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November 5, 2009

GAME OF THE WEEK: Malakoff faces all or nothing prospect vs. Kerens

Tigers need win over rival Bobcats to assure playoff spot

By Jayson Larson Sports Editor

It’s an interesting position the Malakoff Tigers find themselves in heading into Friday night’s regular season finale against the rival Kerens Bobcats.

A win puts the Tigers — 1-19 the last two seasons before Head Coach Jamie Driskell’s arrival — into the Class 2A playoffs for the first time since 2006. It would not only put them in the playoffs but give them at least a share of the District 14-2A title.

But a loss would most likely leave the Tigers on the outside looking in despite a seven win season and only two district losses. They would also make the playoffs with a Mildred loss to Rice, but judging by the way both teams have been playing this season, that seems unlikely.

So fate, as they say, is in the Tigers’ hands.

“We talked about it with the kids, and we asked them if you could go back to August 3 and tell them we’d be 7-1 and 4-1 in district and you have to beat Kerens to make the playoffs ... it’s an unfair scenario, but we asked them if they would take that and they all said ‘yes,’” Driskell said.

In the 71st meeting between the two teams in this Trinity River rivalry, Kerens has won more than its fair share — including each of the last 17 meetings. Malakoff’s last victory over the Bobcats was a 21-0 victory in 1991.

Kerens, as it often does, has multiple players who can hurt opposing defenses. That group is headlined by quarterback Pat Faulk, who has run for 961 yards and 13 touchdowns and thrown for 617 yards and four scores. The Tigers will also have to keep their eyes on back Michael Jordan, who has tallied 665 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Tigers have a stout running game, as well, led by bulldozer Jackson Blacketer and speedster Cornelius Richardson. Quarterback Bernard Hall can also be relied upon the move the chains.

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