CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Northeast football will play host to Kenwood Friday at 7 p.m. in a Region 7-5A contest.

After falling to two tough opponents to start the 2019 season, the Knights then captured their first win of the year 30-24 against Northeast.

According to Kenwood football coach Les Greer, his group isn’t putting much stock into last year’s victory over the Eagles, heading into Friday.

“Every year is different,” Greer said. “We’re continuing to work on Kenwood and what it will take for us to be successful. Starting off the year with a region game, much less a cross-town rival, always presents its challenges. We’re excited to be able to suit up and play a game Friday night.”

Despite a slow start, the Eagles finished last year strong while picking up wins in three of their final five contests to close out the regular season. Northeast football coach Brandon Clark believes his team’s progression down the final stretch can be attributed to a change under center.

“I felt that last year it took longer than teams I’ve had in the past to come together,” Clark said. “It seemed that whenever Jaiden took over Week 5 against Dyer County, the team really rallied behind him. It’s not often that you get a starting freshman quarterback at the high school level, so I think the team started working hard to have his back. Fortunately, that camaraderie was able to get us some wins on the back end of the season.”

It’s been said many times in the past that the most important position on a football field is at quarterback. For Kenwood, junior Jaylen Washington is as talented as any in the city and appears primed to have a breakout junior campaign this upcoming season.

“Jaylen does a good job of progressing through his reads in the pass and run game,” Greer said. “He generally puts the ball where it’s supposed to go. He’s cleaned up his footwork this offseason which has improved his accuracy and velocity. He continues to lead our offense and make his teammates better. I’m looking forward to seeing his growth this season.”

Clark is mindful of the challenges that preparing for a player the caliber of Washington presents.

“Jaylen Washington at Kenwood is a name that we have heard since his freshman year,” Clark said. “I think he is a true playmaker that makes his teammates around him better. Our defensive coordinator (Jesse Colston) tells our players that they better darn sure 100 percent hear that whistle blow before they stop the play because Washington will take a play that is going nowhere and pop off a 25-yard gain.”

Washington’s counterpart, Puig, has worked tirelessly this offseason to prove to the doubters that his success in year one was anything but a fluke.

“In my opinion, Jaiden Puig does a good job of trying to find ways to get better,” Clark said. “He knows that as a sophomore, he is far from being a finished product. He is very coachable and a true student of the game. He has dove into the playbook and I feel comfortable with his knowledge of what we do.”

As a master sergeant with the Tennessee Air National Guard, Greer recently returned back home in late July after completing a seven-month deployment in the Middle East.

During his time overseas, Greer tried to stay involved as much as he could with his team to ensure things continued to run smoothly.

“While not ideal to be deployed for a chunk of time, the leaders of the team and the coaching staff did a great job continuing our offseason program,” Greer said. “COVID obviously impacted our work and we’ve been able to adapt just like everyone else had to. Luckily, technology allowed me to stay in close contact throughout the spring. I’m glad to be back and we’re working hard getting ready for the 2020 season.”

Clark shared his thoughts on simultaneously opening up the regular season and Region 7-5A play in one of the more intriguing matchups Friday in Clarksville.

“It will be sort of odd opening up with a region game,” Clark said. “A game is a game however and I’d much rather have it this way than no game at all. This is the first time that I have never had any kind of film or scrimmages or games on an opponent. I think it’ll be fine though because all of the CMCSS teams are in the same boat with that.

“Obviously, until someone dethrones Henry County, they will always be picked first place in our region. After that, I see it being a wide open race this season. However, if we are not disciplined and focused, we could easily fall to any team in the region.”

Greer’s message to his locker room remains simple heading into the 2020 season.

“We control what we can control whether we play four games or 10 games,” Greer said. “We want to compete every snap. Work to get better each practice and continue to improve as a football team. Just keep competing.”

Knights Impact Players

JR Jaylen Washington (QB)

SR Tishun Miles (RB/OLB)

JR Corbin Howard (WR/CB)

JR Quentavius Barnes (WR/DB)

JR Javion Rivers (OL/DL)

SR Brandon Dickenson (OL)

SR TaQuin McCullen (RB/ILB)

JR Dashawn James (RB/SS)

Eagles Impact Players

SO Jaiden Puig (QB)

SR Elijah Leaupepe (LB)

SR KaMari Williams (LB)

SR Gage Robinson (DE)

SR Sean Spencer (SS/P)

SR Jaylin Bowser (HB)