Kaiser Beats Northwood in Battle of Rookies

Kevin Carr rushed for 250 yards and two touchdowns to lead Fontana Kaiser to an 18-12 victory over Northwood Friday night at Irvine High School.

Carr’s performance spoiled the first varsity football game for Northwood, which led most of the game, but finally wore down in the fourth quarter. It also was the first varsity game for Kaiser.

Northwood Coach Rick Curtis said before the game that he hoped opening night would be a learning experience for his team. If Northwood hopes to improve, it will need to learn to stop the run.

Carr piled up yardage mostly by running straight up the middle. He had eight runs of more than 10 yards including his first carry that went for 31.

“We know our kids will make mistakes,” Curtis said. “We’re hoping to get a big improvement between our first and second games and then we’ll be on our way.”

Northwood took a 7-6 lead in the first half. The school’s first varsity touchdown was set up when Tyler Smith recovered a Kaiser fumble at the Cats’ 43.

Two plays later, quarterback Dan Tomcheck hooked up with Andy Meyer for a 29-yard gain to the Kaiser eight, and two plays after that, Meyer bounced outside for an eight-yard score with 9 minutes 54 seconds left in the first quarter.

Carr’s one-yard run pulled the Cats to within one just before the half.

Tomcheck’s 30-yard field goal made it 10-6 with 11:11 left in the third, but two Edwin Nava field goals and another Carr touchdown gave Kaiser an 18-10 lead late in the game.

Northwood had one more shot after Kaiser center Steve Robles snapped the ball out of the end zone for a safety, but the TimberWolves were unable to mount a comeback.