Eagles flock to end zone, crush Cougars 54-14

Sporting pink socks and undershirts in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Week, the Kennedy High Eagles dominated the Albany Cougars last night. Eagle Isaiah McClain caught a touchdown pass on the third offensive play, and the Eagles barely slowed for the next two and a half hours.

Leaving the field with a 54-14 victory, Coach Clyde Byrd said the score “shows what we can do if we come together and play as a team.”

Three Kennedy seniors dominated the scoreboard: McClain (#28), James Baldwin (#1), and Robert Mulder (#2).

Defensive plays led to the other three of the team’s seven touchdowns. #6, Tom Jacobs, caused an Albany fumble early in the game, capturing the ball for an 82-yard goal run, and Jeremy Dixon and Isaiah McClain both took interceptions to the end zone.

BART trains zoomed by the Albany field in regular intervals, momentarily drowning out about a dozen hollering Eagle fans in the bleachers, who made up in spirit what they lacked in numbers.

Though the Eagles have won only two games this year, the team has come all the way back from last year’s unfinished season.

While it’s satisfying to win, said Coach Byrd as players knelt for the post-game chat, “the biggest thing I’m proud of tonight is you all got grades.” The players’ class evaluations had just been processed, and every team member had passed his classes—a dramatic change from last year, when poor academic standing led to many players being disqualified from finishing the season.

“We’re still struggling in some areas,” said Byrd, “and let’s get them up. But everybody got grades.”

The Eagles will lose almost a dozen seniors to graduation, but Kennedy’s JV football has turned out an impressive record this year, and coaches are not worried about bringing in a new crop.

The varsity Eagles play Encinal High in Alameda next Friday, November 5.