Jacob Tunstill and Mason Rychetsky are back for Kennedy, and that was enough for the Crusaders to pull out a season-opening win.
Tunstill had two catches for 39 yards, while Rychetsky had a rushing touchdown and a passing TD in Kennedy’s 15-8 win against Clemente on Aug. 28 at Rockne Stadium.
Rychetsky, a junior who had been at Kennedy earlier in his high-school career, was the JV quarterback for Class 3A state champ Montini last fall before transferring back to the Crusaders in time for baseball season this spring.
Tunstill was pressed into service at quarterback last year, but broke his collarbone in Week 3 and missed the rest of the season. The senior is back at slot receiver this season.
“I’m hungry, I’m still hungry,” Tunstill said. “I want the ball way more. I could do way more. … We’re still a brand-new team and we’re just gonna learn off that.”
Clemente took an 8-0 lead on a 50-yard pick-six by Immanuel Patterson midway through the first quarter, but Kennedy’s defense pitched a shutout and allowed just 43 net yards.
Rychetsky’s 15-yard TD pass to Kavarion McCarter at 7:39 of the second quarter helped tie the score at 8. Then Rychetsky’s 1-yard sneak with 2:24 left in the third put the Crusaders ahead. That score was set up by a 32-yard pass from Rychetsky to Tunstill.
“It’s really fun,” Rychetsky said. “We have a great core of people here and we just have to keep putting our best foot forward and keep going out there and competing.”
Rychetsky was 4-of-12 passing for 73 yards and one TD with one interception. Victor Sandoval added 56 yards on 12 touches.
Kennedy coach Robert Albano likes what he’s seen of Rychetsky so far.
“Talent-wise, (he’s) phenomenal,” Albano said. “Kept his composure pretty well. Despite the early turnover, his teammates picked him up. They did a great job of rallying around him.
“We made a little change at O-line, which secured us up a little bit and gave us a little more protection.”
Back of the Yards 6, Vocational 6: Marko Franco had eight carries for 56 yards for Back of the Yards at Eckersall Stadium, while Sebastian DePaz caught three passes for 61 yards. Oscar Costa scored the Bobcats’ touchdown on a 1-yard quarterback sneak.
Foreman 32, Kelly 14: Gael Medrano had a 15-yard interception return for a TD for Kelly and Juan Jamaica rushed for a touchdown at Hanson Stadium.
Goode 56, Collins 22: Senior Quaylen Dobbs set a program record with five touchdowns, four on runs and one on a reception, for the Knights at Rockne Stadium. He ran 12 times for 80 yards and caught one pass for 31 yards. Aedan Cleveland had seven carries for 171 yards and two TDs.
Hubbard 20, Hansberry 14: Senior Sebastian Gomez had touchdown runs of 3 and 44 yards to lead the Greyhounds to victory at Stagg Stadium. Sophomore Jaquan Pickett had two of Hubbard’s three interceptions, returning one for a TD, and senior Jamari Bryant had the other.