Granada Hills Remains Undefeated : Highlanders Score 3 Times in Final Quarter for 21-14 Win

Granada Hills High, which spent three quarters watching Kennedy’s Patrick Hardy run all over the field, rallied for a 21-14 victory over the Golden Cougars Friday night in a Valley 4-A league football game at Granada Hills.

When Chalid Ali scored from the three with 1:28 remaining, it was the third Highlander touchdown of the quarter.

Hardy, who started in place of an injured Roman Carter (ankle), ran 38 times for 235 yards. His two touchdown runs had given the Golden Cougars a 14-0 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Granada Hills (6-0 overall, 2-0 league) dominated the fourth quarter to win for the seventh time in this 12-year series with their cross-town rivals.

Brent Spurlin, who completed just 5 of 17 passes for 67 yards, hit Greg Fowble with a 19-yard touchdown with 10:28 remaining to start the Highlander’s comeback.

Hardy, who had 145 yards by halftime, then fumbled at his 33-yard line with 9:33 left in the game. Granada Hills’ Phillip Davis recovered and six plays later, Granada’s Ali scored from the one to bring the Highlanders to within one point, 14-13.

But Fowbles’ kick went wide to the right and preserved Kennedy’s lead with 7:05 remaining.

Kennedy could not move the ball and was forced to punt with 5:17 left. Granada, which entered the game ranked No. 2 by The Times in the City section, took over at its own 42-yard line.

It took the Highlanders nine plays to take the lead. The key play was a Spurlin to Fowble pass good for 15 yards on a third and 14 play from the Kennedy 48. Two plays later, Spurlin connected with Mark Newman for 16 yards which put the ball at the Kennedy 14.

Three plays later, Ali scored the touchdown that gave the Highlanders the dramatic victory.

Granada’s victory was assured when Dean Yoshitani put a vicious hit on Kennedy’s Dewayne Fontenette, which caused a fumble after a 13-yard reception. The Highlanders’ Danny Takahashi recovered at the Kennedy 33 with 39 seconds left.

Kennedy (2-4, 0-2) lost for the third straight week.

Kennedy completely controlled the first half, gaining 200 yards in total offense compared to Granada Hills’ 52.