PREP FOOTBALL : Anaheim’s Mountain of Offense Is Too Much for Kennedy

Johnny Mountain rushed for 208 yards in 37 carries and scored 2 touchdowns to lead Anaheim High School to a 21-7 victory over Kennedy Friday night at Western High.

Mountain, a 6-foot 2-inch, 220-pound running back, had little trouble with the Kennedy defense, plowing over linemen and breaking tackles for extra yardage.

Although Kennedy looked good early in the game and scored on its first possession, the Fighting Irish hurt their cause with five turnovers in the game.

Quarterback Peter Montera (8 of 18 for 120 yards) threw 3 interceptions and Kennedy fumbled twice--both leading to an Anaheim touchdown.

In short, Mountain--who accounted for all but 36 yards of Anaheim’s 244 total yardage--had plenty of opportunities to carry the ball.

“Our linemen did the job,” Mountain said. “They really executed well, and I started reading the holes a lot better. But their defense gave us the ball so many times, and we just capitalized on it.”

Mountain scored Anaheim’s first touchdown with 57 seconds remaining in the first half. After Anaheim defensive end Ismael Lopez recovered a fumble on Kennedy’s 23-yard line, Mountain carried the ball 5 consecutive times, scoring on a 2-yard run up the middle.

Although Mountain came out in the second half wearing a different numbered jersey--he traded No. 44 in for No. 45 when his original jersey was ripped in the first half--it didn’t take the Kennedy defense much time to realize that it was Mountain who was carrying the load again.

Mountain scored on Anaheim’s first possession--one set up after Anaheim’s Eric Raidmae recovered a fumble on the Kennedy 23--with 9:54 remaining in the third quarter. Mountain rushed 4 times in a row, scoring on a 1-yard run to give the Colonists a 14-7 lead.

Kennedy (1-1-1) could not answer Anaheim’s drives. Although Montera had a few bright moments, the rest of his night was dimmed by miscues and missed blocks. Anaheim defensive back Sam Serna intercepted Montera on 2 consecutive attempts, and Steve Gorton added another interception late in the fourth quarter.

That final interception--caught and brought down at midfield--led to Anaheim’s third and final touchdown. Mountain carried the ball 5 times to the 12-yard line, and Justin Wons caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Dan Pacillas for a 21-7 lead.

Ed Williams, a junior, led Kennedy’s ground game with 56 yards in 14 carries. Williams scored the Fighting Irish’s only touchdown on a 1-yard run up the middle with 6:48 remaining in the first quarter.