Series of football games set to commemorate 9/11

Dallas Jackson
Senior Analyst

Tony Kennedy was looking for a way to not only remember those lost on 9/11 but honor those who serve our country in a variety of ways each and every day.

From that idea, came the inaugural Patriot Classic, a two-day, six-game high school football event at the Navy-Marine Stadium in Annapolis, Md., to be played on the weekend of the 10th anniversary of that tragic day.

"As the anniversary was approaching I noticed there wasn't an event that outwardly honors the men and women who give their all to allow us to play this game," Kennedy said. "My hope is that this can be a big, 'Thank You' to those who do that for us."

The games will be dedicated to each branch of the military as well as branches of service.

Kennedy has invited various members of each organization to attend and hopes to have them on the sidelines. In addition, patches and decals are being discussed, and there are plans to have honorary flags.

"The teams will be brought out onto the field with the flags of the branches they are representing, among other things," Kennedy said. "We want this to be an openly ceremonial event not just named, or in spirit, on that day we all need to be proud of our American heritage."

Kennedy also has requested a flyover and sent a formal invitation to the White House. While it will be a while before he knows who will be in the stands, he's certain he'll have top quality teams on the field.

The event will begin Friday afternoon (Sept. 9) with two games. The first will between long-time rivals between Bethesda (Md.) Landon and Forestville (Md.) Bishop McNamara. It will be followed by Baltimore (Md.) Calvert Hall playing Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha.

"Those first two games were an ideal fit for this event," Kennedy said. "They are long time rivals and proud programs."

Stefon Diggs will lead Good Counsel.

Saturday's four games will kick early in the morning; each of the four will be dedicated to a branch of the military.

The opening game, dedicated to the Air Force, will be between Oxon Hill (Md.) Potomac and Severn (Md.) Archbishop Spalding.

"We are excited to get to showcase some of the better teams and players in the area," Kennedy said.

The game will feature several Division I prospects, headlined by Notre Dame-bound defensive back Ronald Darby of Potomac.

The Marines game is next with a local school, Annapolis (Md.) Christian, facing Bear (Del.) Red Lion Christian.

Red Lion has made plenty of headlines with its sophomore quarterback David Sills being committed to USC as an eighth grader. The school also added to its notoriety, and maybe negatively, with recruiting and classification issues.

The third game, the Navy game, will feature a match-up of teams on the mend as Philadelphia (Pa.) St. Joseph's Prep takes on Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga.

St. Joseph's will feature Skyler Mornhingweg at quarterback. The three-star prospect has multiple college offers, but the son of Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhingweg appears to be highest on the opportunity to play at Stanford.

Wrapping up the event, in the Army game, will be two teams in competition for placement in the RivalsHigh 100: Baltimore (Md.) Gilman and Olney (Md.) Good Counsel.

The headliner event of the game will have over 20 Division I prospects taking the field and have the potential to showcase a one-on-one matchup with four-star defensive back Cyrus Jones of Gilman against five-star receiver Stefon Diggs of Good Counsel.

"The finale is something special for us and for fans in attendance," Kennedy said. "Those are two programs that are gaining national attendance and are right in our backyard. Having them on the same field at our event is a perfect way to end the day."

Adding to the event could be a Presidential presence as Barack Obama has been formally invited, along with Sen. John McCain and other dignitaries.

"We invited a handful of former serviceman that are prominent in the area," Kennedy said. "It was a process to formally invite the President, but we did that, as well as filled out the request for an official flyover."

Kennedy says he does not expect to hear whether any of the invitations, or permission for a flyover, will be granted for another month. And he was quick to say that no matter if President Obama would be in attendance the message of his event would not change.

"It does not matter if you like how the country is being run," he said. "Whether you are Republican, Democrat, black, or white we need to be united; if only for the day."