Kennedy searching for answers after loss to Pleasant Valley

CEDAR RAPIDS – The Kennedy Cougars desperately need a season reboot. The thing is they're getting one.

A 40-28 homecoming loss Friday night to Pleasant Valley at Kingston Stadium probably qualifies as rock bottom for a team that appears to be searching for a lot of answers. Even though the opponents have been strong so far, an 0-4 record is an 0-4 record.

But with this whole district thing in Class 4A now, these four season-opening losses aren't catastrophic. The 'real' season, if you will, begins next week against Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Win your district, and you are in the playoffs. Heck, finish in the top four of their six-team district, and Kennedy is in the dance.

Look at the positives, boys. And if there is one thing about Kennedy over the years, slow starts are almost always followed by strong finishes.

'Feels like we keep getting kicked in the gut,' said first-year Kennedy Coach Brian White. 'Every day that goes by, it just gets a little bit worse. We've got a lot of pride around here. It's tough. But it's not like we haven't been down this road before. We have, and we know it. It's like we just talked to the kids about. This was the preseason.

'We're ready for districts. We're battle tested.'

Other than surpassing its season scoring total (22 points coming in), there weren't a ton of positives Friday night for Kennedy, which fell behind in the third quarter, 33-7. Six turnovers (four interceptions, two fumbles) pretty much handed this game on a silver platter to PV (1-3).

Nose tackle Nate Elsey-Williams experienced a lineman's dream on the third offensive play of the game, having a Kennedy fumble bounce right up to him and returning it 20 yards for a touchdown.

A shanked Kennedy punt then set up Pleasant Valley at the Cougars 38, with quarterback Chase Kipper running an option play for those 38 and a 14-0 Spartans lead. A fake punt helped Kennedy score a TD to get back into it, but Tyler Flanders ran the ensuing kickoff back 79 yards to put PV back up by two scores late in the first quarter.

At that point, the Spartans had run one offensive play, yet had 21 points.

'It's a funny game sometimes,' said Pleasant Valley Coach Rusty VanWetzinga. 'To get a fast start up here was critical. We got a defensive score, a special teams score, Chase makes a great read and scores.'

It was a 24-7 game at halftime, and PV got a long touchdown run on the initial possession of the second half. Kennedy didn't quit, closing within 40-28 late, keyed by the running of junior back Tyler Dralle.

He finished with 100 yards and two TDs (one running, one receiving). Lizarraga threw four picks but completed 13 of 23 passes for 107 yards and three touchdowns.

'They fought to the very end, and that's good,' White said. 'When you're around a team that shuts down, then you are in for a long year. But at no point did they ever shut down.'

Also of note for Kennedy was the first-half loss of all-state linebacker Terrance Hall to ankle injury.

Pleasant Valley's option attacked produced 225 rushing yards. Five different players scored touchdowns for the Spartans, who also surpassed its point total from its first three games (33).

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com