Kennedy ‘s (from left to right) Tajae Montgomery, Tim Jones, Anthony Cruz, Jonathan King, and Matthew Evora will try to help the Knights return to the PSAL City Championship division playoffs. (Denis Gostev)
Andy Lanceberg’s goal for this fall is simple: win The Bronx.
The John F. Kennedy coach, entering his third season at the storied program, feels finishing atop the borough is the natural progression for his young team.
“It’s really important for the kids because they’re all so close to each other,” Lanceberg said. “If you look at borough integrity, it tends to show through in the playoffs. You see Clinton doing it, you see Lincoln doing it, you see Campus Magnet doing it. It’s something that’s giving you the road to the playoffs that much easier.”
Lanceberg feels he has the pieces in place to unseat DeWitt Clinton atop the Boogie Down. At the top of the list is impressive junior quarterback Anthony Cruz. The big-armed 6-foot-4 signal-caller, who has already drawn interest from Pittsburgh, Maryland, Syracuse, Rutgers and UConn, threw for 618 yards and four touchdowns a year ago.
“He’s starting to get more polished,” the coach said. “He’s been playing the position his whole life and he’s got all the tools to really be a great quarterback. He’s going to show you some of that this year.”
Cruz and Kennedy will rely heavily on workhorse Matt Evora, a senior who ran for 682 yards and two touchdowns last fall. Evora took a back seat to graduated standout Romario Dillon last fall, but Lanceberg feels he is primed for a breakout season. The receiving corps. isn’t big – Cardinal Hayes transfer Timothy Jones, senior Johnathan King and sophomore slot receiver Josue Luciano are all under six feet – but it is sure-handed and tough.
“I call him Hines Ward,” Lanceberg said of the talented Jones. “He’s a really solid kid, sure-handed, runs good routes, high [football] IQ and he’s a great addition to this program.”
Defense, a longtime Kennedy strength, doesn’t have any obvious superstars. Defensive end-turned-outside linebacker Christian Perez and linebacker Demetrius Wade are the defense’s backbone while Jones, King and Luciano will all start in the secondary.
“We’re really young and it’s going to be a exciting to see these young kids flourish,” Lanceberg said.
The Knights have shown promise in each of Lanceberg’s first two years, 3-6 his first season and 5-4 last year. He feels they are ready to take a major leap this fall, return to the playoffs and possibly do serious damage. It all begins, Lanceberg believes, by taking care of their backyard.
“I feel like that’s where we’re heading,” he said. “I think we’re going in the right direction. This is a team that has been with me since I’ve been in the school. They know what to expect out of me, what I demand. I feel really good about this team.”