Jeannette quarterback making a name for himself

“That’s the one that actually won the game. That caused the game not to go to OT,” Jeannette coach Roy Hall said. “You hear a lot about Banks. Our defensive coordinator summed it up: Until you see Banks in person, you don’t realize how physical a player he is. Our top guy made the big play againsttheir top guy.”

Kennedy’s efforts shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. He’s one of Jeannette’s strongest players. He bench pressed 325 pounds in the team’s liftathon, second only to lineman Jalen Jones. Kennedy might also be the team’s fastest player. The Jayhawks ran relay races most days during camp and Kennedy fared very well, saying “I usually burn everyone.”

As a junior, Kennedy was a big-play threat as a wing back and slot back in Jeannette’s wing-T and option offenses. He led the team with 22 catches for 429 yards (19.5 yardsper reception) and was third with 480 yards rushing (9.1 yards per carry). He finished with 20 touchdowns. He also served as the backup quarterback to all-conference honoree Gio Vonne Sanders.

Kennedy is now ready to add his name to the list of outstanding dual-threat quarterbacks to put on a Jeannette uniformover the past decade. The most prominent of that group currently play in the NFL, albeit at other positions

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Terrelle Pryor and Demetrious Cox. Kennedy and Coxare cousins.

“I look up to both of them awhole lot,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy could put up some big numbers this season. Jeannette is once again very good and should make another push for a WPIAL Class A title after finishing as the runner-up to Clairton the past two seasons. Assisting Kennedy are a bunch of tall, talented receivers that Hall said might be the best receiving group in his 32 yearswith the team.

“As a coach, you love to have a player of his caliber offensively and defensively because every time he touches the ball he can make plays,” Hall said. “The thing is for him being our quarterback this year and being the backup last year, he can throw the ball very well also. It makes you feel very good to have a kid like Poogie at that position.”

Kennedy has scholarship offers from Robert Morris, Albany, Saint Francis and Howard. Most schools have been recruiting him as either a defensive back or slot receiver, but Hall believes when colleges see what Kennedy is doing as a quarterback, some will covet him at that position, as well.

Said Kennedy: “As long as I get a scholarship and get to go to school for free, it doesn’t matterto me where I play.”

What does matter to Kennedy is leading Jeannette to aWPIAL championship.

“I feel like we have a type of family vibe inside the locker room,” he said. “I think this could definitely be theyear.”