Lawson Helps Taft Trip Kennedy, 13-7

There’s a budding quarterback controversy in Los Angeles.

This time it doesn’t involve the Rams, the Raiders, UCLA or USC.

This quarterback controversy belongs at Taft High.

Taft Coach Tom Stevenson pulled a rabbit named Lamar Lawson out of his hat Friday night, and Lawson led the Toreadors to a 13-7 Northwest Valley Conference victory over Kennedy at Taft.

Lawson started the season as Taft’s No. 3 quarterback but moved up a notch after Jesse Menchaca suffered a broken leg two weeks ago.

Lawson was promoted to No. 1 with nine minutes to play and Kennedy and Taft tied, 7-7. Taft’s Darnell Hendricks had just recovered a fumble by Tavarus Logi at the Kennedy 39-yard line. On his second snap Lawson tossed a 12-yard completion to Hendricks.

Four plays later, Lawson broke free for a 12-yard touchdown run. Carlos Mansilla missed the extra point, but Taft (4-2, 3-1 in league play) held off Kennedy (4-3, 1-3) in the final six minutes.

“We just play the people we thought would do the job at the time,” Stevenson said, explaining his replacement of starter Karlon Mack with Lawson in the fourth quarter. “He came in and did the job and I’m proud of him.”

Lawson’s heroics overshadowed a fine effort by Kennedy tailback Ontiwaun Carter, who rushed for 184 yards in 32 carries.

Kennedy, which trailed, 7-0, at intermission, tied the score in the third period when Logi found a leaping Keith West with an 18-yard touchdown pass and West kicked the point-after.

Kennedy’s hopes were dealt a serious blow on the game’s first series when quarterback Mike McMullen, one of the area’s top City Section passers, was forced out of action with a dislocated shoulder.

Logi, a junior, replaced McMullen and completed just one of four first-half passes. Logi finished two of 11 for 35 yards and had two interceptions--both by Ruben Benitez.

Thus Carter was virtually the entire Kennedy offense in the first half, rushing for 78 yards in 16 carries.

Taft stopped the Golden Cougars’ 15-play opening-game drive when Tekro Blade and Mitchell Sand stacked up Carter for a two-yard loss at the Toreador five.

Taft then drove to the Kennedy 17 in 11 plays, helped by 33- and 16-yard pickups by Hendricks, who finished with 94 yards in 11 carries.

On fourth down from the Golden Cougar 17, Mack threw a pass over the middle that was tipped by Kennedy’s Alex Sawatzke into the arms of Hendricks for a touchdown. It was the only completion in the first half for Mack.

Mansilla’s conversion kick gave Taft a 7-0 lead, which it carried into the locker room at halftime.

Hendricks led Taft in the first half with 50 yards in six carries.