Kennedy’s Zaragoza Rises to Occasion

Matt Cassel, Chatsworth High’s heralded 6-foot-4 quarterback, came in with a sterling reputation and an undefeated football team.

But it was 5-9, 145-pound Ruben Zaragoza who stole the spotlight in Kennedy’s surprising 28-10 victory over Chatsworth in the Northwest Valley Conference opener for both teams at Kennedy.

Zaragoza, a junior, completed 21 of 30 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for another touchdown and did his best to keep Chatsworth’s potent passing offense off the field in the second half.

The Golden Cougars (3-1, 1-0) overcame a 10-7 halftime deficit.

Zaragoza engineered a five-play, 80-yard scoring drive to give Kennedy the lead for good midway through the third quarter. The score came on a 41-yard pass play from Zaragoza to wide receiver Daron Taylor for a 14-10 lead.

The most crushing blow for Chatsworth (3-1, 0-1) came early in the fourth quarter when Zaragoza connected with wide receiver Sanders Trent on another 41-yard scoring play.

For good measure, running back Jason Jones scored on a four-yard touchdown midway through the quarter to put away the Chancellors.

Despite the outcome, Cassel still had a respectable performance. He completed 17 of 32 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown, and had a pass intercepted.

“We were just out of sync,” first-year Chatsworth Coach Bill Coan said. “They came at us and blitzed everybody and we were real flat.”

Kennedy outgained Chatsworth, 357 to 279.

Chatsworth was held to 10 points in the first half, its lowest total for a half this season.