Staff photo / Neel Madhavan Kennedy running back Jaylen Murray takes a handoff during a practice earlier this month.

WARREN — Damon Buente has his work cut out for him this season at Warren JFK, but the first-year head coach is up for the challenge.

“The expectations here are what they are, and we don’t shy away from them,” Buente said.

However, the Eagles are far from the same team that played for a Division VII state championship last season and won three straight regional titles.

First, the program graduated one of the winningest senior classes in program history. Even though it only consisted of eight players, the majority of them played on both sides of the ball. For a small Division VII school, eight players is a hefty loss.

Also, former head coach Dom Prologo resigned during the offseason after leading Kennedy to three straight regional championships, two state-runner up finishes and a 14-3 playoff record in three seasons.

After Prologo stepped down, several underclassmen opted to leave the program and transfer to other schools around the area, most of whom were key contributors to last year’s squad that went 13-2.

“We’re just so far removed from that senior class that took us to the state final last year,” Buente said. “Some of these kids, for the first time ever, are being asked to be leaders and be contributors on Friday nights.”

As a result of all the changes, the Eagles are starting over, and the school chose Buente to lead the charge to rebuild.

“Our expectation right now is just to get guys lined up correctly and to get guys in shape,” Buente said. “It’s an open audition everywhere for a leadership role.”

Buente’s first few months in charge have been a whirlwind, but his arrival helps provide a bridge of continuity for the Eagles from the previous era.

“It’s been surreal and hectic,” Buente said. “Surreal for a ‘blue blood’ in the area to select you. It’s a tier-one institution in terms of football and academics. … It’s been surreal to be that guy for the first time. It’s also been hectic with booster meetings, golf outings, mom’s club, practice schedules, ordering equipment — you don’t think about all those things, but then when you’re the guy that has to do it, it just changes everything. But it’s been a pleasure — we have a good group of coaches and kids.”

Buente is no stranger to the expectations and tradition that Kennedy has built over the years, having served on Prologo’s staff as an assistant coach last season.

He also previously was an assistant coach at Western Reserve and Canfield from 2012-2021, while having played for then-assistant coach Prologo and Cardinals head coach Mike Pavlansky from 2002-2006.

Those two coaches, along with Western Reserve’s Andy Hake and Jason Lude, have had a significant influence on Buente’s philosophy as a coach, and he’s learned a lot from each of them in the process.

“If I can be half the coach that those guys were, I’m going to be very successful. So that’s at least what I’m trying to do,” Buente said. “What I’ve taken from them is setting that cultural standard and the organization that comes with being a head coach — how important it is to develop relationships with the administration, teachers, players, parents, booster groups and the other groups that help out Kennedy. There’s so much — I can talk about those guys forever.”

Staff photo / Neel Madhavan
First-year head football coach Damon Buente looks over practice alongside running back Jaylen Murray. Buente takes over at Kennedy for former head coach Dom Prologo.

OFFENSE

The Eagles have a lot to replace offensively.

Former quarterback Caleb Hadley, who was a junior last year, has opted to focus on baseball this year after recently committing to Youngstown State.

After Prologo’s departure, running backs Antonio Smith and Thomas Easton both transferred — Smith to Warren G. Harding and Easton to Lakeview. Both players started games in Kennedy’s backfield last season. Then, former starting receivers Devonte Taylor and Donovan Salero-McCoy each transferred, as well, with Taylor going to Ursuline, while Salero-McCoy joined Smith at Harding. Plus, all-purpose player Aidan Rossi, tight end Thomas Valent and offensive lineman Pat Valent all graduated. Thomas is playing at Baldwin-Wallace, while Pat earned a Division I offer from Rice.

Despite all the skill position losses, Buente is keeping things simple and is focusing up front on building up the offensive line.

“It’s going to start for us up front,” Buente said. “We feel that if we can control the line of scrimmage — and we feel like we have some good pieces up there, but we’re not a very good unit yet — we feel like we can do anything we want, whether that’s spread the ball from sideline to sideline or work vertically with our run game.”

Junior Noah Elser is one name that returns out wide for the Eagles.

But Buente is putting a lot on the shoulders of rising junior Marcus Komora on both sides of the ball.

Komora really came on towards the end of last season, making plays on both sides of the ball. He returned an interception for a touchdown in the regional semifinal against Southern and also had a fumble return for a touchdown in the playoffs.

“He’s the guy — he’s an excellent cover corner, he’s an excellent wideout and we put him at quarterback a little bit. But more than that, he’s just a great kid,” Buente said. “He’s our spark plug.”

With the departures, returning junior Mike Bartoe is another player that the Eagles will rely heavily on this season.

Bartoe has started along the offensive and defensive lines during each of his first two years in the program, but this year he’s going to play tight end and the MIKE linebacker spot.

“He’s put on 20 pounds of muscle, so he looks great,” Buente said. “We’re proud of him and his efforts and Marcus also. But those two guys are going to be the straw that stirs the drink.”

DEFENSE

Like Kennedy did under Prologo, Buente wants to continue to emphasize the defensive side of the ball. But being strong defensively starts in the weight room.

“The way that Coach Prologo did here, (defense) is kind of a tradition here,” Buente said. “I am very big on strength and conditioning. I think that’s kind of a neglected area in high school sports. It’s extremely important at Kennedy. We’ve always had a great weight room program. So I start with those two things, and then the basics when we get out there.”

Despite the losses of defensive stars Thomas, Abe Rivera and Ambrose Hoso to graduation, the transition for the Eagles has been smoother on defense than it has been on offense, according to Buente.

Buente said he’s also keeping a similar defensive system to what his predecessor ran with the Eagles.

“We’re trying to find eight or nine guys that can rotate up front to create some kind of depth,” Buente said. “Get those guys to fly to the football and allow our linebackers and safeties to run downhill and stop the run. So really, on both sides of the ball, it’s can we develop the line of scrimmage? Because if you can do that, you can do anything you want.”

Komora, Elser and Bartoe will feature heavily on defense for Kennedy, as well.

But, with only three seniors on this year’s squad, Buente is relying on senior Zac Macchione to provide the Eagles with some much-needed veteran leadership.

“He’s been around — he started last year up front and he’s the nine-year old German Shepherd in the room,” Buente said. “If he hears the doorbell, he doesn’t bark. He’s just cool with everything. He’s never too high, never too low.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

On the third and final side of the ball, Freddy Bolchalk returns to handle punting duties, and is currently engaged in a competition with senior newcomer Riley Littler for the kicking job. Littler is an Eagles soccer player that will play both sports this fall.

“(Bolchalk) can really punt the ball to the moon if he gets in a rhythm,” Buente said. “Riley’s got a little bit of a head start because (Bolchalk) was playing baseball (this summer). So special teams-wise, I think we can try to win the field position game.”

Kennedy opens the season at 7 p.m. Aug. 18 against Champion at home at Liberty High School.

2023 Schedule

Aug. 18 Champion 7 p.m.

Aug. 26 Garfield 7 p.m.

Sept. 1 at South Range 7 p.m.

Sept. 8 at Sandusky Perkins 7 p.m.

Sept. 15 Marlington 7 p.m.

Sept. 22 Mogadore* 7 p.m.

Sept. 29 at Rootstown* 7 p.m.

Oct. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas* 7 p.m.

Oct. 14 at Cleveland C.C. 7 p.m.

Oct. 20 at Southeast* 7 p.m.

*Conference game

2022 Results (13-2)

at Champion (3-7) W 44-14

at Delta (5-6) W 37-12

at Garfield (9-3) W 22-21

Sandusky Perkins (10-2) W 20-12

at Marlington (1-9) W 28-7

at Mogadore (12-1)* L 14-28

Rootstown (7-4)* W 33-0

Cleveland C.C. (0-10) W 44-8

Southeast (4-6)* W 50-0

#Fairport Harding (4-7) W 37-9

#Springfield (7-5) W 13-6

#Southern (11-2) W 35-0

#Danville (11-3) W 22-21

#Newark Catholic (11-2) W 21-7

#New Bremen (13-3) L 6-38

*Portage Trail Conference

#Division VII playoff game

Coaching staff

Head coach: Damon Buente, 1st season as head coach

Staff: Luke Stucke, Chris Dirando, Mo Green, Rich Turner, Nate Burney, Justin Blair

Team facts

Division VII, Region 25

Portage Trail Conference

Players on roster: 31

Returning letterwinners (9): Mike Bartoe, Alex Bates, Ethan Laslo, Zac Macchione, Marcus Komora, Freddy Bolchalk, Ian Odille, Trevon Hall, Deaune Earley.

2022 season: Kennedy relied on its stout defense, which shut out three teams and didn’t allow more than 10 points in a game until the regional final against Danville. JFK then exacted its revenge on Newark Catholic in the state semifinal, the team that ended its season in 2021, before going on to fall to New Bremen 38-6 in the Division VII state championship game in Canton.