Kennedy Upset Bid Falls Short Against Bishop Amat

Kennedy seemed to be in an almost perfect situation Friday.

The Fighting Irish, a Division V team, played at La Puente Bishop Amat, the 1995 Division I champion.

If Kennedy pulls off the upset it is hailed as a tremendous victory. If the Fighting Irish lose, well, so what? Bishop Amat was supposed to win.

Well, Kennedy gave Bishop Amat a game before falling, 35-28, in front 5,000 at Bishop Amat. The Lancers needed a touchdown in the game’s final two minutes to overcome three turnovers, 73 yards in penalties and a determined Kennedy team.

The Fighting Irish (2-1) showed why they are the county’s eighth-ranked team, getting an excellent outing from quarterback Tom Haas, who passed for 192 yards and two touchdowns.

But they could not protect an early two-touchdown lead from the Lancers (3-0) nor could they stop their biggest threats.

Bishop Amat running back Breon Ansley ran for 222 yards in 21 carries with three touchdowns and wide receiver Joey Getherall caught five passes for 115 yards, including the game-winning 32-yard touchdown with 1:24 to play.

It was the second consecutive week Getherall caught a winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter for Bishop Amat.

The Irish had one last chance, but Haas’ desperation pass was intercepted at the Lancer 45-yard line on the game’s final play.

Kennedy Coach Mitch Olson said before the game he believed the Irish had enough talent to compete with Bishop Amat, but their hopes depended on how physically they played.

“If we can hit with them, I feel we can stay in the game,” Olson said.

Kennedy showed it meant business from the start, scoring 14 points before Bishop Amat had a first down.

The Irish took the opening kickoff and drove 53 yards in seven plays, culminating with Jack Tucker’s 11-yard touchdown run through the middle of the Lancers defense. The point after touchdown was wide.

When the Irish got the ball back after a punt, they drove 68 yards in eight plays. The touchdown came on a 15-yard pass from Haas to Tucker on a fourth-and-six play. Haas fooled the defense with a fake handoff.

The Irish played nearly perfectly on defense most of the half. Twice they stopped Bishop Amat drives by forcing Lancer fullback Jeremy Juarez to fumble. And Garret Sabol thwarted a potential Bishop Amat touchdown by intercepting Kolle in the end zone.

But the Lancer offense was still turning the game’s momentum their way. And after recovering a Irish fumble at the Kennedy 38, they marched into the end zone in six plays, Ansley scoring from two yards out.