Carter Is Good to the Last Run : Prep football: Kennedy beats Crenshaw, 34-0, and draws ire of coach for leaving star back in for entire game.

Moments after watching his team lose, 34-0, to Kennedy High of Granada Hills Friday afternoon, Crenshaw football Coach Robert Garrett was angry.

Not at his team--at Kennedy Coach Bob Francola. Meeting at midfield for the traditional postgame handshake, Garrett wanted to know why Kennedy running back Ontiwaun Carter played the entire game.

“That’s a good way to get your star player hurt,” Garrett told Francola. “That’s not a very good coaching job.”

Carter is Kennedy’s leading rusher and one of the best running backs in the City. He gained 179 yards in 29 carries and scored three touchdowns against Crenshaw.

With Kennedy leading, 34-0, going into the fourth quarter, Francola replaced starting quarterback Mike McMullen with Tavarus Logi. Carter, however, stayed in and carried the ball in the last series of the game.

“Their coach probably had a good point (about not taking out Carter),” said an apologetic Francola. “I should have taken him out in the fourth quarter. Looking back, I realize I made a mistake.”

Carter scored on touchdown runs of 12, one and three yards. The senior back improved his season totals to 429 yards in 68 carries and nine touchdowns.

The City nonconference game at Crenshaw established Kennedy as a challenger in the 4-A Division, while Crenshaw appears to be rebuilding. Kennedy, The Times’ sixth-ranked City team, improved to 3-0. It has outscored the opposition, 106-2. Crenshaw, a playoff team last season, dropped to 0-2.

“I wouldn’t say I’m very disappointed at the outcome,” Garrett said. “But, certainly, I would prefer to be 2-0. This is just a young bunch of kids, and I knew it would take awhile to get them some playing experience. Give us a little time.”

Crenshaw generated little offense. The Cougars used three different quarterbacks who, combined, completed only one of 10 passes for three yards and four interceptions. Six running backs combined for 58 yards in 25 carries. Crenshaw also fumbled twice.

Kennedy mixed the run and pass. With Carter providing plenty of headaches for Crenshaw’s defense, McMullen was causing disarray in the secondary. He completed nine of 18 passes for 197 yards and one touchdown, a 42-yard bomb to Keith West.