Sandifer’s Kicks Lift Harvard, 6-0 : Field Goals of 47 and 51 Yards Provide the Difference at Alemany

Dominic Sandifer was having a hard time keeping his mind on football last season.

His brother, John, died in a car accident about a month before the season started and the Harvard High kicker was kicking worse than the team’s cheerleaders. No such problem this season.

Sandifer kicked field goals of 47 and 51 yards to lead Harvard to a 6-0 victory over Alemany Friday night at Alemany.

“After my brother died just before the season, I had a very tough time concentrating,” Sandifer said. “I started off poorly and missed four of my first five attempts.”

He regained his form in time to help lead the Saracens to the Desert Mountain Conference championship game and earn All-Southern Section honors.

He maintained his form Friday night, kicking a 47-yarder in the second quarter and another from 51 yards in the fourth. He missed one from 47 in the second quarter.

“We knew we had him,” Harvard Coach Gary Thran said. “He’s an easy weapon for us. He’s a little looser this season, not as tight as he was last year, and he’s incredible.”

Alemany Coach Enrique Lopez thought so, too.

“He’s tremendous,” he said. “That was a major college kicker you just saw right there.”

Sandifer was by no means the Saracens’ only weapon, however. Their defense dominated the game, allowing the Indians 51 total yards and only 11 in the second half.

“The defense was incredible,” said Sandifer, who also plays defensive back. “We were stuck all over them.”

The Indians possibly lost more than just the game. Quarterback Nick Napolitan was injured in the fourth quarter when he was hit by Harvard linebacker Matt Pauley.

Napolitan, a senior right-hander, was removed from the game and taken to a hospital afterward for what was believed to be a separated right shoulder.

The Saracens sacked Napolitan five times for minus 41 yards. He seldom had time to set up in the pocket and get off a pass.

He completed three of nine attempts, mostly on the run, for 31 yards.

Harvard quarterback Mike Patterson completed seven of 14 passes for 59 yards, but it was his interception of a Roy Talavera pass at the Harvard 22-yard line with 2:27 left that sealed the victory.

Saracen running back Andy Bell dominated the running game, gaining 104 yards on 18 carries.

Harvard was perhaps the Indians’ weakest nonleague opponent. No one can accuse Alemany of ducking any of the Valley’s powers. Granada Hills, Hart, Kennedy and Canyon are still ahead.