In Position to Overcome Chatsworth, Kennedy Fails

Chatsworth High tailback Nestor Davila freely admits he was just trying to “grind it out” Friday night.

Before the Northwest Valley Conference game was over, his teeth were grinding as well.

Despite having possession three times at midfield or better in the fourth quarter, Kennedy failed to score and Chatsworth hung on to win a nail biter, 14-8, at Kennedy.

The victory gave Chatsworth a share of the West Valley League championship with Taft.

The defeat might have left Kennedy (4-6, 4-3 in league play) out of the playoff picture. The Golden Cougars finished third in the North Valley League and will have to hope for a wild-card berth at Sunday’s seeding meeting.

Chatsworth (6-4, 4-3) called Davila’s number on 27 running plays, and he responded with 163 yards and a touchdown.

The Chancellors trailed, 8-7, when Tuan Bahn intercepted a pass by Kennedy quarterback John Toven at the Golden Cougar 39-yard line with 11 minutes 20 seconds remaining.

Chatsworth, which had lost three consecutive games, used a 17-yard run by Davila to set up a three-yard scoring pass from David Muir to Robert Webb for a 14-8 lead with 9:34 to play.

Toven passed for 163 yards but threw three interceptions--and Bahn’s interception was not the most costly. After forcing a Chatsworth punt with 1:51 remaining, Kennedy took possession at the Chancellor 49. Two plays later, cornerback Desmond Armstrong intercepted a pass by Toven at the 21 to seal the win.

Kennedy was playing without its two most productive running backs, Donte Scarbrough and Reggie Martin, both of whom are lost for the season. Scarbrough was suspended Friday for disciplinary reasons and Martin has been declared academically ineligible.

Kennedy scored its touchdown on a play-action bootleg by Toven, who connected with Rick Nadeau on a 59-yard pass for a 6-0 lead with 4:32 left in the first quarter. The Golden Cougars lined up for the point-after attempt, but the snap to holder Kenny Bernas was high. Bernas corralled the ball in midair and bolted around the left end for two points.

Chatsworth answered early in the second quarter on a one-yard plunge by Davila. He set up the score with a 32-yard run.