There was plenty of excitement surrounding the Kennedy High football program over the past week.
That’s because the Eagles were playing in their first-ever state playoff game. Kennedy and a pretty good contingent of fans traveled to Fairfield University’s Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium on Tuesday night. It was there that the No. 8 Eagles took on the No. 1 Fairfield Prep Jesuits in a Class L quarterfinal game.
Kennedy knew what it was getting into playing against Prep. The Jesuits had over 100 players suited up on their sideline, and they showed off their talent and depth in a 51-8 win over the Eagles. Kennedy ended its season at 7-4.
“We saw plenty of film on that team, and they were good. They played well tonight,” Eagles coach Chris Sarlo said. “Their special teams played well. They blocked a punt. We saw that on film, they sent 10 guys every time against their opponents throughout the year, and we knew we had to take care of business with that. It’s hard to do when you don’t execute at their level.”
The blocked punt came with the Jesuits ahead, 14-0, in the first quarter. Prep scored on the next play and led, 21-0, after the opening 12 minutes.
Kennedy was forced into another punt situation as the first quarter ended, and it came out in punt formation to start the second quarter. Junior Jaydon Lopez took a snap as the upback, however, and gained seven yards on 4th and 4 for a first down. Lopez continued to make big plays when he hit senior Damian Elliott for a 32-yard gain down the Eagle sideline. On 4th and 3 from the Jesuit 32, Lopez powered for four yards and a first down. Senior Joe Fasano went 28 yards for a touchdown on the next play. Kennedy lined up in an unbalanced formation to the left on the extra point, and Caban took a pitch and ran to the corner for the two-point conversion. The Eagles had life, and it was 21-8 in favor of the Jesuits with 7:17 left in the first half.
Prep scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession and went ahead, 28-8, but Kennedy drove into home territory on its next drive. A pass interference call on a trick-play option pass from Fasano to Elliott put the ball at the Jesuit 14 with 43 seconds left in the half. Lopez threw incomplete on first down, Caban ran for three yards on second down to the 11, then another incompletion brought up 4th and 7 at the 11. Lopez threw a pass to Caban and he tried to make something happen, but he gained just a single yard and the Eagles turned the ball over on downs. Prep took a knee to send the game to halftime, forced Kennedy into a three-and-out on the first possession of the third quarter, then put the game away.
“They were able to stop our offense, which was run-heavy,” Sarlo said. “We were able to move the ball, so we were pleased. It was a good sign when we got a first down on the first play from scrimmage, but after that they made adjustments. We just got beat by a better team today, so we tip our hats to them.”
Kennedy was hampered by the loss of senior Danny Rodriguez, who left the game after one rush for three yards and didn’t return. The Eagles lose Rodriguez, Caban, Fasano and Elliott to graduation, along with Brendell Kelly, Jonathan Mattaboni, Demoni Linton, Javon Lewis, Josiah Love, Nickoi Leveridge, Jayden Rivera, Adonis Cole and Mhkei McKoy to graduation.
GALLERY: Here are my photos from Tuesday night’s game.
