Kennedy's triumph tempered by injury

ANAHEIM - Kennedy’s season opening 39-14 victory over Lakeside of Lake Elsinore at Western High on Thursday night ended earlier than both teams would have liked.

With 1:25 left in the fourth quarter, the officials called an end to the game, as Lakeside of Lake Elsinore linebacker James Fortin lay motionless on the field after what appeared to be a routine tackle.

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Fortin, a senior, didn’t move for approximately 10 minutes before he lifted his legs. He was eventually taken off the field on a stretcher and transported to UCI Medical Center.

“He said there was some pain in his neck so they took every precaution,” Lakeside coach Trevor Watters said. “It looked like he went low, and it looked almost like a whiplash. His legs were moving and that’s what is important.”

Watters coached and graduated from Kennedy. Lakeside competes in the Sunbelt League.

For the current Kennedy squad, the starting point for the success can be pointed to the defensive unit.

First, senior defensive end Chris Zamora recorded three sacks and senior linebacker Alex Jacobsen seemed to be everywhere on the field.

In the fourth quarter, with Lakeside threatening to cut into a 27-14 score, Jacobsen scooped up a Sean Cabrera fumble and raced 68 yards and a touchdown and a 33-14 lead.

Lakeside had scored late in the third quarter and had moved the ball to the Kennedy 30, before Jacobsen recovered the fumble.

In the second quarter, Jacobsen blocked a punt and recovered the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown. He added a 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth.

“The defense was big tonight,” Jacobsen said. “TJ Curran, Eli Pleasant, (Chris) Zamora … everybody.”

Andrew Nguyen capped the defensive effort with a fourth-quarter interception.

On offense, Pleasant struck twice for touchdowns (five and 10 yards). He also had one of 77 yards wiped out because of a penalty on Kennedy.

In all, Pleasant had six receptions for 103 yards.

Kennedy will play host to Gahr of Cerritos next week in a nonleague game.