Kennedy Posts Unsatisfying Victory

Kennedy Coach Mitch Olson won’t give back his 28-10 victory over Magnolia at Western High, but its doubtful he did much celebrating Thursday night.

Olson agonized in the press box while watching his team make a variety of mental and physical mistakes. Fortunately for Olson, Magnolia made the more significant mistakes as it fumbled twice inside its 20 yard-line in the first half.

Kennedy (1-1) scored touchdowns off both fumbles and ran the ball effectively enough in the second half to manage a victory. But afterward, Olson talked like a loser.

“It wasn’t very satisfying,” Olson said. “They took it to us. I’m not real happy. The way we played, we were lucky to win. We didn’t play smart.

“The thing that bothers me the most is the guys that are supposed to be carrying us are not doing the job.”

The Fighting Irish were coming off a respectable 24-14 loss to Los Alamitos, and Olson said that game was still on his team’s mind.

“They thought they were special after that game,” Olson said. “We were flatter than a pancake. If not for their fumbles, we might have lost.”

Magnolia, which took a 3-0 lead, lost its first fumble on a reverse by Jesse Blizalde at its 11. Two plays later, Charlie Marino scored the first of his three touchdowns from two yards out with two minutes left in the first quarter.

Kennedy appeared ready to score again, but fullback Darrin Martineau fumbled on Magnolia’s two. Magnolia returned the favor five plays later when running back Tony Iliescu fumbled on his 19. Martineau scored two plays later on a 14-yard run.

Magnolia (1-1) scored on a 16-yard pass from Robert Nichols to Eric Webber with eight seconds left in the half, but it never mounted a serious drive in the second half.

Marino (18 rushes, 118 yards) scored on runs of two and 44 yards in a second half that was interrupted for 15 minutes because of a power outage that darkened the field lights and the scoreboard.