Kennedy Picks Up 28-7 Victory

VAN NUYS —  Kennedy, led by tailback Charlie Marino’s 111 yards and three touchdowns, defeated Van Nuys Montclair Prep, 28-7, in a Division VII playoff game Friday night at Los Angeles Valley College.

Marino also caught two passes for 61 yards and threw a 21-yard touchdown pass on an option play.

The performance put Marino over 1,000 yards rushing this season.

Marino opened the scoring for Kennedy (11-1) with an eight-yard run in the first quarter, capping a nine-play, 95-yard drive.

Montclair Prep (11-1) answered with a five-play, 77-yard scoring drive that was aided by two personal foul penalities against Kennedy. Sophomore Akil Anderson finished the march with a seven-yard touchdown run.

Anderson rushed for 177 yards in 25 carries. He was starting in place of Wilbert Smith, whose leg was injured last week.

A 10-play, 71-yard Mountie drive fizzled at the Kennedy two-yard line just before halftime.

Marino added scoring runs of 16 and three yards in the third quarter as Kennedy pulled away, 21-7. Wes Morris caught Marino’s scoring pass in the fourth quarter.

Kennedy’s next opponent will be Manhattan Beach Mira Costa (11-1). The defeat ended a string of 29 consecutive victories for Montclair Prep (11-1).