Kennedy Says Goodby to League With Victory

Kennedy played its final Garden Grove League game Friday night. The Irish will play next season in the Empire League.

The way Kennedy (9-1, 8-0) dominated the league this season, the other teams probably will be glad to see the Irish go.

None more so than La Quinta.

Kennedy, paced by Charles Marino’s three touchdowns, beat La Quinta, 35-7, at Bolsa Grande High.

“I have mixed emotions about leaving the league,” Kennedy Coach Mitch Olsen said. “The people and coaches have been great.”

The same could be said about Marino.

The 5-foot-11, 190 pound junior running back rushed for 81 yards in 14 carries and scored on a five-yard run with 4 minutes 41 seconds left in the first quarter to give Kennedy a 6-0 lead.

Chris Clark kicked the first of five conversions. He also had 62 yards in five carries.

Kennedy increased its lead to 14-0 when Clark passed 53 yards to Wes Morris.

La Quinta (2-8, 1-6) cut the lead in half when Jason Gondringer caught a nine-yard pass from C.J. Livernois. But that was the closest the Aztecs got.

Morris caught another touchdown pass from Clark, this one from three yards to give Kennedy a 21-7 halftime lead.

Marino then scored two touchdowns in the third quarter on runs of two and 14 yards. The second score was set up when Jason Myles recovered a fumble.

Kennedy outgained La Quinta in the first half, 205 yards to nine. But the Irish hurt themselves by fumbling the ball five times and losing three.