By Vince Teresi
The 2009 schedule posters displayed in many Mt. Angel businesses labeled the Kennedy High School football team as “Bigger, Stronger, Faster.” The team certainly lived up to that standard.
The Trojans also proved to be better, winning the Tri-River Conference and advancing to the State Title playoff game against the undefeated Scio High School “Loggers” at Hillsboro Stadium, Dec. 6. Scio was a one-touchdown victor, capturing the State 2A football title 14 – 7.
The Trojans faced tough challenges along their “road to redemption” during the playoff season, facing teams that had handed them a loss during the season: Heppner, Knappa, and Scio. The 2009 Trojans set a new school record in rushing yardage.
Perhaps more contagious than the H1N1 virus, football-fever spread quickly around town as the Trojans settled old scores with victories over Knappa and Heppner.
“In wins and losses, we had a great season,” head coach Randy Traeger said, “But the determining factor will be what kind of fathers, husbands, and citizens these young men are in 15 years.”
Kennedy High School football is part of the national “Sports Leader” program that emphasizes the importance of “Virtue over Victory” in the development of student-athletes.
“I felt that we did everything we needed to put ourselves in the position to win. Scio is a little bigger and faster, but our guys battled and gave it their all and still had a chance to win at the very end. It was a great effort by the Trojans,” Kennedy High athletic director Kevin Moffatt said.
Quarterback Derek Traeger, who will return next season, never lost sight of the Trojans’ goal, although an injury hampered him during the pre-season schedule when Kennedy experienced losses.
Kennedy High has never played for the state title without a Traeger as quarterback. Derek, Coach Randy Traeger’s son, led the 2009 Trojans; Derek’s uncle Brian guided both the teams of 1989 and 1991.
The Trojan co-captain, Derek Barth, set new Kennedy High School football records in rushing and scoring.
“Our team came together as a family and respected each other as brothers,” he said. Barth added that since the start of the season he felt the 2009 team had the capability of playing for the state title. This was Kennedy’s third attempt in the 40-year history of the school.
“We actually felt we would do it, and we really wanted it. I would like to thank all of my teammates for being there for me.”
Co-captain Nick Theimer anchored the Trojans’ linemen. The defensive unit was a key factor in Kennedy victories.
“Our defense this year started out pretty bad, but we moved some people around, figured some things out, and became one of the state’s top defenders,” Theimer said.
The Mt. Angel community joined the quest for the title. Parents and the Kennedy High Boosters volunteered their time and fueled the football fever. They posted spirit-posters around town; cooked snacks and dinners for the players; made up T-shirts, and lined the streets for the Kennedy send-off parade. Game day they became boisterous fans, making noise with their “pots and pans percussion” group.
