Taft’s Running Attack Proves a Bum’s Rush for Kennedy Defense

Kennedy High has sent 10 players to Division I colleges during the past 2 seasons, most of whom were standout defensive players.

The Golden Cougars, even when struggling offensively, usually have been able to carry their weight on the other side of the ball--until this season.

Kennedy, which entered Friday night’s Northwest Valley Conference game with Taft as the second-worst defensive team in the Valley among City Section teams, did not do much to stem the tide in a 43-7 Taft victory.

“We really stunk up the field on defense tonight,” Kennedy Coach Bob Francola said. “We’ve given up the home run all season, and we gave it up again tonight. We’ve got about 5 guys who want to play out there and the rest are content just to wear a uniform.”

Kennedy (3-2, 1-1 in conference play) gave up 405 yards as Taft turned a close, 14-7, game at the half into a rout with 230 yards in the second half. Taft (2-2, 1-1) moved the ball effectively on the ground, with tailbacks Kelvin Byrd and Matt Boardman combining for 248 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Boardman, a senior, set the tone on Taft’s first possession, racing 55 yards for a score on the game’s fifth play.

Byrd, who finished with 151 yards in 17 carries, has run for 474 yards in 4 games. Boardman, who played his first game in 2 years last week against San Fernando, finished with 97 yards in 12 carries.

“It’s a great combination,” Taft Coach Tom Stevenson said of the 2 senior tailbacks. “When Kelvin gets tired, Matt can come in and give us a different look.”

The two offer contrasting styles: Byrd is a bulldozer and Boardman is a cutting, slashing runner. And Boardman, 5-6, 125 pounds, a recruit off Stevenson’s varsity track team, has speed to burn.

“He can fly, no doubt about that,” Stevenson said. “He can run an 11.2 100 meters. Electronically timed.”

Boardman’s opening scoring run made the night easy for Taft quarterback Rich Cosentino, who completed 5 of 9 pases for 90 yards.

“We worked real hard on our intensity this week,” Cosentino said. “We had to come out and play hard this time, and the line really did the job.”

Boardman sent Kennedy backpedaling with the 55-yard dash down the right sideline for a 7-0 lead.

Kennedy pulled even with some razzle-dazzle in the second quarter. On third and 7 from the Taft 24, quarterback Tony Smets rolled right and appeared to be on his way to a 4-yard gain. At the last moment, however, on his way to the ground, he tossed a one-hop lateral to Antiwaun Carter, who had 58 yards in 17 carries. The sophomore tailback gathered the ball at the 20 and darted untouched into the end zone to tie the score, 7-7, with 5:08 left in the half.

It took exactly 60 seconds for Taft to strike again. Starting a drive from its own 38, Byrd raced 26 yards up the middle. On the next play, Cosentino hit a wide-open Doug Kougher at the 2 off play-action, setting up a dash up the middle by Bryd on the next play.