New-look Komets light up Mar Vista
By Justin Lafferty
SPECIAL TO THE UNION-TRIBUNE
September 8, 2007
Kearny High players felt two new experiences last night: turning on the lights and shutting down the opponent.
In the first-ever night game at Kearny's on-campus Birt Slater Field, the Komets short-circuited the Mar Vista offensive attack en route to a 20-12 victory. In its season opener, Kearny held the Mariners to 132 yards of total offense in front of the largest crowd Komet head coach Alan Hood said he'd ever seen.
“We were hoping that the lights would bring some excitement back into the school, because the last several years they haven't been doing so well,” Hood said. “We're just trying to bring the spirit back. I definitely feel the lights worked tonight.”
Hood was trying to send the message that this a new team, one far removed from last year's 1-9 debacle, by adding portable lights around the field. He hoped that the energy flowing through the generators would work its way into the players as well.
Hood also brought in the lights so that more fans could come to games and get the spirit back up to where it was when he coached there in the late 80's.
“It's (really) different,” junior quarterback Bronson Kaimuloa said. “It kept the 'D' in it, it kept our confidence up and we got a win. It was like 100 times better out here than last year.”
The defense was the main factor for the Komets. Kearny was able to keep speedy Momo Williams in check, holding him to just 11 yards rushing. Mar Vista's passing attack, led by quarterback Anthony Cook, didn't fare so well either. Cook went 5-for-21 for 83 yards with one touchdown as time expired.
Kearny got on the board first with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Kaimuloa to junior receiver Marvin Jones. Mar Vista (0-2) was able to break up the shutout shortly before halftime as Greg Charlie returned an interception for a touchdown. Kearny took the lead for good thanks to third-quarter touchdown runs from junior Jonathan McClain and senior Branden Rogers.
Rogers led the Komets' rushing attack with 127 yards on 19 carries, the longest being the 32-yard touchdown run.
“I feel really good for these kids,” Hood said. “They had some tough times, some tough breaks, but tonight they hung in there and fought. What I wanted to focus on was just getting the pride back and holding the kids accountable, and I think they got their pride back.”