Mental mistakes cost Eagles

It didn’t take long for a flurry of flags to fly as the Eagles faced St. Mary’s in a divisional game Saturday.

“When it rains, it pours,” Assistant Coach Dan Shaughnessy said.

Seconds into the game, the referee penalized the Eagles for an ineligible player downfield.

Coach Clyde Byrd talks with Quarterback Myron Skinner in between plays during Saturday's game against St. Mary's High.

After an early touchdown by the Panthers, another Eagle penalty: offsides by number 52, Francisco Espino.

The wind began to pick up.

“Watch for this wind, now,” Coach Byrd warned his players.

Seconds before the first quarter ended, another penalty: holding against Eagles tight end James Dailey.

Early in the second quarter, the Eagles got on the board. Quarterback Myron Skinner connected with Kenneth “Kenny” Walker for their first, and only touchdown of the game. The two-point attempt failed, making the score 8-6.

A collective grunt came from the sidelines, disappointment etched on players’ faces.

With just over five minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Panthers struck again.  QB Kevin Flemer hit senior wide receiver Chris Carnegie for a touchdown, making the score 14-6

Late in the second quarter Kennedy put a drive together, but a pass ricocheted off Kenny Walker’s chest into the arms of Panthers wide receiver Ethan Weinstein.

Weinstein, a basketball player turned football player, rumbled 68 yards for a St. Mary’s touchdown.

At halftime the score was 22-6 . The Eagles walked slowly off the field with their helmets off and their heads hung low.

Principal Roxanne Brown-Garcia stands by her Eagles on the sidelines as they battle it out against St. Mary's high.

“It’s not that they want it more, they don’t want it no more than we do. They are ready to quit,” Coach Byrd said.

“Man, we suck out there,” a player shouted out in frustration during the halftime huddle.

“We don’t need that. That’s negativity,” Coach Byrd added. “That’s the problem we got right now. Everybody’s been on their own page and you’ve been so negative toward each other instead of helping each other out. That’s why we in the position we in. If we come back and start playing together, we’d be far better than what we are.”

The Eagles regrouped as the third quarter began.

“One dream, one team,” Number 88, Wilvonte Bernstine shouts.

Principal Roxanne Brown-Garcia cheered  from the sidelines. “Hang in there guys, we can still do it,” she said. “Let’s go Eagles! Stay in the game.”

The Eagle defense stiffened, and the third quarter, and much of the fourth,was scoreless.

Near the end of the game, the Panthers threw for a touchdown and added a two-point conversion but not before the final yellow flag of the night against the Eagles. Final score, 30-6.

"One, two three, EAGLES!", the team shouts after their loss against St. Mary's High. The score was 30-6.

“This is the first time we’ve played them [Kennedy high] in quite a few years,” St. Mary’s head coach Keith Minor said. “They’re doing a good job over there at Kennedy, it’s tough. For a program that’s been dormant as long as Kennedy, this was a tough football game.”

Coach Byrd said this game was just “more growing pains” for this young team.

“We made mistake after mistake after mistake that shouldn’t have happened. We knew what to expect. We were ready for it but we have an inexperienced team and they’re not use to preparing and looking and executing the way they should.”

Next week, the Kennedy Eagles will face John Swett high at 7 p.m. at Kennedy.

“John Swett is a no nonsense team,” Coach Shaughnessy said. “They’re going to come prepared to play us, we’d better get our heads straight.”