In a Rush, Kennedy Grounds Valencia

Kennedy High’s football team knew it needed to keep the ball on the ground in order to win Friday against Valencia, and that is exactly what it did in its 28-18 victory at Valencia High.

Kevin Beatty, the Fighting Irish’s lone ball carrier, rushed 38 times for 136 yards.

“We don’t always run as much as we did tonight,” Kennedy Coach Mitch Olson said. “We just do what we need to do against each particular team.”

Valencia struck first, scoring with 9 minutes, 45 seconds remaining in the first quarter on a 33-yard pass from Brian Bartczak to Giovanni Alvarez-Mena.

The Tigers tried to go for two points, but the conversion failed.

Kennedy struck back when Beatty scored his first touchdown of the game with 11:56 remaining in the second quarter.

“I have to give a lot of the credit to my offensive line,” Beatty said. “They made the holes for me and I just ran through them.”

The Fighting Irish’s passing game got into the action when quarterback Geoff Fierrson hit Jaiya Howie with a five-yard touchdown pass to make the score 14-6 at the half.

Fierrson threw his second touchdown pass of the game with 2:25 left in the third quarter, hooking up with Ryan McKnight on a 22-yard play for a 21-6 lead.

Less than two minutes later, Valencia scored on a three-yard run by Sal Mora to make the score 21-12. Valencia again went for two, and again failed.

Beatty scored his second touchdown of the game with 8:26 left in the fourth quarter, putting Kennedy up 28-12.