The young Kentwood team strives to continue to excel – Crescent City Sports

For Louisiana’s best football programs, it doesn’t take long to play the roll until you get to Kentwood.

The kangaroos have won nine state championships and are the fifth most in Louisiana history, including most recently in 2018 under current coach Jonathan Foster, who also won it all in 2015 in Kentwood.

For 18 years in Kentwood, Foster has served as head coach for the past eight seasons.

Last year, the kangaroos left the Class 2A playoffs in the second round, a little earlier than what typically happens.

The Kentwood team of 2021 is fairly young, with 12 of the 22 predictable beginners being second-year students as well as four juniors and a freshman. Only five retirees are expected to earn starting places.

Kentwood will receive Patterson this week at St. Helena Jamboree at 6 p.m.

We only have five retirees, but we have 40 children, a good number, Foster said. We have a great sophomore class and a great freshman. Hopefully forced to take action early is worth it. They just repeat.

The defender is second-year Eric Earl (5-11, 165).

Eric started one game last year and did well, Foster said. He has all the talents in the world. We just have to take him where the game slows down. If he wants to happen, he is a dynamic player for us.

Senior runner Carmel Taylor (5-10, 175) returns after a very good season, with him rushing 176 times at 689 yards and getting 15 assists at 143 yards.

Carmel is our striker, Foster said. He can catch, he can run and he is also a 4.0 student.

At the wide reception point, junior Jermichael Carter (6-2, 190) returns after receiving 34 assists at 476 yards last season. He is accompanied by junior Tyler Hookfin (6-1, 195) and other students Kevante Carter (5-7, 155) and Shemar Cooper (5-9, 160).

Jermichael is the only returning player, Foster said. He passes the eyeball test. We expect great things from him this year.

In front, secondary Edwin Wilson (6-3, 270) leads. Although he is young, Wilson is big and talented. He is accompanied by sophomore Chris Gordon (5-10, 260) and Jay Smith (6-2, 255) as well as seniors Shacobe Dyson (6-0, 240) and Rodell Zanders (5-10, 245).

We’re starting with two retirees and three sophomores, Foster said. Wilson is a young but big and hard worker. He has a very bright future. This is the biggest and most talented line we have ever had since I was here.

On the defensive line are Dyson and Gordon and freshman Lamikal Callihan (5-11, 225), the younger brother of former Kentwood star Trey Palmer.

Lamikal started our eighth grade, Foster said. We have a lot of hope for him.

At the linebacker level are senior Will Dunn (6-0, 185), junior Omarion Johnson (5-10, 200) and other students Tadarious Carter (5-8, 165) and Rickey Coleman (5-9, 160).

Farm said Carmel is playing some line player along with Jemarcus Wilson. We have one senior, but there can be multiple players in the game. We try to be content with that.

Secondary are Jermichael Carter, Kevante Carter and Cooper, as well as second-year tyl Brianfield (5-9, 155).

We have a lot of young guys playing in both directions, Foster said. Cooper started games for us as a sophomore. Kevante will also be excellent. Brumfield is sure to play a lot and is trusted.

There is one big advantage to the schedule.

Kentwood will take home under the tank from seven of his ten games.

I was able to come up with a bunch of home games to replace last year, Foster said. Of course we like to play at home.

This includes the first three games of the season against Istroum, Jewel Sumner and East Felicana. The first road game is in Loranger and the last non-district race at home against Donaldsonville.

I feel good about an out-of-district schedule, Foster said. Istrouma has a great player. Sumner is a racing game, just three or four miles from us. We know that Donaldsonville is very talented. East Feliciana has a lot of momentum. I think COVID mixed Loranger up a bit, but coach (Sam) Messina always does a good job and it becomes a tough game.

The District 9-2A game begins with home games against Independence and Varnado before the kangaroos travel to Pine. After the home game against St. Helena, Kentwood closes the season at Amite.

We know that Amite is Amite, Foster. Amite, St. Helena and Kentwood are the cream of the crop. Amite has a lot of talent. Being an Amite, I love the atmosphere and the competition. Pine is a young talent. It will be a good league again.

If young players can develop during the season, Kentwood can go back to what they are used to, deep in the playoffs.

This second-year class is one of the most talented groups we’ve ever had, Foster said. If we play well, we can make noise. As a young person, we know that mistakes will come. We have to learn by running, we don’t miss games and we improve as the season progresses. We look forward to the challenge.

As history dictates, never sell Kentwood shorts.

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