Smith’s Key Late Defensive Play Saves Kennedy

Kennedy defensive lineman Dane Smith tackled Buena Park running back Brian McDonald short of a first down at the Fighting Irish 10 with less than two minutes remaining and Kennedy held on to win, 6-0, in a nonleague game Thursday night at Buena Park High.

McDonald, who finished with 173 yards in 35 carries, rushed the ball 12 times on the Coyotes’ final drive, which lasted 11 minutes, but was stopped on a fourth and three.

“He’s (McDonald) got a lot of moves, said Smith, who missed practice most of the week because of an illness. “I was out of breath, but I knew I had to wrap him up, so I lunged at him and got him.”

With 1:49 remaining in the first half, Kennedy quarterback Gabriel Roman scrambled out of the pocket and completed a short pass to Andre Banks. Banks outran the secondary en route to an 85-yard touchdown play.

Buena Park (1-4) which had eighteen first downs to Kennedy’s five, had an opportunity to score early in the game, but linebacker Brian Phipps recovered McDonald’s fumble at the Irish 17.

“Credit the defense with this win,” Kennedy Coach Mitch Olson said. “We hung in there and took care of business when we had to.”

Kennedy improves to 3-2.