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2025 KENNEDY CATHOLIC GOLDEN EAGLES PREVIEW
(Coach quotes from interview with SportsRadio 96.7's Bob Greenburg)

HERMITAGE – There's a mix of old and new for the Kennedy Catholic football program in 2025. Sharon native John Reay returns as the Golden Eagles' head coach after serving in that capacity during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

That's not the only notable change with the program, however. After multiple forfeits over the last few years due to insufficient roster size, the Golden Eagles have switched to 8-man football for the 2025 season. Kennedy will play in the Ohio-based Northern 8 conference with other similar-sized schools.

The conference uses a 100-yard field that is not as wide as the 53-yard width in the 11-man game. "It's kind of like watching Arena football without the crazy motions," Reay said. "It's going to be exciting and fast paced. There should be a lot of scoring."

The league allows small schools to still field their own football team as opposed to completely dropping the sport or entering into a co-op agreement with another school. "It's definitely good for schools like us and the teams that we play," Reay said. "We're all little schools. We're definitely working to help build more confidence in the football program and hopefully, one day, be back to 11 (man).

"But if not, this 8-man might take off. It might help some other schools around here stay alive."

The Golden Eagles feature one senior letterman on this year's roster, versatile Tai'jeire Chambers. Chambers, who played for Reay three years ago as a freshman, is penciled in at quarterback. He is expected to fill a variety of roles on both sides of the ball.

"He's going to be leading the team this year," Reay said. "We're going to go as far as Tai'jeire takes us."

Among the other returning lettermen are sophomore lineman Lars Nigra, sophomore running back Santino Costa and junior Charles Ray. "We have a lot of 10th and 11th graders that are learning quickly," Reay said. "They are real coachable and it should help us for the future. I think we've built a nice little core."

Reay's goals for the program are clear, both in the short term and long range. "The goal is to get better. The goal is always to win, of course, but if we can teach these kids how to get some confidence and play together - they're already a family."

The Golden Eagles open the season Friday night, August 22 at Sebring, Ohio. The home opener will be eight days later against Southington (Ohio) Chalker. Kennedy will have a home-and-home series with both of those schools this year. The Golden Eagles head to Chalker in Week Five and close the regular season October 25 with a home game against Sebring.

"I'm very happy to be back," Reay said. "I've been itching to get back here. Seeing the program and the school heading in the right direction - I'm excited to be back."