it out for one another since they were formed.

Kinder has always found its oldest rival to be Elton, and Welsh has Lake Arthur, mostly due to their proximity to one another. But in the past two decades these two district foes have developed a tension unlike almost any other in Southwest Louisiana.

For second-year head coaches Bret Fuselier (Kinder) and John Richardson (Welsh) the rivalry became quickly evident.

“When I first got here a couple of years ago I asked all of the kids if they could beat just one team, who it would be? And every single one of them had the same answer: Welsh,” Fuselier said. “I’m sure Welsh feels the same way. When you have two programs that have had as much success as these two have, and are geographically close to one another, it makes for some great games.”

“You can definitely feel the difference in the kids, even in the way they practiced and prepared this week,” Richardson added. “Our kids get up to play them and this game definitely has a championship feel, you could see that in last year’s game.”

The 2013 meeting was the epitome of that rivalry when Kinder won 19-18 in double overtime to seal the District 4-2A championship. In the first overtime, linebacker Don Charles Arceneaux blocked a Welsh extra point to force a second overtime. The Greyhounds second-guessed their extra-point crew and opted to go for two only to see it fail. Yellow Jackets kicker Trenton Kirklin sealed the win with the PAT kick.

This year the implications are the same, the district championship and a prime position in the Class 2A playoffs where Kinder (8-0, 3-0) will seek to defend its state championship.

“Some people don’t put as much stock into district championships anymore because of our playoff system, but our kids really want to win it,” Fuselier said. “It gives them a sense of pride knowing that they are the defending district champions, and they are very excited to repeat.”

“It’s a big game and we felt like when district started that this game would determine who the champion would be,” Richardson said. “We know that they are the best team we have faced all year, and we are the best team they have faced all year. We are preparing for a big battle on Friday night.”

For Welsh (6-2, 3-0) to get revenge this season it will mean having to shut down Kinder quarterback Welles Cooley, who has accounted for 21 touchdowns —11 on the ground, nine through the air and one defensively — and totaling 1,237 yards of offense.

“Every game it seems like he makes really big plays to break the game open,” Richardson commented. “He is a playmaker and we have to play assignment football. He does a great job of reading the option so we have to make sure that we always have someone assigned to him.”

The Greyhounds will also have their hands full shutting down a Kinder defense that is considered one of the best in all of Class 2A.

“It starts with their two linebackers (Bryce Baker) and (Arceneaux), they are both big and very physical,” Richardson said. “They have been a lot more physical than most of the offensive lines they have faced this year so we have to make sure we do a good job of blocking up front and getting bodies on them.”

That Kinder defense will be tested by the Greyhounds running back tandem of Keshon Bell and Kyvonte Eaglin. Bell surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in rushing last week and has 1,035 and 13 touchdowns through eight games. Eaglin has added 857 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“Both of those guys are so quick to hit the hole that we are going to have to do a great job to win the battle up front,” Fuselier said. “We have to make sure that we finish tackles because they both run very hard and are very elusive.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday in Welsh.(Rick Hickman/American Press)