Kennedy football takes back Tina Trophy to continue successful season

It may have been just the fourth game of the season, but the Kennedy football team’s 47-30 win over traditional rival Granada Hills Charter felt different Friday night.

It always feels different.

The two schools, separated by just three miles, play every year for the chance to bring home the Tina Trophy.

The trophy had been in the Highlanders’ possession the past two seasons, but thanks in large part to a career performance from Kennedy quarterback Diego Montes, the Golden Cougars brought the trophy back to their campus.

“We lost to them back-to-back years, not very close games. But everyone on the team wanted it,” Montes said, referring to the Tina Trophy. “That was my motivation. That’s been my motivation all year. And to see my teammates’ reactions, my reactions, the coaches and the students and everyone in the crowd. It was perfect.”

“Yeah, that’s the big thing, you know, because they got us the last two years. That’s really the biggest thing from the student body,” Kennedy head coach Troy Cassidy said. “It was a lot of fun Monday to walk around school and be back in class with these kids because they were so excited. That’s been the talk of the school the last couple of days.”

Montes was efficient in the air and completed 10 of 17 pass attempts for 202 yards and two touchdowns.

But it was his ground game that really stood out.

The first offensive play of the game for Kennedy, Montes broke off a 31-yard run.

He ran for an 83-yard touchdown, a career-best for the junior quarterback.

“The big thing is, he’s just a true dual-threat quarterback,” Cassidy said about his quarterback. “He was able to complete some big passes downfield and then just be able to use his legs and arm throughout the night. It was the best game of his career for sure. He’s loved by his teammates, leading by example. He’s a 4.5 student. Just a special kid.”

Montes’ two main targets, seniors Amare Rhodes and Giovanni Nelson, each caught one of his touchdown throws.

Rhodes finished with two catches for 54 yards. Nelson totaled 126 yards on five receptions.

What might have been even more consequential than Nelson’s stats was a play that doesn’t show up in the box score – his crucial block on Montes’ 83-yard run.

“A big shoutout to number 11, Giovanni Nelson. That guy, if he doesn’t block that, I’m not scoring. He blocks that guy, he forces him inside and I cut outside,” said Montes, who also credited the offensive linemen. “The safety goes over him, which allows me to go and put my foot in the ground and cut back and run right by them all. They had just scored in a couple of plays, but I think that run completely sucked the life out of them. An amazing play call and an amazing block.”

The Golden Cougars (2-2) have faced a challenging nonleague schedule, with matchups against San Pedro and Calabasas. Despite the losses, Cassidy is confident that facing tough competition early in the season will help Kennedy be better prepared against its Valley Mission League opponents and to make a postseason run.

Kennedy finished 6-0 in league last year and is looking to duplicate that outcome. The team has already accomplished one of its goals for the season, reclaiming the Tina Trophy.

Now it’s on to a home matchup against Reseda on Thursday, the next step in repeating as the Valley Mission champions.

“We have three goals in our season. One is Tina. The second one is league The third one is another City championship,” Montes said. “I was there for the first one. It felt great. But that was Division II. And honestly, I think with our guys this year, we can hang in Division I. And I want to go far in Division I. I don’t want to be a first-round exit again.”