VIDEO: Football preview of Cedar Rapids Kennedy

The Cedar Rapids Kennedy Cougars hope to use their 17-14 upset of Bettendorf in a Class 4A substate last season as a springboard into 2010.Coach Tim Lewis' team features 17 returning letterwinners from a team that finished 5-6. That list includes tight end/wide receiver/linebacker Christian French, the top-ranked prep recruit in the state.The 6-foot-6 French has unofficially visited Iowa, Iowa State and Notre Dame twice and has a plethora of other college offers.Kennedy begins its season with the “Battle of 42nd Street” against rival Cedar Rapids Xavier at Xavier. The Saints are ranked third in 4A in the preseason.

Kennedy's returning starters: QB Jed Haycraft, RB Anthony Crawley, OL Ross Ellsworth, OL Jacob Dunne, WR-LB Kyle Lamaak, TE-LB Christian French, DL Ryan Sheldon, DB Caleb Mere, LB Herschel Dixon, LB Alex Rohrssen, LB Jordan Sanford, P Nick Bruns.

Kennedy's schedule:

Friday – at Cedar Rapids Xavier

Sept. 2 - Linn-Mar

Sept. 10 - at Cedar Rapids Washington

Sept. 17 - Dubuque Senior

Sept. 24 – at Iowa City High

Oct. 1 – Cedar Rapids Jefferson

Oct. 8 - at Iowa City West

Oct. 14 - Waterloo West

Oct. 22 - at Dubuque WahlertHere are video interviews with Coach Lewis and Kyle Lamaak, as well as some video of Kennedy practicing earlier this week.

[HTMl2]