Kennedy Chills Out El Camino Real, 17-3
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GRANADA HILLS — Neither wind, nor rain, nor sleet and especially not El Camino Real High could stop Kennedy on Friday night.
In a freezing wind throughout the game and under a few sprinkles of rain during the fourth quarter, the Golden Cougars dominated defensively and defeated El Camino Real, 17-3, in a Northwest Valley Conference game at Kennedy High.
The Golden Cougars (5-2, 5-0 in conference) set up a potential conference title-deciding game against Taft next week. The Toreadors defeated San Fernando, 28-18, on Friday night, leaving Kennedy and Taft as the conference’s only undefeated teams.
El Camino Real fell to 4-3, 2-2.
“We needed this one,” said Bob Francola, Kennedy coach . “We had to play these guys tonight and they are a good team, but we know Taft is out there. Everything has been written about Taft, but we’re still the defending conference champs. They haven’t taken that away yet.”
The weather played a role in Francola’s game plan. Instead of displaying the torrid passing attack the Golden Cougars have used all season, Francola went to his running game.
Jaret Harris carried the brunt of the load, rushing for 145 and two touchdowns in 24 carries. His second touchdown, a 10-yard run with 10 minutes 9 seconds left to play, put the Golden Cougars ahead, 17-3.
The Golden Cougar defense, with All-City Section defensive back Waking Bailey, took over from there, allowing the Conquistadores only 44 yards in the fourth quarter. El Camino Real running back Quincy Wright, who rushed for 109 yards in 32 carries, had only three yards in 10 carries in the fourth quarter. He was stopped for negative yardage on five of those carries.
Kennedy got off to a 10-0 lead on a one-yard run by Wright, a score set up by his own 42-yard run two plays earlier, and a 30-yard field goal by Ramiro Esqueda.
The Conquistadores narrowed the gap to 10-3 on a 23-yard field goal by Philip Graham with four seconds remaining in the half.
The Golden Cougars were helped by good field position all game.
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