Kirbyville eyes first victory on homecoming

KIRBYVILLE — Kirbyville’s difficult start to the season continued Friday night as the Wildcats fell 35-14 on the road against Anahuac in District 10-3A Division I action. The loss dropped Kirbyville to 0-6 on the season and put the Wildcats in an increasingly difficult position as district play continues. Anahuac improved to 3-3 with the victory and kept itself firmly in the district race. Kirbyville has struggled to find consistency through the first half of the season, and Friday’s loss was another reminder of how costly mistakes and stalled drives can become against district competition. The Wildcats were able to put two touchdowns on the board, but Anahuac controlled enough of the game to keep Kirbyville from making a serious second-half push. The schedule does not get much easier, but the Wildcats will have a more manageable opportunity this week when they host Coldspring-Oakhurst on Friday, Oct. 9. Coldspring-Oakhurst enters the matchup at 1-4 after a 28-20 district loss to Tarkington. The Trojans have also taken losses to Liberty, Crockett and Shepherd, while their lone victory came in a 28-0 win over Kountze on Sept. 18. That makes Friday’s matchup an important opportunity for Kirbyville to finally break through. The Wildcats will need to improve offensively and find ways to stay on the field longer. Sustaining drives and avoiding negative plays will be critical against a Coldspring-Oakhurst team that has shown it can take advantage when opponents allow it to play from ahead. Defensively, Kirbyville will need to limit explosive plays and force the Trojans to string together long drives. Coldspring-Oakhurst has had its own struggles offensively this season, which could give the Wildcats a chance to keep the game close deep into the second half. Kirbyville’s record has not reflected the kind of season the Wildcats hoped for, but district play still gives them opportunities to build momentum. Friday’s home matchup against Coldspring-Oakhurst may be one of their best chances yet to get into the win column and begin changing the direction of the season.