HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : El Camino Real Leaves With Familiar Feeling

One week after experiencing the thrill of victory for the first time in three years, El Camino Real High reverted to the all-too-familiar role of the vanquished.

The Conquistadores, who broke a 24-game winless streak last week against Westchester, lost to Kennedy, 28-12, Friday night in the Northwest Valley Conference opener for both teams at Kennedy.

It was Kennedy (3-1) that started El Camino Real’s dubious streak nearly three years ago.

A power failure blackened the stadium for 15 minutes late in the third period with the Golden Cougars leading, 14-0, and when the lights came on again, El Camino Real surged for a pair of touchdowns. Quarterback Steve Smith threw scoring passes of 13 and 63 yards to Lucius Beal to pull the Conquistadores (1-2) to within two, 14-12. Both conversion tries failed for the Conquistadores.

But when El Camino Real punter Peter Pistone faked a punt at his own 20 and was tackled three yards short of a first down, it was lights out for the Conquistadores.

El Camino Real co-Coach Ralph Stam said Pistone had plenty of time to punt the football.

“We did some free-lancing tonight,” Stam said. “We just did not play disciplined football.”

Sophomore running back Antiwaun Carter (136 yards in 20 carries) scored on a 25-yard run on the ensuing play, and Jason Rosen’s kick put Kennedy ahead, 21-12, with 6:08 left.

Carter scored Kennedy’s final touchdown on a 15-yard run.

Kennedy scored the only points of the first half on a 4-yard pass from Tony Smets to Carlos Gomez. It was Smets’ only completion of the half in 8 attempts.