GARDEN GROVE Shaking off a slow start, Kennedy and wide receiver Tony Nunez unleashed their quick-strike capability during the second quarter Friday en route to a 34-0 victory over Santiago in a CIF-SS Southern Division first-round playoff game at Garden Grove High.

The second quarter began with Steven Salazar’s 1-yard touchdown run, which capped a 20-play, 66-yard drive for the Fighting Irish (7-3) that ate up most of the first-quarter clock.

It continued from there, though, as Kennedy’s next possession ended on its sixth play, a direct snap to Nunez that he ran 13 yards around left end for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

Nunez struck even faster after an ensuing fumble by Santiago (8-3), blowing past his defender on a deep route and cruising in for a 68-yard scoring strike from Zack Emde.

“It was a regular seam route, and I read the safeties and got wide open,” Nunez said. “I have some speed, but I just outplayed the corners.”

Salazar added a pair of second-half touchdown runs to provide the final margin for Kennedy, which advances to take on University in next week’s quarterfinals.

“It took time, but we got rolling,” Kennedy coach Mitch Olson said.

“Santiago came out tough, but we knew our defense would play well and keep us in the game.”

Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com