Page 4 Fall Football Preview • Thursday , August 29 , 2024 sailor . mnsun . com
Closing out close games is goal No . 1
By JASON OLSON jason . olson @ apgecm . com
Kennedy football coach Kedrick Williams continues to build up the program , brick by brick .
Despite a sub-par two wins last season , Williams noted consistently high participation numbers in weight room sessions and various other opportunities to improve since officially beginning the summer practices on June 1 .
“ We ’ ve been busy this summer with a consistent 45 [ students ] in the weight room during the summer conditioning and got the experience of a three-day camp in [ Minnesota State ] Mankato in July ,” Williams said while fitting in hip replacement surgery in June . “ I played some teams out of Illinois and did pretty well . It was a nice team bonding time . I got to stay on campus , see the college life , and watch some [ MSU ] football practices .”
Closer to home , Kennedy participated in several 7-on-7 scrimmages , including three sessions with Jefferson under new head coach Marc Bachman .
“ We ’ re building that relationship up with Jefferson ,” Williams said . “ We ’ ve never done it , but I reached out to the new coach to bridge that gap because we have never done it .”
The two Bloomington programs also collaborated to host multiple youth football camps , one at each school . Williams said 65 kids participated
BLOOMINGTON KENNEDY EAGLES
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 202�
( SUN PHOTO BY JASON OLSON )
Kennedy captains from left to right are William Storm , David Wurst , Sonte Lajeunesse-Wood and Ladu Loro .
in the Kennedy youth camp , which was organized through the high school program .
“ It was fun to get back into it with a team we have a rivalry with but don ’ t play them during the season ,” captain David Wurst said .
Kennedy , Jefferson and Burnsville came together for 7-on-7 scrimmages between the three schools .
Three-year starting quarterback Malik Johnson is back , along with three-year starting offensive linemen William Storm and Wurst , Tight end Sonte Lajeunessse-Wood and running back / defensive back
See Kennedy , Page 24
( SUN PHOTO BY JASON OLSON )
Kennedy captain Sonte Lajeunesse-Wood , right , works through morning stretches during the opening week of practice . The 6-2 , 205 tight end / defensive end will be a weapon on both sides of the ball this season .
QUICK HITS
Head Coach
Kedrick Williams Sixth season
Last Year ’ s Record : 2-7
Key Returning Players
Junior quarterback Malik Johnson threw for 873 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions while rushing for 64 yards and one touchdown last fall . Senior tight end / defensive end Sonte Lajeunesse-Wood caught 10 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown . As a defensive end he had 34 tackles , four for a loss plus four sacks including a fumble return for a touchdown in a 64-6 Week 2 loss at Park Center . Senior receiver / defensive back Ladu Loro was among the team tackles leader with 47 total tackles including 30 solos and four for a loss . He finished with three sacks , two forced fumbles and two interceptions ( against Minneapolis Camden and Minneapolis Southwest ). Loro ran for one touchdown . Junior 6-foot-5 , 245-pound lineman James Girley had 28 tackles last season including two for a loss and shared a team-lead of four sacks .
Schedule
All start times 6 p . m . unless noted Aug . 29 at St . Paul Central 5 p . m . Sept . 6 vs . Park Center Sept . 13 at Minneapolis Camden Sept . 20 vs . Two Rivers Sept . 27 at Minneapolis Southwest Oct . 5 vs . St . Paul Highland Park noon Oct . 10 vs . St . Paul Harding / Humboldt Oct . 16 at Minneapolis Washburn