ANAHEIM – Kennedy broke open a tie with three fourth-quarter touchdown drives to defeat Western, 38-17, Friday night in an Empire League game at Western High.
Quarterback Adrian Quezada’s 47-yard scoring jaunt and Spencer Conover’s point-after kick put the Fighting Irish (5-3, 2-1) ahead for good, 24-17, with 8:39 left. Joey Ortega scored on an 8-yard run with 4:44 to play and added a 48-yard touchdown dash with 1:01 left.
The Pioneers (1-7, 0-2) had the momentum and the ball entering the final period. They had scored a touchdown on a hook-and-lateral with 32 seconds remaining in the first half to cut Kennedy’s lead to 17-14, and Rene Santillan’s 31-yard field goal tied it with 8:39 left in the third quarter.
Western had possession at the Kennedy 22 to open the fourth period, but the Pioneers gained 2 yards on two plays and faced a fourth-and-8 at the 20. Santillan’s 37-yard field-goal attempt for the lead sailed wide right.
Kennedy dominated on both sides of the ball in the final 11 minutes.
The Fighting Irish drove 80 yards on six plays, all on the ground. Quezada ran left and broke into the open for the 47-yard touchdown.
Kennedy’s fifth sack of Western quarterback Nick Zarate forced a punt from the 4 and Kennedy returned it 22 yards to the Pioneers’ 18. The Fighting Irish scored in four plays.
