HARD TO STOP: Pacifica's Josh Brannon powers his way through the Kennedy defense during the second quarter of the CIF Southern Division semifinal. CHRISTINA HOUSE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER |
Pacifica grinds way past Kennedy
The Fighting Irish stick to their power game to earn a shot at the Southern title.
ANAHEIM When Pacifica beat Kennedy the first time they played each other this season, Pacifica took advantage of some Kennedy turnovers to win that game.
This time, Pacifica simply muscled its way to victory.
"They just took it to us," Kennedy coach Mitch Olson said. "Plain and simple."
Josh Brannon carried 34 times for 222 yards, and the Pacifica defense got three interceptions as the Mariners beat Kennedy, 17-7, Saturday night in a CIF-Southern Section Southern Division semifinal playoff football game at Western High.
Pacifica (10-2) will play Cypress (9-3) in the Southern Division championship game Friday. The site will be announced Monday. It is Cypress' home game, and Cypress uses Western (Handel Stadium) for its home games.
Pacifica beat Cypress, 35-34, when they played in an Empire League game on Oct. 11 at Western.
Pacifica is seeking its first CIF football championship. The Mariners have been to CIF championship football games three times, most recently in 2002 when they lost to La Habra in the Division IX final.
Kennedy won the Southern Division championship last year.
The Mariners had beaten Kennedy, 27-14, in an Empire League game on Nov. 1. Pacifica quarterback Raymond Huizar figured the Fighting Irish would be motivated for revenge.
"We knew (Kennedy) would come back hard," he said, "and they hit us as hard as they can. But we outhit and outphysicaled them."
Pacifica tight end Nick Mahler had seven receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown, and had one of the Mariners' three interceptions. Tyler Ortiz and Raphael Huizar had the others.
After a scoreless first quarter, Kennedy took a 7-0 lead on a 32-yard pass play from quarterback Zach Emde to Tony Nunez. Nunez made a great stop-then-run move to get open, then after making the catch suddenly stopped again to avoid the safety, cut back toward the middle and ran into the end zone.
Pacifica tied it in that quarter on a 7-yard run by Raymond Huizar. That capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive that included five runs by Brannon.
The Mariners made it 14-7 with 56 seconds left in the first half. Raymond Huizar connected with Mahler on a 2-yard pass for the touchdown.
In the third quarter, Seth Trader kicked a 23-yard field goal to push Pacifica's lead to 17-7.
Pacifica committed some turnovers, losing the ball on fumbles and interceptions, but were on the right end of enough turnovers to keep momentum in its favor.
"Yeah, we made some turnovers," Pacifica coach Guy Gardner said, "but we got some, too."
Gardner said Pacifica's effort was a big factor in the victory.
"We're not that big," he said, "so we have to play hard. And we played hard tonight. I think we just made a few more big plays than Kennedy did, and Josh ran very hard."
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
| i like balls so does the rest of the kennedy team |
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| jman - Dec 04, 2007 04:22:41 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Pacifica, you've worked hard to get to were you are at - keep it up! The best team will win and both should be proud to have gotten to this point. Looking forward to a great game! |
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| PHS fan - Dec 04, 2007 08:47:43 AM | Remove Comment |
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| its ok because the irish already have a cif ring and when was the last time pacifica was even in the championship |
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| jman - Dec 04, 2007 08:16:35 AM | Remove Comment |
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| Have some faith! Cypress is on a roll - they will compete against Pacifica. this is anyones game and anyone that doesn't believe that is kidding themselves. Good luck phagotts! |
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| to CypressDad11 - Dec 03, 2007 02:34:21 PM | Remove Comment |
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| way to make it big boys i am extremely proud of you and hope you guys take it all but in the back of my mind i am really concerned about those mariners they look really good and i think they might beat us but either way i will be proud |
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| cypressdad11 - Dec 03, 2007 10:49:43 AM | Remove Comment |
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| The freeway league can also brag about having two reps in the Final. congrats to both leagues for dominating their divisions. |
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| Freeway Can - Dec 02, 2007 09:30:36 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Hey, who cares who wins? Cant you all just cellebrate the fact that all 4 Empire League teams made it past all other opponents to end up playing each other again? Cypress, Pacificia, Kennedy, Valencia are all winners in my book. Next week the Empire League comes out a winner no matter what the final score is. What other league can brag about that! |
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| Empire Dad - Dec 02, 2007 02:49:23 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Hey the truth.
Get over yourself.
Play the game on the field. Not off the field. |
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| ANHM - Dec 02, 2007 01:46:41 PM | Remove Comment |
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| OCFOOTBALL101 is a Mo'ron and d-BAG! Go Mariners! |
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| He Is - Dec 02, 2007 01:26:25 PM | Remove Comment |
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| The Truth is a LIE so mr truth go lay down or we will SMASH YOU CRUNCH BUNCH 1979 NEVER LIES Crunch Ya Later PaCIFica Mariners 2007 cif ss CHAMPS |
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| CRUNCH BUNCH 1979 - Dec 02, 2007 01:18:35 PM | Remove Comment |
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| WE ARE GOING TO THE SHIP WE ARE GOING TO THE SHIP WAY TO GO PACIFICA MARINERS YOU MEN BELONG ON THE SHIP AND HAVE EARNED THE SHIP MAKE YOUR LIFES DREAMS COME TRUE AND WIN THE CIF SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP WE ARE GOING TO THE SHIP WHERE ALL MARINERS BELONG FOREVER |
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| HENDERSHREK - Dec 02, 2007 01:10:31 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Both Pacifica and Kennedy are complete jokes. Pacifica will be absolutely humiliated in their next game, to the point where several boys will be crying. They have only made it this far because of their weak schedule. |
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| The Truth - Dec 02, 2007 11:58:56 AM | Remove Comment |
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| Way to play Pacifica. Can't wait for next week, as a supporter and player's mum, the Championship would be icing on the cake of a great season. |
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| Leslie Elliott - Dec 02, 2007 10:22:26 AM | Remove Comment |
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| This is pretty bad editing. The Register should be hiding behind a rock. Pretty Sad. Go Mariners! |
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| Nice Subheadline - Dec 02, 2007 09:16:26 AM | Remove Comment |
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| ha-ha that kennedy safety seems to like getting run over! i saw it happen in another video on ocvarsity. way to pound number 5. |
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| Nice hit - Dec 02, 2007 03:13:07 AM | Remove Comment |
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| Did Fryer think Kennedy would win? What a bad typo, ever hear of proof reading? Look at sub head line if you don't know what i mean. Go Mariners! |
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| proof read - Dec 02, 2007 01:51:05 AM | Remove Comment |
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| On another article I said Kennedy had no running game, tonight's stats proved that again. One dimensional teams don't win championships. Good luck Pacifica and Cypress next week. |
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| Remember - Dec 02, 2007 01:42:56 AM | Remove Comment |
