Lindbergh/Kennedy Rivalry Started In Youth Baseball

Nearly 10 years ago on a small baseball field in Renton's Cascade neighborhood Cam Callen, Derrick Holt, Matt Stuart, Dominic Peretti and Jensen Merrill played against each other for Cascade Vista Athletic Club.

Today, Callen, Holt and Stuart play for Lindbergh football and Peretti and Merrill play for Kennedy. Both teams go head to head Thursday night at Highline Stadium for the Seamount League Football Championship. Both teams have qualified for post season play. But first, they must tackle each other.

According to Michael Merrill, Jensen's father, the five along with several underclassman have developed a friendly rivalry that peaks with this game. It centers on their status as longtime Renton residents.

"They all played for CVAC since age 9 or so, and competed on various teams there every summer through age 13. At the HS point, some went to Lindbergh and some (the St. Anthony parish members) went to Kennedy," Merrill said. "Since then, they have played against each other in high school football and baseball, developing a serious and entertaining rivalry. (They even played against each other in junior football, with the Lindbergh boys playing Benson Bruins and Jensen choosing Maple Valley's team."

All four have excelled in the classroom as well. Callen was Homecoming royalty; Holt is a class officer with a near perfect GPA. Peretti is also a 3.9 GPA scholar athlete, and Merrill is a 3.5 student and ASB officer. All are starters and at least three-year lettermen in multiple sports.

Lindbergh vs Kennedy Catholic Preview

Who - Lindbergh Eagles (5-0, 7-1) vs Kennedy Catholic (5-0, 6-1)

Where - Highline Stadium

When - Thursday, October 25

What - Winner is the Seamount League Champion; both advance to Week 10 playoffs in 2A and 3A division

Time - Kickoff at 7 p.m.

Patch Picks - 35-32 Lindbergh with a Derrick Holt field goal with time expiring.

ScoreCzar Picks - 24-18 Kennedy Catholic 

Side by Side (through six games)

The Lancer defense has only allowed 69 points this season, Lindbergh is second best with only 82 points.

Lindbergh has 2206 total yards of offense while Kennedy Catholic has 2054 total yards.

Kennedy Catholic has 1162 total yards of defense to Lindbergh's 1211 total yards.

Key Lindbergh Players (stats through six games):

Daniel Wiitenan has 1118 yards of total offense, 13 TDs

Cam Callen has 751 yards of total offense, 13 TDs

Tyrell Shavers is 41-for-73, 903 yards passing, 13 TDs, 5 INT

Derrick Holt has 2 TDs, 19 extra point kicks and 3-for-4 FGs (35 yards longest)

Trevonn Russell has 39.5 tackles

D'Ssaun Sauls and Jayde Wiitenan both hasve 27.5 tackles. J. Wiitenan also has four sacks for 26 yard loss.

Key Kennedy Catholic Players (stats through six games):

Drew Thompson has 1128 yards of total offense, 11 TDs, 28 tackles

Colin Cossette has 624 yards of total offense, 6 TDs, 18 extra point kicks, 1-for-3 FG (22 yards longest)

Conner Richardson is 28-for-57, 475 yards passing, 8 TDs, 0 INT

Zach Nobmann has 64.5 tackles, with 13 tackles for a loss, and 3 sacks for 18 yards loss.

James Merrill has three sacks for 18 yard loss.

Playoffs

Lindbergh plays the South Puget Sound League fourth seed (currently a three way tie) at Renton Stadium. A Lindbergh win and the Eagles would host the first round of the 2A state tournament at Renton Stadium.

Kennedy Catholic will play the Wesco League sixth seed (currently projected to be Mountlake Terrance at Highline Stadium.

Did you know?

Kennedy Catholic has four players on their roster from Renton. All four attended St. Anthony's. Seniors: Dominic Peretti (53) and Jensen Merrill (54) Sophomores: James Merrill (45), Alex Lesar (50), and Ramsay Bauer (10).

The new schedule that started this year, didn't have the Lancers playing one game at Renton Stadium this year. However next year, Kennedy Catholic plays each Renton, Hazen and Lindbergh at Renton Stadium.

Kennedy Catholic Head Coach Bob Bourgette has been with the football program for the last 40 years, 16 as head coach. Bourgette's overall record thru last season is 158-32.

Game Tweets will be live on the Patch's Twitter. Complete recap of the game with photos will appear Friday in the Patch.

**Stats are through week 7 and are provided by the Seamount League football coaches, compiled by a third-party and distributed to the Patch.**