CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – As the 2022 football season approaches, Kenwood High is looking for their first winning season in a seven-year span. According to Max Preps, the Knights haven’t had a winning record since going 8-4 during the 2015-16 season.
Between 2016 and 2020, Kenwood wasn’t able to win more than three games in a year. During the same time period, their overall record was an abysmal 13-38.
The Knights were finally able to get over that three-win hump last season. They secured five wins, which included winning two district games. The school’s football program looks to build off last year’s success with new head coach Jarhett Snead leading the way.
Snead graduated from Rossview High in 2004. Following high school, he studied at Tennessee Tech and Austin Peay State University. Since finishing school, Snead has served as a teacher for 10 years, and he has been an assistant coach for Kenwood football the past six years.
“It’s a blessing to have this opportunity,” Snead told Clarksville Now. “I love Kenwood and these kids, and I am thrilled they trust me to lead this group of players moving forward. I told the players coming into the season that they know who I am, they know my expectations and they know I’ll be hard on them but fair at the same time.”
2022 season
Kenwood will have to make some adjustments heading into the new league year. The Knights lost a multitude of team leaders following this past year’s graduation. However, Snead looks forward to the challenge of adapting.
“I believe teams always have to adjust from year to year,” said Snead. “We lost around 70% of our offense, including our four-year starting quarterback. When you lose a talented group of players, you have to make adjustments and find ways to produce.”
As Kenwood is adjusting, they will continue to look for an identity as a team. Snead mentioned that they “still are putting pieces of the puzzle together.” The head coach wants the team to be known for running the ball and running downhill, but it comes down to the team’s personnel.
Snead wants to focus on building around what they currently have and play to his players’ strengths. As for Snead’s expectations for the upcoming season, he wants to see his players play hard more than anything.
The head coach made it clear that the coaching staff has pushed players to be disciplined and to hold themselves accountable. He stated that if a team doesn’t have discipline and accountability, then the team won’t amount to their full potential.
The Knights are scheduled to travel to Hillwood High to begin their season. The game will take place on Friday, Aug. 19.
2022 football season preview series
- Northeast High hopes to bounce back under new head coach Claude Townsend
- Clarksville Academy ready to fight way into playoffs after falling short last season
- Montgomery Central first year coach Corey Wright hopes to build off last year’s success
- Clarksville High football looks to continue their winning ways after five straight playoff appearances
- Rossview High looks to translate off-season success into wins following a subpar season
- Northwest High looks to large senior class to come back from rough season