NO. 1 BROOKFIELD CENTRAL

Jed Kennedy enjoys a challenge. No, he loves it. And that mentality spills over to his team.

“We’re a program that relishes high expectations,” the Brookfield Central football coach said. “I’ve always told people that I’d rather be at a place that has high expectations than a place that doesn’t, and our kids relish that. We know there is going to be a target on our back.” The Lancers have taken few steps backward since Kennedy took over five years ago. In Year 1, the Lancers went 5-5 and tied for fourth in the Greater Metro. The past three years Central has won the league and advanced deeper and deeper in the playoffs. That progression led the school to the state championship game last season, where a 13-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter ended in a 14-13 loss to Waunakee in the Division 2 final. There is only one more step to take.

“All we talked to our kids about was last year was last year and this year is this year,” Kennedy said. “We’re going to work just as hard this year and see if we can put ourselves in position again, so that when we’re put in that game again we can maybe play just a little bit better and coach just a little bit better so that we have a little different outcome.”

Central’s experience last year combined with its tradition of success and the experience of 12 returning starters made it a natural choice for the top spot in the Journal Sentinel’s preseason rankings.