Giannini Wants Bye Instead of Kennedy

Montclair Prep football Coach George Giannini said Thursday that his team will not play Kennedy in the fall, despite a published report that said such a meeting had been tentatively arranged.

According to the report, the schools’ athletic directors had agreed to the Sept. 22 game, pending approval from Giannini. But Giannini is strongly opposed to the game.

“That report is absolutely premature,” Giannini said. “Right now, there’s no contract and there’s no game. I want to take a bye on the third week. In fact, I’m absolutely not leaning toward playing that game. I think I’m almost sure we’ll take a bye.”

Montclair Prep has scheduled nine games, including five against Alpha League opponents and three against nonleague foes Santa Paula, St. Genevieve and Simi Valley. Also included is a game against Oahu Farrington High in Honolulu as part of a tripleheader in Aloha Stadium in August.

Canyon and Crespi also are scheduled to play Hawaiian teams, pending approval by the Southern Section.

Southern Section rules allow for only 10 regular-season games, forcing the Mounties to take at least one bye--in either the first week of the season (Sept. 7) or the third (Sept. 21). Giannini said that he would rather play the first week and take the third week off.

“I would love to play Kennedy,” Giannini said. “But I want to do what’s best for our program. And that would mean taking the third week as a bye.”

Kennedy Coach Bob Francola said that his City Section team is willing to play if Giannini changes his mind.