Fighting Irish Get to Houston and Send Ocean View to Sidelines

Kennedy’s defense not only survived Ocean View’s vaunted passing attack in its Division VI first-round game Friday night, but the Fighting Irish delivered a few blows of their own.

Kennedy sacked Ocean View quarterback Deshai Houston seven times, knocked him down countless others and intercepted two passes in a 35-15 victory over the Seahawks at Western High.

The Fighting Irish (8-3) advance to play La Mirada in the second round.

“The coaches said that the quarterback was real good and we had to pressure him,” defensive linemen Mike Knobbe said. “Our main goal this week was to get a lot of pressure on him.”

Houston, who had 33 touchdown passes coming into the game, got the ball off 45 times, completing 27 for 319 yards and two touchdowns. Pat Campbell caught nine of Houston’s passes for 71 yards.

Ocean View (7-4) outgained Kennedy in total yards by a slight margin in the first half (115-101), but couldn’t sustain any drives. Sacks halted each of the first three Ocean View drives.

The Seahawks put together a 10-play drive on their fourth possession and moved to the Fighting Irish 35, but three consecutive incomplete passes stopped the drive on downs. The Seahawks’ fifth possession ended when Houston was hit by Knobbe as he threw and the pass was intercepted by Kelvin Beatty.

“Our first-team defense wasn’t scored on in the last four games in league,” said defensive lineman Greg Smith. “Our defense is doing well; our offense is doing well; we just hope to keep on a roll.”

Kennedy began three consecutive drives in Ocean View territory in the first quarter, but didn’t capitalize until the third drive, when Ocean View’s Brett Crevda inadvertently touched a Kennedy punt as it was rolling to a stop and the Fighting Irish took over at the Seahawk 13.

Two plays later, Geoff Etherson hit Jaiya Howze with a nine-yard touchdown pass, giving the Fighting Irish a 7-0 lead.

Beatty, who had gained only one yard in his first five carries, gained 66 in his next four, including a 35-yard touchdown run to give Kennedy a 14-0 lead with 4:54 remaining in the first half.