Alex Hernandez and Kavarion McCarter have been starting together for Kennedy for only four games, but their connection is impossible to miss.
Hernandez threw three TD passes to McCarter as the Crusaders opened Public League White West action with a 54-6 win against Hubbard on Sept. 10 at Rockne Stadium.
Hernandez, a junior, completed 7 of 12 passes for 132 yards, including scoring tosses of 43, 19 and 11 yards to McCarter. The senior had five catches for 102 yards for the Crusaders (4-0, 1-0). Hernandez also threw a 26-yard TD pass to Tony James.
“It’s just like bread and butter,” Hernandez said of his chemistry with McCarter. “I mean, (I’ve) got it with the rest of my receivers (too): JT (Jacob Tunstill), Vic (Victor Sandoval), Romeo (Sandoval), Tony.”
But what makes McCarter stand out?
“He’s just a big fella, that’s all I can say, to be honest,” Hernandez said of the 6-2, 205-pounder. “He’s a big kid, he’s a big receiver (who can) get open, create open space.”
McCarter credits the pair’s hard work for their early-season success.
“We worked over the summer, worked for years,” McCarter said. “I used to play with his brother as well. So like, he was there with his brother (with) little brother vibes. I just picked up off of that. …
“It’s like when he throws the ball, he knows it’s a catch. … Yeah, it’s an amazing connection.”
First-year Kennedy coach Deandre Mosley saw that and planned to put it to good use this fall.
“I love what I’m seeing from (Hernandez),” Mosley said. “We didn’t throw the ball too much last year and I was worried — the more times we throw, how many picks will we throw?
“But again, over the summer, I put him in a lot of defensive looks. A lot of two, three this side, rolling down safeties, trying to disguise coverage. And I really feel that paid off. Alex taking the time to really read the defense, take what they give him instead of having a favorite receiver — that takes a lot of pressure off of us. If he’s just targeting 8 (McCarter) all day, then obviously everybody knows 8. But he spreads the ball around.”
The Crusaders also can run the ball when needed. Victor Sandoval had nine carries for 50 yards against Hubbard (2-2, 0-1).
Kennedy also had two touchdowns on special teams. Julian Chavez scooped up a Hubbard fumble on a kickoff return and ran it back 11 yards for a score, and Tunstill returned a punt 40 yards for a TD.
The win moved Kennedy closer to a third consecutive IHSA playoff berth. As a White division team, the Crusaders can qualify one of two ways: by winning their conference or by finishing second and winning a Week 9 crossover against a Red division team.
“We’re looking at the path of least resistance,” Mosley said. “And that’s finishing undefeated (in the regular season). We definitely feel we can do that but every week is Amundsen week to us. The work we did to beat Amundsen (in Week 3), we’re trying to emulate that every week.”
Hubbard had yet another highlight from junior Prince Johnson, who ran a kickoff back 85 yards for his 10th touchdown of the season.