Smith Scores 4 Touchdowns to Spark Kennedy to Victory

The North Hollywood High Huskies got to see more of highly rated Kennedy tailback Antwane Smith than they wanted Friday night. A lot more.

Smith, a junior, stormed past Husky defenders for 290 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns as the Cougars crushed North Hollywood, 37-7, in a nonleague game.

“In the first half we had a problem missing blocks,” Smith said. “But our passing game was working so well that it took a lot of the pressure off me and opened things up.”

Kennedy (2-1) led, 12-0, at the half and piled up 214 yards. Smith opened the scoring with an eight-yard run up the middle and Cougar quarterback Dan McMullen connected with Damian Thompson on a 44-yard touchdown pass play.

Husky quarterback Jesus Acosta finished the half without a completion in eight attempts and suffered an interception on his last pass before intermission. After Smith ran for his third touchdown four minutes into the third quarter, North Hollywood and Acosta made a small comeback. Operating from the shotgun, Acosta passed 37 yards to Bruce Gage to cut Kennedy’s lead to 18-7 with 11:30 to play.

But North Hollywood (0-3) made the mistake of sending the ensuing kickoff in Smith’s direction and he raced 93 yards up the middle for the clinching touchdown.

“I saw daylight, found the hole and just knew I was going all the way,” Smith said with a grin and a shake of his head.

With the game well in hand, Smith added his fourth touchdown on a 15-yard sprint around end, and backup tailback Adgar Maneses ran 58 yards for Kennedy’s last touchdown.

Smith finished with 175 yards rushing and McMullen completed 11 of 23 attempts for 171 yards and one touchdown.

Acosta completed five of 19 passes for 87 yards.