Kennedy Stops Westminster Comeback Try

Kevin Ha lay on the ground, his face buried in the grass. Erick Arthur came over trying to console his Westminster teammate.

It was a painful finish for Westminster. Kennedy beat the Lions, 10-3, Friday night in the first round of the Southern Section Division V playoffs at Western High School.

Westminster (4-6) was on the Kennedy 27-yard line with fourth and 10 when the Lions’ Elijah McCarthy passed to Nathan Coelho for an apparent first down. Tommy Tuggle was called for holding.

McCarthy then scrambled, but was far short of the first down. Kennedy (8-3) then ran out the clock.

Westminster dominated statistically.

The Lions had 237 total yards to Kennedy’s 88. The Irish managed only 19 yards in the second half.

Kennedy Coach Mitch Olson said: “We had three drive-killing penalties. We had people drop the ball. I was perturbed at our execution.”

Kennedy got on the scoreboard first, on its first possession of the game, when Aaron Lewis made a 27-yard field goal with 8 minutes 54 seconds left in the first quarter.

Kennedy increased its lead to 10-0 when Joe Magallanes scored from three yards on fourth and one with 4:36 remaining in the second quarter.

Westminster came back and with no time remaining in the half, Dan Frey kicked a 27-yard field goal.