Kearny’s Scott Upends Mission Bay

Mission Bay’s Big D--its county-leading defense and proudest accomplishment this season--ran head on into a Big D of another kind Friday night at Mesa College.

Kearny’s Darnay Scott, a transfer student from St. Louis, had four catches for 55 yards and two touchdowns, one on a 92-yard kickoff return, to help silence Mission Bay, 30-10, in a pivotal City Western League football game.

“There’s no substitute for speed,” said Mission Bay Coach Dennis Pugh. “And he (Scott) obviously has it.”

Scott’s explosive kickoff return had a stunning effect on the Buccaneers who, with less than a minute to play in the second quarter, trailed the Komets by just 7-3.

“That touchdown before the half really hurt us,” said Pugh, who had enough problems with his top utility player--running back/receiver/defensive back Pat Betancourt--out of the game with a bad ankle.

“They relied a lot on (quarterback Andy) Guyader’s arm,” said Kearny Coach Willie Matson, whose Komets improved to 8-1, 4-0 and have only University City to play next week. “Dennis told me before the game that Betancourt was out. I thought he was kidding. With someone like him out, that hurt them a lot.”

Guyader, a sophomore, was four for 18 for 74 yards and threw three interceptions, two of which Kearny was able to capitalize on. Derrick Hardwick intercepted a Guyader pass in the third quarter, and the Komets took over on their own 28 with just over six minutes remaining. Eight plays later, Larry Thurman kicked an 18-yard field goal to make it 24-3.

In the fourth quarter, Munchie Brown picked off a pass intended for Caprece Pressley to set up Kearny’s final touchdown. Quarterback Tommy Rawlins (10 of 15, 107 yards, three touchdowns) found Scott wide open and lobbed him a 10-yard pass to make it 30-10. The extra point failed.

“I just found a lot of holes,” Scott said, “I’m very happy, but this wasn’t my best game.”

Mission Bay’s only touchdown came early in the final period, when Schearon Stewart ran 16 yards up the middle. Brent Kirsten’s kick made it 24-10.

Rawlins hopes the victory, coupled with a victory next week against University City, will give the unranked Komets some credibility when playoff seeding time comes.

“There aren’t too many teams in the county that are 8-1 with a one-point loss (to Serra),” Rawlins said.