Hernandez’s Kick Helps Sylmar Boot Kennedy

Penalties came in waves, 19 in all. There were long touchdown runs for both sides, plus player ejections for fighting, and yet Friday night’s nonleague game between Sylmar High and Kennedy came down to a 33-yard field-goal attempt in the fourth quarter by Sylmar’s Daniel Hernandez.

Under pressure, Hernandez delivered to help the Spartans claim a 16-14 come-from-behind victory in a season opener.

Hernandez needed to convert to escape from Coach Jeff Engilman’s doghouse. After missing a point-after conversion earlier in the game, Hernandez figured if he missed the potential game-winner he might as well start walking home.

“I was so scared,” Hernandez said. “I just wanted to kick through the ball . . . I didn’t even want to look up.”

Hernandez was relieved to hear the cheers of his teammates as his kick sailed just inside the left upright, giving Sylmar a two-point lead with 9 minutes 5 seconds remaining.

The second meeting between the teams in as many seasons had the same intensity as last year’s 7-7 tie.

Kennedy scored on the game’s opening possession on a two-yard run by Antwane Smith.

Sylmar answered on its second possession with Greg Marquez’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Turner tying the score, 7-7.

Kennedy missed a chance to take a lead into the locker room at halftime when Robert Cervantes’ 32-yard field goal missed with 49 seconds left in the half.

The teams traded punts to open the second half. But on the first play of Sylmar’s second possession, Floyd Chalk bolted around a block by wingback Durell Price and streaked 90 yards down the Sylmar sideline for a touchdown. Hernandez’s extra-point try missed and Sylmar clung to a 13-7 lead--which lasted all of about 45 seconds.

Smith, who gained 83 yards in 13 carries, took a quick pitch on the Golden Cougars’ first play and bolted up the middle for a 63-yard touchdown. Cervantes’ extra point gave Kennedy a 14-13 lead.

Sylmar shut down Kennedy in the fourth quarter. The Golden Cougars, who gained 165 yards in the first three quarters, gained only seven in two possessions in the final period.

The Spartans gained 190 of their 263 yards in the second half.

Price was keyed on all night and finished with 65 yards in 19 carries. He was dropped for losses six times.