Kenneth Wright came to Gage Park as a basketball player, but now he’s one of the best-kept secrets in Public League football.
The 6-3, 185-pound senior is a two-time returning all-conference quarterback for the Owls, who have an enrollment of 286 and are one of the city’s smallest schools to field a football team.
But his big talents have kept Gage Park competitive.
Wright ran 11 times for 255 yards in a 40-18 loss to Johnson on Sept. 5 at Rockne Stadium. He had touchdown runs of 70, 71 and 81 yards and also chased down a Pumas player from behind for a touchdown-saving tackle on defense.
The Owls, who have low numbers, didn’t play in Week 1. But Wright also had three touchdowns in a Week 2 loss to Westmont.
Brendan Krupp is in his first year as Gage Park’s head coach but previously was on the staff as an assistant, so he’s seen Wright’s development.
He expected his star to be good, but maybe not this good
“He was more athletic, definitely, and (had) a little bit more experience with sports in general, which is big for our school,” Krupp said. “But his big passion was basketball. And I will say, in the past two seasons, it’s been kind of cool to see him get more excited for (football). Because I felt like he’s just way more interested and locked in and having so much fun with this.
“And he kind of hit like a new level last year with us.”
Wright not only has exceptional speed — he’s also a track sprinter with a PR of 11.57 seconds — but he also is effectively elusive as a runner.
“It makes it tough because sometimes I’m like old school and (say), ‘I don’t want you to dance so much,'” Krupp said. “‘But I know that you can outrun everybody so get to the spot that you can.'”
Wright said there’s no secret sauce for his success.
“Working out, being consistent with everything I do,” he said. “I look to my teammates to make sure I’m doing the right thing so I can lead them.”
Football has definitely grown on Wright.
“I was scared coming in at first, not wanting to get tackled,” he said. “But after a couple of hits, I was like, ‘No, it’s for me.'”
Playing in a lower level Public League program that doesn’t get the summer camp exposure of bigger schools, Wright has yet to be contacted by any college coaches.
But he would like to play at the next level.
“Whatever options come my way, I’m taking,” he said.