No Sweat for Scarbrough as Kennedy Wins, 40-21

Never mind that you couldn’t see him sweat. Donte Scarbrough wasn’t even breathing hard.

Even after 33 carries and 195 yards in Kennedy High’s 40-21 North Valley League victory at Granada Hills on Friday night, the 5-foot-8, 160-pound running back looked ready for a doubleheader.

“Everything was going good,” Scarbrough said. “Our linemen were kicking butt all day.”

In contrast to Scarbrough, the Highlanders (0-5, 0-2 in league play) performed valiantly but eventually tired. Granada Hills rallied from a 14-point deficit to tie the score at halftime, 21-21, but ran out of gas.

“We’ve got guys hurt,” Granada Hills co-Coach Tom Harp said. “A lot of guys are going both ways. Possibly we’re getting worn down.”

Scarbrough’s third touchdown of the game, a three-yard run with 1 minute 50 seconds left in the third quarter, gave Kennedy (2-2-1, 1-1) a 27-21 lead.

Granada Hills punted on its next possession, and Donte’s brother, Laron, returned the ball 25 yards to midfield. Three plays later, Kennedy quarterback Dan McMullen completed a 26-yard touchdown pass to Shaun Dudra with 9:17 left in the game.

Dudra caught 10 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns.

“Shaun Dudra’s a weapon,” Kennedy Coach Bob Francola said. “I think we mix the run and the pass as well as any team in the City Section.”

Granada Hills’ comeback attempt stalled when backup quarterback Brian Maclean’s pass on fourth and 10 from the Kennedy 14 was broken up by defensive back Ladell Shuler.

Maclean completed nine of 17 passes for 110 yards, with one interception and one touchdown, in place of Jimmy Landress, who suffered a slight concussion in the first quarter.

McMullen completed 12 of 20 passes for 152 yards with one interception and the two touchdowns to Dudra.