Kennedy's emerging offense to test City High

CEDAR RAPIDS - Give Cedar Rapids Kennedy football coach Tim Lewis and his coaching staff credit. They knew their offense wasn't working, so they changed it.

Out went the traditional I-formation, in came the stacked-I, with three running backs lined up behind quarterback Jimmy Lizarraga. Out, literally, went Trevor Heitland, spending some plays at wide receiver instead of running back.

The results have been stunning. Kennedy - which hosts Class 4A second-ranked Iowa City High on Friday  at Kingston Stadium - has put up 74 points in wins the last two weeks that have rejuvenated its  season.

“I was hoping (the changes) would work,” Heitland said.

Boy, have they. Senior Heitland had 70 yards rushing and 100 receiving, accounting for three touchdowns in a 41-28 win two weeks ago against Cedar Rapids Washington. He had nearly 190 total yards and three TDs in a 33-7 win last week over Dubuque Senior.

Alex Hillyer, a junior, began the season as a fullback in front of Heitland, but the move to tailback has resulted in 359 yards rushing and three touchdowns the last two weeks.

“It's worked out pretty good,” Hillyer said. “I love carrying the ball. That's what I want to do as much as possible.”

Lewis said the continued maturation of an inexperienced offensive line also has helped create the increased offensive output. He also attributed his team's struggles the first two weeks to playing good defensive opponents in Cedar Rapids Xavier and Linn-Mar.

“After the first two games, we decided Hillyer's strengths are starting seven yards back,” Lewis said. “He has incredible vision, but he can't use it when he's a yard from the line of scrimmage. The stacked-I has been a small part of our offense since the 90s ... We used it a lot in the Wash game and have just kind of run with it. I've added a couple of other formations with it, we've done some other things with it. It's been really good.”

Lewis said another good thing about the stacked-I formation is a young, but improving offensive line hasn't had to change any of its blocking schemes. That includes Heitland's younger brother, Drew, a 6-foot-2, 247-pound sophomore.

Trevor Heitland, by the way, is only 5-foot-11, 180 pounds.

“I don't know how to explain that,” Trevor Heitland said. “He got all the big genes, I guess. It's nice to have him block for me, He's doing well. He has really matured throughout the season.”