Special Teams Make Big Plays in Kennedy’s Rout

ANAHEIM —  Kennedy defeated Bolsa Grande, 49-10, to keep its playoff hopes alive in a Garden Grove League game at Western High. But it was far from a normal victory for the Irish.

Kennedy (4-3-1, 2-2-1 in league) scored touchdowns on a blocked punt, a fumble recovery, a punt return and a long pass. In all, the Irish scored seven times, yet managed only 117 yards of total offense.

“It was a bizarre game,” said Kennedy Coach Mitch Olson. “We made some big plays on special teams and all of a sudden, we have 28 points on the board.”

Kennedy’s Don Ballares opened the scoring, blocking Brian Baughman’s punt and returning it 40 yards for a touchdown with 6 minutes 19 seconds left in the first quarter. Ray Mobley added two more scores in the span of 21 seconds to make it 21-3. Mobley returned a punt 85 yards and, following a fumble recovery, added a six-yard run with 11:55 left in the half.

On the Irish’s fifth offensive play from scrimmage, quarterback John Guthrie found Jermaine Church for a 49-yard touchdown pass that made it 28-3.

Bolsa Grande (0-8, 0-5), which dressed just 20 players for the game, scored its only touchdown of the game on a one-yard run by Tae Kim. Earlier in the game, Carlos Martinez kicked a 25-yard field goal.