sailor. mnsun. com Fall Football Preview • Thursday, August 27, 2026 Page 3
BLOOMINGTON KENNEDY EAGLES
New offensive coordinator, QB and top backs return
JASON OLSON jason. olson @ apgecm. com
Kennedy returns a number of key contributors, including a trio of two-way players including seniors Joshua Amadi, Xavier Boyd and LaMarion Lewis, and junior Khalil Wertz Copeland.
Amadi is a second-year captain, joining Boyd, Ethan Besch and Brody Miller.
The Eagles averaged fewer than 45 yards passing and 14.6 points per game. To help turn the offensive fortunes around, Kennedy is turning to new offensive coordinator Nick Erhart. Head coach Kedrick Williams begins his seventh season guiding the team with defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton back for his third season in that role and 12th with the program. Williams didn’ t have to look far for position coaches, with several former players for Williams either at Kennedy or going back to his youth program at McRae Park in Minneapolis.
Kennedy will have a new quarterback this fall, as 6-foot-4 junior transfer Zach Kremer is set to be the Eagles’ signal-caller this fall after a move from Lakeville North.
Look for a solid freshman class to contribute throughout the season to complement the returning playmakers.
Amadi is ready for more after rushing for 719 yards and eight touchdowns last fall, both team highs. He was just as important to the Eagles’ defense as a linebacker, accounting for 50
( SUN PHOTO BY JASON OLSON)
Kennedy captains from left are Ethan Besch, Brody Miller and Joshua Amadi. Missing is Xavier Boyd.
total tackles( 37 solos), including seven for loss, and forced three fumbles.
Boyd led the Kennedy defense with 60 tackles( 49 solos) as a defensive back. He had tackles for loss and was credited for breaking up two passes. Offensively, Boyd averaged 4.3 yards per carry( 165 yards on 38 carries) and one touchdown. He caught 17 passes for 206 yards and one touchdown.
Copeland, a 6-foot-3 junior receiver / defensive lineman, had five catches for 68 yards, including two touchdowns. He was also a formidable force on the defensive line, making eight tackles in six games, including one for a loss and two passes defended. Lewis ran for 190 yards and one touchdown in eight games. As a defensive back, Lewis accounted for 42 tackles( 28 solos), including seven for a loss, and forced one fumble.
Once again this summer, the Eagles participated not only in an offseason strength and conditioning program through N1 Motion, but the team also attended a camp at Minnesota State University, Mankato, in June.
Hamilton explained that the team scrimmaged other high school programs and discovered new drills from college coaches.“ It was a really great experience and gave us a good look at our returning players and got a good evaluation of our new younger players,” he said.“ Camp is always a good time for team bonding, older players coaching up the younger guys, watching them come together as a family over the couple of days.”
The Eagles were winless in five Northstar East-Gold Subdistrict games. Mahtomedi won the subdistrict, going 5-0( 8-2 overall), Cretin-Derham Hall was second at 4-1( 7-4 overall) and Bloomington Jefferson was third with a 3-2 mark( 3-6 overall). Tartan was fourth at 2-3( 6-4 overall) and St. Louis Park was 1-4( 2-7 overall).
QUICK HITS
Head Coach
Kedrick Williams Seventh Season
Last Year’ s Record: 3-6
Key Returning Players
Senior running back / linebacker Joshua Amadi( leading rusher, tackler), senior defensive back / receiver Xavier Boyd( leading tackler), senior running back / defensive back LaMarion Lewis, junior receiver / defensive lineman Khalil Wertz Copeland.
Schedule
Sept. 4: At Minneapolis Roosevelt Sept. 10: Park Sept. 18: At Tartan 6:30 p. m. Sept. 25: Mahtomedi Oct. 2: Columbia Heights Oct. 9: At Cretin-Derham Hall( St.
Thomas 7 p. m. Oct. 14: At Park Center Oct. 21: Jefferson
Game times 6 p. m. unless otherwise noted