SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS: DIVISION VI : Kennedy Wins on Jensen’s Kick in Final Seconds

After a 6-year absence from postseason competition, Kennedy High School Coach Mitch Olson felt his team was due for a break. And the Fighting Irish got two late in the fourth quarter Friday night, resulting in a 17-14 victory over Estancia in the first round of the Southern Section Division VI playoffs.

Larry Jensen kicked a 27-yard field goal with 22 seconds left to give Kennedy (8-2-1) the victory.

The field goal was set up when Greg Hansell intercepted a deflected pass at the Eagle 15-yard line.

Estancia (7-3-1) appeared to have the game won with 2 minutes 51 seconds left. The Eagles had a 14-7 lead and Kennedy faced a fourth-and-21 situation.

But Fighting Irish quarterback Pete Montera completed a 51-yard pass to Tom Deep, which gave the Fighting Irish a first down on the Estancia 3. Two plays later, Kurt Lindquist scored on a 1-yard run. Jensen’s conversion tied the score, 14-14.

“We’ve been down for so long that we’re due for some luck and we were lucky on that play,” Olson said.

Estancia took the lead in the second quarter when Jack Pacheco recovered Montera’s fumble in the end zone. Marco Vazquez’s conversion made it 7-0.

Kennedy came back on its opening drive in the second half to tie the score. Montera threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Mike Moore.

Estancia regained the lead with 10:17 to play with a 10-play, 51-yard drive. Kevin Thomas scored on a 2-yard run.