RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Kamehameha defensive tackle JP Kennedy is one of just two returning starters on defense.

Kennedy clogs middle

Kamehameha's senior defensive
tackle and his teammates are loose
and looking to beat St. Louis

Schedule

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By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com

JP Kennedy knows his role on the Kamehameha football team.

As a senior defensive tackle, Kennedy's job is to clog the middle of the line to help smother the opponent's running game.

As one of just two returning starters on the Warriors' defensive unit, he provides leadership and experience.

And as one of the team's more gregarious characters, he takes it upon himself to keep his teammates loose, sometimes more than the coaches would like.

"Everybody thinks it's so serious and it is, but I feel like you get things done better if you're more relaxed," Kennedy said. "So I try to keep everybody relaxed. But I get in trouble all the time."

"He's an entertainer," Kamehameha coach Kanani Souza said. "He's an entertainer who plays football."

While Kennedy enjoys keeping things light on the practice field, the Warriors will get serious tomorrow night when they face St. Louis in the second game of an Interscholastic League of Honolulu doubleheader at Aloha Stadium.

Pac-Five plays Damien at 4:45 p.m. The St. Louis-Kamehameha game follows at about 7:30.

The winner of tomorrow's game takes the early lead in the ILH title chase, and Kennedy knows a victory would be a big step toward the summit.

The Warriors finished second to St. Louis in both of Kennedy's seasons on the varsity football team. As a first baseman on the Kamehameha baseball team, he watched Mid-Pacific celebrate after beating the Warriors in the state championship game last spring.

"I'm tired of it," Kennedy said of finishing second in both sports. "I want to get first place, so we just have to work."

Despite being overshadowed by more recognizable teammates, Kennedy emerged as a vital part of the Warrior defense last season.

Flanked by all-state defensive linemen Abu Ma'afala and Brandon Ala, Kennedy used his 5-foot-10, 245-pound frame to plug the gaps at the line of scrimmage.

"(Ala and Ma'afala) were always making plays and you feel like you kind of have to do the same," Kennedy said.

Kennedy made his most memorable play of last season in the Warriors' second meeting with St. Louis, when he recovered a fumble for a touchdown in the first quarter.

But St. Louis rebounded to win 38-14 and claim its 16th consecutive ILH title and shut Kamehameha out of the state tournament once again.

This season, the Warriors and Crusaders are both 1-0 in the ILH after lopsided wins over Punahou. St. Louis beat the Buffanblu 49-0 on Sept. 7 and Kamehameha defeated Punahou 50-7 last week.

While Kennedy and the Kamehameha defense shut out Punahou last week, the Warriors' offense hit full stride with quarterback Caleb Spencer throwing for 312 yards and four touchdowns. Josh Vierra accounted for 178 receiving yards and three scores and Travis Beyer rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown.

Kamehameha will face a St. Louis team recovering from last Saturday's 31-21 loss to De La Salle, the top-ranked team in the country.

"We know what we're up against," St. Louis coach Delbert Tengan said. "We're going to face a very good Kamehameha team that is just as explosive on offense as De La Salle was. They have the whole package."

Tengan said the St. Louis players are still shaking off the emotional effects of the De La Salle game, but expects the team to be ready tomorrow.

"There won't be any excuses come Friday night," Tengan said. "We're not going to let what happened a week ago affect us on Friday. We know exactly what's at stake and this is a big part in trying to attain our goal of defending our league championship."

This week's highlights:

Tomorrow

Maui vs. Baldwin, at War Memorial Stadium: The Valley Isle's fiercest rivals meet for the Maui Interscholastic League's first-round title.

Baldwin survived a scare from King Kekaulike to improve to 3-0 last week. Maui rebounded from an early loss to St. Anthony to move into contention at 2-1.

If different teams win first and second-round titles, the league championship game will be held Nov. 15. If the winner of tomorrow's game can capture the second round, it will claim the MIL crown and represent the league in the state tournament.

Saturday

Konawaena vs. Hilo, at Wong Stadium: Hilo has outscored its first three opponents 90-6 and is alone atop the Big Island Interscholastic Federation standings at 3-0. Konawaena is 2-1 and makes the trek across the island to try to tighten the regular-season race.

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Schedule Junior varsity games start at 5 p.m. Varsity to follow, unless noted. Tomorrow OIA: Kalaheo at Castle; Leilehua at Mililani (KUMU 1500-AM); Kaiser at Moanalua; Waialua at Pearl City; Aiea at Radford; Kahuku at Roosevelt; Waianae at Waipahu ILH: Pac-Five vs. Damien, 4:45 p.m.; Kamehameha vs. St. Louis, 7:30 p.m., at Aloha Stadium BIIF: Honokaa at Keaau; Hawaii Prep at Waiakea KIF: Kauai vs. Kapaa, at Vidinha Stadium MIL: Maui vs. Baldwin, at War Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m. Saturday OIA: McKinley vs. Farrington, at Roosevelt BIIF: Konawaena vs. Hilo, at Wong Stadium; Kohala at Kealakehe MIL: St. Anthony vs. Lahainaluna, at War Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

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