High School Sports

By SHANE STARK
Staff Writer

The Cayuga Wildcats went 31 years before reaching the state semifinals, but that never stopped them from starting fresh.

They seem to like December.

Cayuga will make its second straight appearance in the semifinals tonight. The sixth-ranked Wildcats (12-1) meet Ganado (9-4) in Class 1A Division II semifinal at 5 p.m. at Shenandoah's Woodforest Bank Stadium.

The boys from Anderson County eliminated Ganado 42-7 in the semifinals last season, but Wildcats head coach Tommy Allison is taking a cautious approach into the game.

"There are only four teams left, so we know all four teams are very good," Allison said. "We don't have to make any kind of sell out there, because the kids know we are in for a game."

Cayuga quarterback Malcome Kennedy produced one of the most important performances of his career in the quarterfinals, rushing for 207 yards and accounting for four touchdowns.

The senior guided the Wildcats to a 42-28 victory against fellow 2008 finalist Mart.

Kennedy, expected to sign with Texas A&M at receiver, moved to quarterback at the beginning of the season. He rejected the change at first, but quickly altered that stance when told it was the best option for another run to state.

"If somebody told me I would have been the quarterback for a team going to the state championship, I would have never believed them," Kennedy said. "But as long as we are going to the state championship and I'm a senior about to get a ring, that's all I'm worried about."

That ring eluded Cayuga last season, but the Wildcats still performed like champions.

In the dominant semifinal against Ganado last season, senior running back Traylon Shead rushed for 248 yards and six scores. Shead, who was named to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Tuesday, set the state's all-time touchdown record last month.

Surely, Ganado has followed Shead and the Wildcats throughout the season. The Indians, in the meantime, were also busy getting back to the semifinals.

But the journey has been difficult. A week after surviving an overtime thriller with La Pryor, Ganado clamped down to beat Falls City, 24-21, in the quarterfinals.

The Indians returned a wealth of experience from last year's team, including eight starters on offense and five on defense. But sophomore running back Josh Labay has turned out to be the main attraction, having rushed for 1,781 yards and 17 touchdowns this season.

The Indians have also been led by running back Kevin Smith (883 yards, 12 touchdowns) and quarterback Donovan Foster (802 yards, nine touchdowns).

"They are a good football team," Allison said. "Offensively, they have three good running backs and they use them in different ways. Their play-action pass has been very good this year."

Notes

: In the championship game, the winner between Cayuga and Ganado will meet top-ranked Albany (15-0), which defeated Stratford 28-14 Friday night in Wolfforth. Cayuga lost to Stratford in last year's 1A Division II final. ...To get to Woodforest Bank Stadium from Tyler, take U.S. Highway 155 to Palestine. In Palestine, take U.S. Highway 79 to Interstate 45 South in Buffalo. Stay on 45 until reaching Shenandoah, which is south of Conroe and north of The Woodlands. Exit Research Forest and take the first left. The stadium will be on the left.

Wanted Mexican Ex-Official Arrested In Tyler, Later Released   02/09/12
UPDATE: No Sign Yet Of Pilot Of Submerged Plane   02/09/12
Whitehouse Teacher Proposes At Basketball Game -- And She Said Yes!   02/08/12
Tyler, Whitehouse Settle Boundary Dispute   02/09/12
UPDATE: Firefighters Douse Blaze At Woodlands Apartments; No Injuries   02/08/12
Jasilyn Schaefer Named New Director Of Apache Belles   02/08/12
Whitehouse Teacher Proposes During Basketball Halftime   02/09/12
Rusk County Deputies Seize $13K Worth Of Synthetic Drug   02/09/12
Vickery not seeking re-election to TISD board   02/08/12
Police: Boy Helps Capture Plane Theft Suspect   02/08/12
Tyler Council Acts To Create Homeless Day Resource Center   02/08/12
Redistricting Maps Stall Moves East Texas Election Deadlines   02/09/12
Special Prosecutor To Head Up Henderson County Investigation   02/09/12
Republican Face Off In Cherokee County GOP Forum   02/08/12
Bergfeld Files For Tyler ISD District 7 Spot   02/09/12
Grassroots Group Scrutinizes TISD Long-Range Plan   02/08/12
Sheriff’s Deputy Saves Man’s Life   02/09/12
Palestine City Worker Dies, Cause Unclear   02/09/12
Community Mourns Loss Of 3 Best Friends   02/07/12
Ex-Apache Belle Picked To Lead College's Precision Dance Team   02/09/12