OCVarsity preview for the 2015 season:
KENNEDY FIGHTING IRISH
Coach: Sean Clark
Last season: 5-5 overall, 2-3 league
Scouting report: The Fighting Irish ended the 2014 season exactly how it ended the 2013 campaign: dropping a Week 10 contest which consequently kept them out of the playoff picture. First-year coach Sean Clark hopes this is the year Kennedy gets over that hump and heads back to the postseason. The Irish return all three starting linebackers from last year – Aundre Short, Louie Aldapa and Armando Palacios. The defense will feature 10 seniors and one junior, Nick Siatunu’u, who started at defensive tackle as a sophomore. Because the team’s offense was built around running back TJ Williams the last two seasons, Kennedy looks to fill the void with senior Tim Min and a stable of ball carriers. Adrian Quezada should make strides in his second year at quarterback, and he will benefit immensely from a healthy Derrick Deese at tight end.
Bottom line: Kennedy finds itself back in the battle for third place, meaning the stretch of games against Pacifica, Western and Cypress in Weeks 7 through 9 will determine its postseason hopes.
Players to watch: Louie Aldapa, LB, Sr.; Derrick Deese, TE, Sr.; Tim Min, RB, Sr.; Tosin Noah, RB, Jr.; Adrian Quezada, QB, Sr.; Nick Siatunu’u, DE, Jr.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
