ORANGE COUNTY / PREP FOOTBALL : Kennedy Gets Going in Second Half

Kennedy scored 24 consecutive points in the second half to defeat Savanna, 31-14, in a season opener Friday night at Glover Stadium.

Steve Yaden returned the second-half kickoff 95 yards to tie the score, 14-14. The Fighting Irish took the lead for good four minutes later, when Thema McKnight took a lateral from Yaden and raced 51 yards for a touchdown.

Kennedy Coach Mitch Olson said the difference was his team’s aggressiveness in the second half.

“We didn’t hit on offense or defense in the first half,” he said. “Suddenly, Yaden returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown and we get back into the ballgame.”

Kennedy had 309 yards in offense, led by running back Kelvin Beatty, who had 177 yards and two touchdowns in 24 carries.

The Irish defense held the Rebels to 49 yards in the second half and 216 overall.

Sophomore Marcus Jimmerson was responsible for most of the Savanna offense. He carried 28 times for 168 yards and scored on a 12-yard run with just under six minutes left in the half to give the Rebels a 14-7 advantage.

Next week, Kennedy (1-0) meets Anaheim (0-1) Friday at Western High, and Savanna (0-1) meets Sonora Friday at Glover Stadium. Sonora opens its season tonight against Santa Ana at Santa Ana Stadium.