Kennedy Wins to Clinch a Share of the Title

Kennedy clinched a share of the Empire League title with a 21-8 victory over Century Friday night at Western High School.

After struggling to a 3-3 start and losing their league opener to Katella on Oct. 16, the Fighting Irish rebounded with four consecutive league victories. The way Kennedy played down the stretch was the way Coach Mitch Olson expected them to play all season, he said.

After the loss to Katella, the Fighting Irish (7-3, 4-1) had a team meeting. That was a turning point, quarterback Gabriel Roman said.

“At practice we were more intense,” he said. “We finally just started to put it together.”

Olson said there was no change in coaching strategies or game plans.

“All of a sudden, you turn it around and it’s like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Olson said.

The Irish took advantage of an early Centurion fumble to lead, 7-0. The Irish went 46 yards and finished the drive with a six-yard touchdown pass from Roman to Andre Banks.

Two possessions later, the Irish had a six-play drive that ended on a 25-yard touchdown run up the middle by Joe Magallanes. In the second quarter, Roman hit Banks on a slant pass for a 39-yard touchdown.

The Centurions (2-8, 0-5) finished the season winless in league for the second consecutive year. They got their touchdown on a two-yard run by Ramiro Carasa.