Carter Closes With a Rush to Spark Kennedy to Win

Ontiwaun Carter rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to lead Kennedy High to a 36-2 nonleague football victory over Narbonne at Kennedy High on Friday night.

Carter was having a below-average night, rushing for just 27 yards in seven carries in the first half. Nevertheless Carter, a 5-foot-10, 176-pound senior, scored the Golden Cougars’ first touchdown in the second quarter, breaking free from three defenders on a four-yard scamper into the end zone.

Carter, who finished with 148 yards and three touchdowns in 18 carries, scored again the next time he touched the ball, going 26 yards on a sweep around the right side. But the touchdown was called back because of an illegal block.

Kennedy’s defense, which was penalty-prone in the first half, was simply outstanding in the second half. Senior linebacker Viliami Langi made life tough on Narbonne’s backfield, recording three sacks and recovering a fumble in the Gauchos’ end zone for a touchdown after a bobbled punt snap.

The Gauchos could go nowhere in the second half, rushing for minus-10 yards.

“The defense allowed us to experiment offensively,” Kennedy Coach Bob Francola said .

And experiment it did.

Bobby Rodgers intercepted a pass at the Gaucho 18 and ran 82 yards for what he thought was a touchdown. But he had mistakenly run the wrong way after picking off the pass and ended up giving the Gauchos two points on a safety with 1:56 to play.

Kennedy quarterback Mike McMullen completed six of seven passes for 53 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown pass to Eli Raphael in the third quarter.