Improved Kennedy Ties Los Alamitos

Two facts were apparent during Kennedy High School’s 28-28 tie with Los Alamitos in the nonleague football opener for both schools at Western High Thursday night.

No. 1: Kennedy is vastly improved over last season.

No. 2: Los Alamitos’ defense is not nearly as stingy as it was in 1987.

Kennedy--3-6-1 last year, including a forfeit victory over Bolsa Grande--showed on its first drive how much it has improved. On the second play after the opening kickoff, Ed Williams, a speedy junior running back, raced through and around Los Alamitos tacklers for a 75-yard touchdown run and a quick, 7-0 Kennedy lead.

For Los Alamitos, the 28 points were 1 more than it allowed in 10 regular-season games last season. The Griffins were 12-2 and advanced to the championship game of the Southern Conference playoffs.

Williams ran through the Los Alamitos defense for 164 yards in 22 carries and scored on a 32-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

But the Fighting Irish saved their best for the end of the game. Trailing, 28-21, with 2:40 left and the ball at their own 31, they scrambled and clawed their way to a tying score with 1:00 left.

Quarterback Pete Montera’s 18-yard scoring pass to tight end Tom Deep on fourth down and James Utesch’s subsequent kick, pulled Kennedy, which trailed 22-7 at one point, even at 28-28.

Montera was chased out of the pocket, as he had been on almost every down on the drive. He scrambled to his right, saw Deep standing in the front of the end zone along the right sideline and threw.

Deep somehow managed the wrestle the ball away from Los Alamitos defenders Bob Farrell and John Graham, who took a swipe at it and appeared to have deflected it enough so that Deep wouldn’t be able to make the catch.

Los Alamitos took advantage of consecutive kickoffs out of bounds, starting a last-minute drive at its own 36. But the Griffins and junior quarterback Todd Gragnano got only as far as the Fighting Irish 30 before they faced a third-and-10 situation with 8 seconds left.

John Barnes, Los Alamitos coach, elected to try for a 47-yard field goal, but Chris Park’s try was too flat and too short.

Eric Caesar rushed for 128 yards and 3 touchdowns in 32 carries for Los Alamitos.