Kennedy Football

Beyer commits to North Dakota State

Cedar Rapids Kennedy senior Shaun Beyer plans to continue his college football career next year at North Dakota State, Kennedy Coach Brian White said Saturday.

Beyer, a receiver and linebacker, led the Cougars in receptions and tackles last season when Kennedy finished with a 3-8 record. He caught 35 passes for 471 yards and eight touchdowns and made 73 tackles.

North Dakota State has won four straight FCS national titles.

French scores for Ducks in Rose Bowl

Cedar Rapids Kennedy graduate Christian French caught a two-point conversion pass for the Oregon Ducks in the national semifinals against Florida State Thursday night in the Rose Bowl.

French, a redshirt junior, is a reserve linebacker for Oregon. The Ducks used a trick play after they scored their first touchdown against Florida State instead of kicking the standard PAT, with three groups of players spread across the field.

French lined up behind three blockers to the left of the formation, caught a quick pass and powered into the end zone for two points and an 8-3 lead.

French, 6-5, 245, graduated from Kennedy in 2011. He was recruited by Oregon as a tight end, but switched to linebacker and defensive end after one year.

Oregon beat Florida State, 59-20, and will play for the national title Jan. 12 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Schmidt honored in District 5

Linn-Mar quarterback Ryan Schmidt has been named the Offensive Player of the Year for Class 4A District 5, as selected by the district coaches.

Linn-Mar Coach Bob Forsyth and his assistants were named the Staff of the Year. Rayce Willett of Cedar Falls was named the Defensive Player of the Year.

Seven Linn-Mar Lions were named first team all-district. Schmidt, Perrion Scott and Trevor Noble were honored on offense. Logan Nelsen, Trevor Long, Andrew Gassmann and Zach Huffman were saluted on defense.

The Jefferson J-Hawks and Kennedy Cougars had four first-team picks.

Jesse Furrow and Dalton Kuehl of Jefferson were named to the first team on offense. Alex Fernandez and Dakota Tomkins of Jefferson were honored on defense Shaun Beyer and Tyler Dralle of Kennedy made the first team on offense. Jay Blank and Parker Steffen from the Cougars were honored on defense.

Second Team Offense

Metro Only

Cameron McInerney (CRJ), Mason Furnish (CRJ), Lotukalafi Ahomana (LM), Daniel Gorsich (LM), Tylor Newhouse (LM), Mason Jacobs (CRK), Sammy Lizarraga (CRK).

Second Team Defense

Metro Only

Kelly May (CRJ), Tavian Rashed (CRJ), Garett Evans (LM), Logan Benter (LM), Dalles Jacobus (CRK), Logan Wedo (CRK).

Honorable Mention

Metro Only

Jefferson - Bryce Lund, Ben Baxter, Luke Sedlacek, Mason Short

Linn-Mar - Austin McCulloh, Dallas McFarland, Ryan Holub, Zach Garnett

Kennedy - Drake Brewster, Terrance Hall, Jacob Hauschild, Jonah Moes

All-Academic

Metro Only

Jefferson - Mason Furnish, Cameron Frazier

Kennedy - Jacob Grovert, Kyle Brewer

Linn-Mar - Michael Ho, Tylor Newhouse

No.2 Bettendorf stops Cougars

BETTENDORF – They remarkably went from winless to reaching the show in 30 days. Chia Pets don't mature this fast.

But the true test of how far the Kennedy Cougars have come in their late autumn surge from an 0-6 club to a playoff team came Monday night.

And as far as the Cougars have come over the last month and as far as they traveled in a marvelous first-half performance at TouVelle Stadium Monday, they couldn't overcome second-ranked Bettendorf on its home turf in this daunting Class 4A playoff exam.

Bettendorf won, 31-7

Continuing to look like one of the teams to beat for the 4A state championship, unbeaten Bettendorf again rode its powerful defense to victory. Iowa sack leader Jack Kallenberger fronted a Bulldogs defense that limited Kennedy to a single touchdown.

Bettendorf quarterback Cyle Cox produced 247 offensive yards – including 116 rushing yards – and a touchdown pass, and tailback Justice O'Conner added a hat trick of rushing touchdowns in a decisive triumph in the second round of the playoffs.

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