Kennedy Football

Kennedy versus Jefferson: It's a rivalry again

Inch by inch, step by step, Brian Webb has rebuilt the downtrodden Cedar Rapids Jefferson football program into a competitive Class 4A team that appears headed to the playoffs for the second straight year.

Along the way, Jefferson's annual game against Kennedy has become a rivalry again instead of a one-sided affair.

The J-Hawks (3-1) and fifth-ranked Cougars (4-0) meet again Friday night in the District 5 opener for both clubs at Kingston Stadium. It's always fun when both teams go into a game with a legitimate chance to win and that's certainly the case this time.

Jefferson stunned Kennedy, 27-24, in overtime last season in a "statement" game for the J-Hawks. It was Jefferson's first victory over the Cougars in 12 years and showed that Webb is serious about returning the J-Hawks to glory.

Kennedy kicked a field goal for a 24-21 lead in overtime, forcing Jefferson to respond or lose. The J-Hawks faced fourth down at the 2-yard line, where a chip-shot field goal would have tied the game and forced a second overtime.

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Cougars stay up late for victory

BETTENDORF - The Pleasant Valley defense probably did as solid a job against Tyler Dralle as you could possibly expect.

The Spartans held the leading rusher in Iowa Class 4A under 100 yards and made him scrap and battle for everything he got.

It was some of Dralle’s pals who ended up making the difference.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy got big plays from Austin Coates and Payton McCarty and a monster performance from lineman-turned-fullback Dalles Jacobus to claw out a weather-delayed 24-7 victory over Pleasant Valley on a moist and stormy Friday night at Spartan Stadium.

The game was delayed for 2 hours, 22 minutes because of lightning early in the second quarter and finished just before midnight with layers of moisture wafting horizontally across the playing field from the west.

Kennedy, now 4-0 and ranked sixth in Class 4A, had a 3-0 lead at the delay and finally took control of the contest with an 82-yard drive in the third quarter. Coach Brian White wasn’t surprised the Spartans (2-2) made his team resort to more than just Dralle to win the game.

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No. 7 Cougars roll by North Scott

The Cardiac Cougars gave their hearts and nerves a rest Friday night.

Nick Duehr passed for four touchdowns and No. 7 Kennedy held North Scott to 145 yards of total offense in a 42-0 cakewalk in a Class 4A non-district game at Kingston Stadium.

Shaun Beyer caught three TD passes from Duehr, Tyler Dralle rushed for 149 yards and the Cougars collected four turnovers, including three by handyman Austin Coates.

Kennedy (3-0) posted a pair of heart-stomping victories in the first two weeks of the season against Iowa City West (34-31) and Washington (28-24), but the Cougars had a chance to relax against North Scott (0-3) on homecoming.

"I'm very happy with the way we came out and played on both sides of the ball," coach Brian White said. "It was a total game for us tonight.

"They just played well, all over the place. Nick Duehr played well, Beyer played well, obviously our offensive line played well, Tyler Dralle had tough yards tonight. And our defense -- wow."

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Kennedy jumps to 7th in Register poll

The Kennedy Cougars climbed to No. 7 in Class 4A in the Des Moines Register football poll Sunday with a 2-0 record.

The Cardiac Cougars have nipped Iowa City West, 34-31, and trimmed Washington, 28-24, in their first two outings and host North Scott this Friday for homecoming.

The Washington Warriors (1-1) dropped out of the rankings this week.

The Xavier Saints are ranked No. 7 in Class 3A after beating Davenport Assumption, 14-7, in their season opener Friday night.

West Des Moines Valley is ranked No. 1 in Class 4A and Pella is ranked No. 1 in Class 3A.

CLASS 4A

1. West Des Moines Valley (2-0), 2. Cedar Falls (2-0), 3. Bettendorf (2-0), 4. West Des Moines Dowling (1-0), 5. Fort Dodge (2-0), 6. Ankeny Centennial (2-0), 7. Kennedy (2-0), 8. Pleasant Valley (2-0), 9. Johnston (2-0), 10. Urbandale (1-1).

CLASS 3A

1. Pella (2-0), 2. West Delaware (2-0), 3. Norwalk (3-0), 4. Webster City (2-0), 5. Harlan (2-0), 6. Waverly-Shell Rock (2-0), 7. Xavier (1-0), 8. Solon (1-1), 9. Sioux City Heelan (2-0), 10. Independence (2-0).