Cedar Rapids Kennedy opens district play with dominant win over Davenport West

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids Kennedy speaks softly and carries a big stick ... literally.

Prior to the game, the Cougars placed a large square of lumber on the sideline table with 'Family' scrawled along the side. The Cougars defense certainly hit like a piece of lumber, totaling five sacks and recovering three fumbles in a 47-7 trouncing of Davenport West.

'We just want to attack the ball, play fast and physical,' Kennedy linebacker Cam Jones said. 'If you can do that, it's going to be hard for teams to get by you.'

After a pair of wins to open the season, the Cougars dropped their last two games. A big win to open district play is exactly what Cougars head coach Brian White had in mind.

'It's basically a new season now,' White said. 'You go undefeated in your district and you're going to the playoffs and hosting a game. 'You go 4-1 and you're crossing your fingers and hope your RPI is strong enough.'

If the Cougars defense continues to shine, Kennedy certainly has a shot at making the playoffs. The defense forced three Falcon fumbles and all three led to touchdowns. White said both offense and defense were clicking in perfect harmony.

'We had a couple of quarterbacks that were playing pretty good,' White said. 'Our defense set up good field position and gave our offense opportunities for some scores.'

That was clearly evident in the third quarter. With the Falcons pinned back inside their own 10-yard line, Kennedy stuffed them on three consecutive plays. A sack by Jones, a screen pass was stopped behind the line, then a tackle for loss forced a Falcon punt from their own 1.

Max White took the ensuing punt to the Falcon 15-yard line. A few plays later, White scrambled into the end zone for his second touchdown to ice the Cougars' victory.