Kennedy routs Katella

ANAHEIM Kennedy scored five touchdowns in the first quarter and its defense held Katella to 63 yards in the first half and forced three key turnovers as the Fighting Irish cruised to a 42-14 victory in the Empire League opener for both teams Thursday at Glover Stadium.

"Our strong point is our defense — it always has been," Kennedy coach Mitch Olson said. "But everything that could go wrong with (Katella) did go wrong and we were there to capitalize."

After building a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter, Kennedy scored three touchdowns in the final two minutes of the quarter while running just one play from scrimmage.

Christian Tekurio returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown and Eli Tekurio rumbled 23 yards into the end zone on the very next play after scooping up a Katella fumble on a passing play for a 28-0 lead.

Just 19 seconds later, after another Katella fumble, running back Corey Smith scored the first of his two touchdowns from 7 yards out.

Smith finished with nine carries for 101 yards rushing, all in the first half. Kennedy’s Zach Emde threw for a touchdown and ran for another.

The first of Katella’s two highlights came on the final play of the first half when Vince Peraza found a wide open Antuan Lara in the end zone for a 4-yard TD pass.

P.J. Papalii, who led the Knights with 83 yards rushing, added a rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com