San Fernando Picks Up a Win at Kennedy, 21-7

San Fernando High built a three-touchdown lead in the first half, then coasted Friday night to a 21-7 win over Kennedy in the Valley 4-A League opener for both football teams at Kennedy High.

The Tigers (4-2) took advantage of two critical Kennedy mistakes in the first quarter to forge an early lead that was never seriously threatened.

Kennedy (2-3) took the opening kickoff and moved down to the Tiger 14.

But quarterback Eric Evans fumbled the snap and lost possession to San Fernando’s Kevin Thomas at the 16.

San Fernando then moved 84 yards in 13 plays, 11 of which were on the ground.

The Tigers were faced with a fourth-and-three from the Kennedy 39 when running back Lance Harper skirted the Golden Cougar defense for 14 yards.

Kennedy’s John Diggs was also nailed with an unsportsman-like penalty, moving the ball to the 14.

Harper then ran the necessary yards on the next play for the game’s first touchdown. Alfonso Ontiveros added the extra point and San Fernando led, 7-0, with 3:29 left in the first quarter.

After Kennedy could muster only five yards on three plays, Greg Friedman came in to punt.

But the kick was blocked and San Fernando’s Clarence Bradley scooped up the ball at the Kennedy 30 and ran it in for a 14-0 Tiger lead with 1:38 left in the opening 12 minutes.

The next time the Tigers had the ball, they moved 88 yards in six plays.

Dwayne Calloway, who completed his first six passes of the game, hit David Richards down the left sideline for a 31-yard touchdown.

With 8:06 left in the half, the Tigers suddenly had a commanding 21-0 lead.

Kennedy Coach John Haynes then replaced Evans at quarterback with Jeff Newman.

The change seemed to spark the Golden Cougars. Newman immediately hit Dion Lambert on two passes that totaled 77 yards.

But on a fourth-and-goal from the Tiger four, Newman’s pass for Marcus Jones was incomplete. That gave the Tigers the ball with 4:49 left in the half.

San Fernando didn’t score in the second half, but did use up valuable time with a ball-control offense.

The Tigers took the second-half kickoff and advanced the ball to the Golden Cougar seven.

The drive ended when Calloway, who completed 12 of 18 passes for 143 yards, was sacked for an 11-yard loss. The drive took 7:37 off the clock.

Richards was Calloway’s main target, hauling in seven catches for 93 yards.

Harper also helped run out the clock with 114 yards on 13 carries.

Kennedy’s only touchdown came when Evans, who replaced an injured Newman, connected with Andrew Como on a six-yard pass with 8:12 left in the game.