By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
MOUNT ANGEL, Ore.– The Kennedy Football team came together. Clutched up when they needed to and came out of their 3A State Playoff Opener victorious.
A 28-19 victory over 3A traditional powerhouse Santiam Christian. Their first playoff victory since the 2022 season where they reached the 3A State Championship Game.
For the Trojans, it started with their defensive strategy. To slow down Steen Smith. Something that they did in the opening half and that carried over to the second.
Smith only had roughly 50 yards on the ground that forced the Eagles to turn to their passing game to try to get something going.
“Our goal was to keep that running back down. That was really our whole goal,” said Colby Rich. “It felt good. It felt everyone was connecting and everyone was doing everything right. It felt amazing.”
Both Brody Panuke for the Trojans and Brenden Fitzpatrick threw for two passing scores in the opening half. Kennedy led 21-19 at the halftime break with the difference being a missed Santiam Christian Extra Point and the Trojan defense stopping the Eagles on a two-point conversion that helped keep Kennedy ahead at the break.
Rich gave Kennedy some breathing room to work to start in the second half, scoring off an eight-yard score in the third quarter that put the Trojans ahead 28-19. And the Kennedy defense did the rest to close out the game. They were motivated from their 3A Playoff First Round defeat to Santiam Christian from 2024, and they didn’t want to see a repeat of that again this year.
“Our coach has been saying it all year, Coach Rylan (Traegar), we need to fly to the ball like we did when we went to the State Championship. We want our defense to lock in all year and he said, ‘tonight’s the best night to do it’ and we all did. We flew to the ball and just wanted it,” said Kennedy’s Creo Walker. “I’ve never personally been out of the first round and this means a lot to me, especially coming back and beating these guys that we lost to last year.
“And the chance to play on our field. Our seniors, it’s their last time they’re ever going to play here. Everyone was flying to the ball. Freshman or Senior, they were all flying around.”
It was a heartbreaking way to end the season for Santiam Christian, who closed out the season 7-3. They knew they were one or two plays away from swinging momentum back into their favor, but it didn’t materialize for the Eagles as they saw their season end Friday night up in Mount Angel.
“We just got out-worked. That’s what it came down to at the end of the day. (The first half start) was big, if we had a little more of a run game, it’ll be a little different ending to the game, but it’s going to happen,” said Santiam Christian’s Mason Ball, who had eight receptions in the game. “I just hope they (the younger players) know it sucks to lose like this so just go out and work harder next year. Be in the weight room and just got to work hard. I transferred here from Central and just being a part of this program means a lot. It sucks that I have to leave.”
Kennedy will play Banks in the 3A State Quarterfinals.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
