Church Atones for Fumble, Lifts Kennedy Over Santiago

ANAHEIM —  Vince Church doesn’t particularly like playing tailback, but the Kennedy High School cornerback/linebacker has played the position since senior Ed Williams went out with a season-ending knee injury in the Garden Grove League opener.

Church, a junior, liked it even less after his first-half fumble led to a Santiago touchdown. But he didn’t let it stop him from doing his job, as he returned the opening kickoff in the second half a school-record 97 yards for a touchdown and scored on an 11-yard run as Kennedy (3-4, 2-2) defeated Santiago, 31-19, Thursday night in front of 250 at Western High School.

“I was upset,” Church said of his first-half fumble at the Kennedy 40. “I just thought I had to do better. I pretty much felt it was my fault on the fumble, and I had to get the team back up.”

He did, running 97 yards to tie the score. “I was going up the middle and I saw a guy cut in, and James Chun made a nice block and I turned it upfield and it was all sideline from there,” Church said.

Kennedy scored its first touchdown just before the half on Kurt Lindquist’s eight-yard run. Kennedy held Santiago (2-5, 1-3) scoreless in the second half until Mike Carrasco connected with Todd Devaney on a screen pass for a 43-yard score with 45 seconds remaining.