Kenwood’s offense this season is an intriguing blend of new and familiar.
Senior Lawrence Carr is a three-star receiver with a dozen Power Four offers. Senior running back Jamarius Andrus is a transfer from Morgan Park. Junior quarterback Malachi Henigan was the backup last year to Kenyonte Louis, who’s now at Quincy University.
Carr, Andrus and Henigan all played big roles as Kenwood cruised past Amundsen 56-0 Saturday afternoon at Lane.
Andrus had nine carries for 107 yards, all in the first half and capped by a 46-yard dash for his third touchdown.
Henigan completed 10 of 18 passes for 152 yards and TDs to Paris Embry and Carr, who had five catches for 106 yards. Henigan also had a 36-yard scoring run.
“It’s been kind of good,” Henigan said of becoming the starter. “It’s a big stepping stone to it.”
Having a veteran receiver like Carr to lean on has helped him adjust.
“[That’s] something you’ve got to love because he can run a 4.4 [in the 40-yard dash],” Henigan said. “So you know you can just put the ball out and he’s going to go get it.”
Henigan’s calling card has been a strong and accurate arm. He doesn’t really consider himself a dual-threat quarterback.
“I ain’t never really run,” he said. “I’ve been usually a pocket quarterback.”
“The kid’s got a lot of poise,” Kenwood coach Chris Goffer said. “The moment’s usually never too big for him.”
Henigan was thrown into the fire to start the season when Kenwood (4-2, 3-0 Red Shield) lost 20-18 to Palatine and 39-24 to Providence.
“I think he wishes we could have [those games] back and obviously so do I,” Goffer said. “But those games showed me a lot about what he’s got and the moxie that he has.”
Last year’s apprenticeship under Louis was helpful in that regard.
“Watching him, it really built me,” Henigan said. “Watching Kenyonte, I learned a lot because he knew how to run the offense. He knew how to lead. So me watching that built my character.”
“Sometimes I think I believe in him a little bit more than he does,” Goffer said. “Which is fine — I’m good with that as a junior quarterback. So I’m excited for the next three games of the regular season and the next year going forward.”
Andrus, meanwhile, is a good counterpoint to Kenwood’s passing game.
“Unbelievable kid,” Goffer said. “[Has] a 4.2 GPA, great leader by action and by word. He’s a vocal leader, he’s a physical leader every day.”
And he makes opponents pay depending on how they game-plan against the Broncos.
“If you keep two safeties high and stop [Carr] in our passing game, then we’re going to feed [Andrus] and vice versa,” Goffer said. “… I love Jamarius. He’s a great addition to the team.”
For Amundsen (1-5, 0-3), junior quarterback Jake Siefert was 12 of 27 passing for 90 yards with an interception.
