Kennedy football committed to rebuilding pride in Paterson
· Yahoo Sports
A radical shift shook up the Kennedy football program prior to the 2025 season. Jarrod Rogers took over as head coach less than a month before the opener.
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Another big change happened this offseason, with the Knights moving to one of the Super Football Conference’s developmental divisions, the Ivy Gold.
Despite all this, the biggest news involving Paterson football could be yet to come.
Both Kennedy and rival Eastside have released their 2026 schedules. As of July 31, their annual Thanksgiving holiday clash is not on the docket.
According to Rogers, “They’re still saying it’s in negotiation.”
The Knights joining the SFC Ivy offers them a slate of games against other struggling programs – which can provide hope following an 0-9 campaign. However, they are not eligible for the NJSIAA playoffs, whereas Eastside is.
Whether that fact is at the root of the predicament remains to be seen. Kennedy’s coach, for one, remains committed to continuing the series.
“Eastside can still play us in an independent game,” Rogers said. “We have to play each other.”
The tradition
Being the original Paterson High School – literally, it was called that until Eastside opened in 1925 – Kennedy has a deep-rooted history in New Jersey’s third-largest city.
The name Central was used from 1925-64 before the school was dedicated in memory of John F. Kennedy. The Eastside rivalry has continued annually throughout the past century.
Following the Knights’ 32-0 victory in 2018, they led the series 45-42 (with seven ties). The Ghosts have won the past seven meetings, but even given their 52-0 shutout last November, the average score of the first 101 games remains 13-12 Eastside.
“We want that game,” Rogers said. “The City of Paterson is saying, ‘Come on, man, that’s tradition’.”
The challenge
Kennedy enters the upcoming season with only five seniors. That actually represents an increase from a year ago, when there were only three.
The challenge of keeping student-athletes in the program remains ever present, given how many successful technical and private schools dot the North Jersey landscape.
Rogers’ response has been to strengthen his connections with Paterson’s youth programs. The Knights have a solid core of juniors and sophomores, and the July roster of 37 could expand into the 50s once summer-school classes end.
“I’ve been at all the youth camps in Paterson, so the Kennedy logo is everywhere,” Rogers said. “Our coaches and players have done so many community events, so that these kids see what Paterson is about. We’re trying to build character.”
Expectations
Perhaps Rogers’ presence at Kennedy is a bit ironic. He played for a sectional-title team at Passaic Tech before graduating in 1999. He also spent 15 years as an assistant at DePaul Catholic.
Chalk it all up as a learning experience.
“Coaching inner-city football is a lot different than when I was at DePaul,” he said. “These kids need you to show that you’re committed every day, and then they’ll start coming around – then another one will come around, and then another will come around.”
Team leaders are emerging through the process. Rising seniors Tyrique Dennis and CJ Jean-Pierre are involved in Kennedy’s basketball and football programs. Rising junior Jordan Vazquez “can run like the wind,” according to his coach, and may contribute at positions varying from quarterback to punt returner.
The Knights still have work to do. Keeping their focus on the future is part of that work for Rogers.
“We did very well at the West Orange [7-on-7] tournament, we went 4-2,” he said. “We beat Union’s ‘A’ team on the last play of the game – a goal-line stop with an interception. That was pretty big… just to show my team what they can do."
“I just really want to build Paterson football back,” Rogers said. “We have a lot of talent in this city.”
2026 schedule
*Note: Home games are at Hinchliffe Stadium
Sept. 5: at Ferris, noon at Caven Point (Jersey City)
Sept. 10: vs. Bergen Tech, 6 p.m.
Sept. 18: at Dover, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25: at Millburn, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2: vs. Belleville, 6 p.m.
Oct. 9: vs. Bergenfield, 6 p.m.
Week 7: TBD
Week 8: TBD
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Kennedy football committed to rebuilding pride in Paterson