An American comeback story: Bay Area's Kennedy High School overcomes history of violence, losing

Video: Kennedy's remarkable comeback story
Eagles are 10-1 heading into Saturday's North Coast Section Division 4 quarterfinals.

RICHMOND, Calif. —  Kennedy senior linebacker Ryan Robinson tried to describe last Feb. 4, the day his two older brothers were shot and killed in two different Bay Area cities. Two random acts. Robinson was with teammates at a signing ceremony for another player.

"I got the call and I just cried in front of all of them," said the chiseled 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior. "But my teammates surrounded me and hugged me. … Sometimes it's hard. I just try to fight through it. But I still have my other brothers right here. That's all I got left."

We all we got. We all we need.

Kennedy senior running back and linebacker Kenneth Singleton talked slowly and calmly about the day three years ago when he was shot in the back by a stranger.

"He wanted my shoes and I said ‘No,'" Singleton said. "He shot me in the back twice and my friend in the face. It grazed him and he was OK. I ended up in a coma. I remember waking up but I couldn't talk for a long time.

"Thank God for my family and friends. I lost about 30 pounds but always dreamed of coming back and playing football again. I play with a chip on my shoulder, but playing football on this team makes me happy."

We all we got. We all we need.

Kennedy senior receiver Akeli Nelson is homeless. His father was shot and died when he was 3 months old. His mom lives in Michigan. Nelson lives by himself in the Bissell Cottages through Contra Costa County Health Services.

"It's not easy but I'm thankful I have a roof and place to live," he said. "It's a lot of responsibility but I have my grades up, I have my football and I have my boys, my family."

We all we got. We all we need.

Without a winning season since 1988, without a playoff victory in 28 seasons, these Eagles who reside in one of the toughest inner cities of Northern California wouldn't appear to have much. Turns out, they just needed each other … and a pair of resourceful and relentless first-year head coaches with a dream and a mantra.

Following a 38-0 North Coast Section Division 4 playoff win over El Molino (Forestville) on Saturday, the Eagles improved to 10-1, tied for the most wins in the school's 49-year history. Led by Robinson, a Division I prospect, it was Kennedy's fourth shutout in five games. The Eagles have outscored opponents 391-88.

They may be the nation's best comeback story.

"It's a hungry group and a talented group," head coach George Jackson Jr. said. "Some of the one-hand catches they make and things they do on the field is pretty unbelievable."

But it's what they've overcome off the field that makes these Eagles so remarkable. History of violence

Jackson, 34, and assistant head coach Greg Marshall, 25, are Richmond natives and well-versed on the city's violent past. It was ranked America's sixth-most dangerous city by CQ Press in 2009.

Even they had to wince at some of their players' stories. But they never judge. Marshall, who works off campus as a marine engineer, said to get the boys all bought-in he and Jackson needed to communicate a deeper and wider message. They coached the JV team to a 10-0 record last season — that team allowed just two points all season  and were promoted to take over the varsity. They organically came up with the 2016 team's mantra.

"I told them that the word on Kennedy is that they're always against each other, that they're a bunch of thugs," Marshall said. "You can't get them together to play together.

"I just told them one day we all we got. And that's all we need. We just need to be there for each other to go as far as we're going to go. … We don't get a whole lot of support here. There's not many people in the stands. As long as we believe in each other, we'll be successful."

They've been all that.

They've done it with a balanced offense directed by junior quarterback Micah Barnes (2,182 total yards, 30 total touchdowns) and a fast aggressive defense. Robinson (22 sacks), junior linebacker Christian Qualls (106 tackles) and Tre'vante Daniels (60 tackles, five interceptions) lead a group that allows an average of just eight points per game. No class, no grass

Off the field, Jackson implemented a roundabout mass text system to monitor the players' every move.

They've doggedly instilled academics with a "no class, no grass" policy. Not only is there the 2.0 grade point average required to be on the team, but they must post a 2.5 GPA to play in the games. Daily study hall is mandatory.

"We vowed not to lose a single player to grades and we haven't," said Jackson, a professional drummer who returned to Kennedy to be a campus supervisor and coach the team. "That's as big or bigger than our record on the field. … We're trying to get these kids somewhere in life."

The practice field is the team's sanctuary, a getaway and safe haven from possible dangers and pitfalls.

"This is the one positive that a lot of these kids have in their lives," Marshall said. "So let's give them a couple of hours from all the drama. While we're here, this is your family."

It's working massively, said Alamo Brown, a longtime Richmond community advocate who volunteers his time to the program at least weekly. He sees far more from the coaching staff, which includes Jonathan Sims, Joseph Alvarez, Ryan Nash and Masa Miyashiro, than a record-breaking season. War zone

"People see the finished product on the field, which is great, but they don't see the assembly line of work these coaches are putting in just to keep these boys alive," said Brown, a 1984 Kennedy graduate. "Those players have to walk through the war zone before school and through the war zone after practice. These coaches are navigating all of it. What they're doing is deep."

Jackson is consistent and unwavering in his messages. After Saturday's win in the locker room, each player sought out their head coach to offer a warm hug. Without hesitation Jackson said: "I love you man. ... be safe."

It's an exchange after every game and practice before the players navigate the war zone.

"I just want to let them know they're loved," Jackson said. "Sometimes in our culture as African Americans we don't hear it enough. I know hearing it from another adult male is a good thing to hear."

And these fourth-seeded Eagles, who host Piedmont Saturday in a quarterfinal game, feel it.

"We all come from Richmond," Robinson said. "We can feel each other's pain. We never give up no matter how bad it gets because we just all want to make something out of ourselves."

Said Nelson: "We practice hard. We study hard. When we fall we pick each other up. We're a team. No one feels left out. We all we got. We all we need."