Kennedy Wins Group AAA Player of the Year
The most coveted of the All Gameday honors is the Player of the Year award, and this year's winner for Group AAA is Westfield's Brian Kennedy. Kennedy has starred for the Bulldogs for two seasons on both offense and defense, garnering several honors from around the state by various media outlets. He is arguably the most disruptive defensive player in the state from his linebacker position, but Kennedy meant so much more to the Bulldogs than just his play on defense. He was the emotional heartbeat of his team, and it was apparent from the first game this season that he would never let his team finish as anything but champions.
The 2007 season was a statement year for Kennedy and his Westfield teammates. The Bulldogs fell in 2006 in the regional championship after they had run the table through the Concorde District. It was a tough defeat that stuck with the entire team for 365 days.
After a tremendous junior season, Kennedy was even better as a senior. Kennedy finished 2007 with 68 tackles, 3 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries, 8 sacks on defense, and scored 2 defensive touchdowns this season. His impact was felt just as much on offense as he averaged 10.6 yards per carry and scored 11 touchdowns from his tailback position. He rushed for 827 yards on only 88 carries. Kennedy shared carries with teammate Steven Tabot and certainly shared the spotlight with quarterback Mike Glennon, but he continually proved to be the biggest play threat the Bulldogs had in every aspect of the game.
Against Chantilly in week 3 of the season, Kennedy's diving touchdown run in the second half ignited the Westfield crowd, and the Bulldogs never looked back, beating their cross town rival 28-16.
After falling behind 7-0 in the regional championship game against West Springfield, Kennedy gave the Bulldog offense the spark he so often did, racing 52 yards to pay dirt to get his team on the scoreboard. Westfield won their second regional title behind Kennedy's 183 yards and 3 touchdowns on the day, but Kennedy's finest moment was yet to come.
The following week, Westfield traveled to play the undefeated Oscar Smith Tigers from the Virginia Beach area, and the contest was touted as the game of the year. With Westfield trailing 7-3 at the half, the Bulldogs went to the guy we have nicknamed the "Answer", to open the 3rd quarter. Kennedy busted loose on a 49 yard scamper that put the Bulldogs up 10-7. On the ensuing drive, Kennedy intercepted Oscar Smith's Phillip Sims and returned it deep into Tiger territory. The Bulldogs scored to increase their lead to 17-7, and eventually won the game 24-21 to advance to the state championship game.
By all accounts, Kennedy is not the biggest guy on the field at 5'8, 162lbs, but he usually is the toughest. He plays with the most heart of any player we've seen over the past two years, and he is the answer to Westfield's success in so many ways. Kennedy is undersized for the next level, but anyone who watches Westfield film will see that he is one of the best players to come through the Northern Region in a long time.
If the Bulldogs had given him 25 carries a game, he would have more than likely rushed for over 2,500 yards and led the region in touchdowns. He is simply that talented. Kennedy never came off the field, playing on offense, defense, and special teams.
With the state championship game still close in the 4th quarter, Kennedy once again made the big play of the game, intercepting Woodbridge quarterback Jake Myer. Kennedy's interception set up the clinching score as Westfield increased their lead to 28-14. The Bulldogs won the game 42-14, but Kennedy's interception put the game away.
For those that have never watched Brian Kennedy play, you missed out on watching a great high school football player. Every game we called, and every game we watched Westfield play, we saw the same thing. Brian Kennedy changed the game with 3 or 4 big plays that nobody else on the field could make. Without Kennedy, the Bulldogs would not be 26-1 in their last 27 games, and because of Kennedy's heart, leadership, toughness, and playmaking ability, Westfield is once again the best in the state of Virginia for the second time in the last 4 years......
