EMPIRE LEAGUE : Myers Finds Redemption, and El Dorado Gains Victory

David Myers realized all that hero stuff is fleeting . . . but one minute?

That’s about the time between two plays Thursday night that had Myers, an El Dorado High junior, wondering what color hat he deserved to wear. So with his good name hanging in the balance, Myers pulled out one final positive big play, preserving the Golden Hawks’ 21-14 Empire League victory over Kennedy at Western High.

Playing defensive back, Myers batted away a 20-yard pass from Kennedy quarterback Jason Myles to running back Charlie Marino in the left corner of the end zone with no time remaining in the game. Myers, whose 11-yard touchdown run with 1 minute 8 seconds to play was the go-ahead score, was called for pass interference on the previous play, which would have been the game’s final play, setting up his chance for redemption.

“I was (angry),” said Myers, who had a game-high 92 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns. “I couldn’t believed (the officials) called that, but I wasn’t too worried because (Kennedy) wasn’t that close.”

El Dorado (5-4, 3-1 in league play), Kennedy and Loara are tied for first in league.

The loss stopped a seven-game winning streak for sixth-ranked Kennedy (7-2, 3-1). The Fighting Irish had not lost since dropping their season opener, 24-14, to No. 1-ranked Los Alamitos.

El Dorado rallied for the victory by outscoring Kennedy, 14-0, in the fourth quarter. Golden Hawk junior quarterback Mike Marzicola, who was nine of 15 for 133 yards and no interceptions, combined with senior tight end Mike Golebiowski on a 12-yard touchdown pass with 11:53 left in the quarter. Senior Jeff Stephens’ point-after tied the score, 14-14.