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Yorktown football team creates excitement, finds success

Yorktown has won its first four games by a combined 17 points and is off to its best start since 2004. Yorktown has won its first four games by a combined 17 points and is off to its best start since 2004.
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  • Originally published September 21, 2009 at 11:24 p.m., updated September 21, 2009 at 11:32 p.m.

YORKTOWN - Yorktown's Erin Barefield admits moving from wide receiver to quarterback has been challenging.

"The hardest thing is learning all the plays, all 90 of them," Barefield said. "I'm getting them all down. It's going good right now."

The same could be said for the Wildcats, who are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2004.

Yorktown's wins have not come easy. The Wildcats have trailed in every game and twice were behind in the fourth quarter. Yorktown's combined margin of victory over Hallettsville Sacred Heart, Three Rivers, Flatonia and Kenedy has been 17 points.

"They're aging me fast," second-year Yorktown coach Kerry Huddleston said.

The Wildcats' fast start and close calls remind Huddleston of the way they finished last season.

Yorktown went to overtime before winning its final District 31-1A game last year against Woodsboro and lost to La Villa 43-42 in overtime in its Division bi-district playoff game.

"I think our kids are stronger," Huddleston said. "They understand our system better. They have a lot of confidence because of the success we had late last year. They're starting to kind of understand where they can make decisions on the field as they play is being played out."

Barefield's improvement at quarterback was evident last Friday when Yorktown rallied from an 18-0 deficit to defeat Kenedy 24-18.

Barefield rushed 17 times for 163 yards, completed 6 of 12 passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns, and threw two two-point conversion passes. He also returned a blocked extra point 90 yards for two points, had an interception, and made seven tackles.

"There's a lot of improvement going on," Barefield said. "I'm really shocking myself that I'm doing this well at quarterback."

Huddleston isn't surprised after watching the effort Barefield's put in at practice.

"He's a little bit ahead of where we thought he might be at this time," Huddleston said. "He's been real attentive in practice, he stays focused and he has a lot of God-given talent."

Yorktown will try to extend its winning streak when it plays Stockdale at Wildcat Stadium on Friday night. Yorktown will have a bye next week before opening district play at home against Pettus on Oct. 9.

"I'd like to see us hit on all cylinders and put together a complete game," Huddleston said. "I want to see us play to our potential and be injury free and don't make any mistakes."

The Wildcats have been able to overcome their mistakes, which bodes well for the future.

"We're getting the confidence that we can win the games that are close," Huddleston said. "We know we can come back if we play down a little early. These guys have been facing adversity every week since our first scrimmage and they've been able to overcome it. They've got to know they can do what they need to do to give themselves a chance to win."

District openers

Districts 30-4A and 26-2A begin competition on Friday night.

Calhoun opens 30-4A play at Rockport-Fulton. Both teams are coming off losses.

The Sandcrabs dropped a 31-28 decision to Houston Sharpstown, while the Pirates' first defeat of the season was a 40-7 setback against Ingleside.

Calhoun has opened district play against Rockport-Fulton the past three seasons and has won all three games.

Hallettsville has a bye before opening 26-2A play at Rice Consolidated on Oct. 2.

The Raiders, who are ranked No. 10 in the state Class 2A poll, will open district play at East Bernard.

Around the area

Cuero moved from No. 8 to No. 6 in the state Class 3A poll and Refugio remained at No. 5 in the Class 2A poll.

Along with Cuero and Refugio, Yorktown, Edna, Industrial and Karnes City remain unbeaten.

The landscape will change after Refugio and Industrial meet in Vanderbilt on Friday.

Cuero will host La Vernia and Karnes City will be at home against undefeated Falls City.

Mike Forman is a sports writer for the Victoria Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6588 or mforman@vicad.com, or comment on this column at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.


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