The Kenmore High School continues the resurgence in their high school football program with a convincing 21-0 win over the North Vikings Thursday night at InfoCision Stadium.

Kenmore improves their record to 4-2 overall, 2-1 in the City Series.  North remains winless on the season at 0-6 and 0-2 in the City Series. 

The Cardinals got on the scoreboard in the first quarter. Using their ground attack featuring Justin Jones and Willie Johnson, Kenmore took the ball from their 45 yard line to the North 25.  On the next play, Kenmore quarterback DeSean Ballinger completed a 19-yard pass to Sophomore Wide Receiver Chris Richardson to get the ball to the North 6.  On the next play, Jones took the ball up the middle and into the end zone for a touchdown.  On the try for extra point, Kenmore faked a kick by Deon’tae Moore and gave the ball to Tavares Parmer who ran it in for two points.  Kenmore had an 8-0 lead. 

Kenmore scored their next two touchdowns off North turnovers. 

The Cardinals recovered a North fumble at the Vikings 44.  In six plays, Kenmore got into the end zone.  Johnson scored on a three-yard run off tackle.  Moore’s try for extra point was no good and the Cardinals had a 14-0 lead less than one minute into the second quarter.  The Cardinals would have gotten into the end zone quicker, but were slowed by two false start penalties.  Those penalties and others in the game got under the skin of Kenmore Head Coach Ed Peltz.  ‘We got a little sloppy.  Mental mistakes.  Luckily, we have a longer week to fix those’. 

In the second quarter, Kenmore’s defense forced a second Viking turnover.  Following a North interception by Jashawn Williams at their 13, the Vikings offense took over.  Their possession lasted one play. 

On a quarterback sweep, North’s Caleb Kennedy lost the ball following a hard hit by Kenmore linebacker Deon’tae Moore.  Moore jumped on the loose football at the North 13.  Three plays later, Ballinger hit Ben Gulley on an 8-yard crossing route for Kenmore’s third touchdown.  Moore kicked the extra point giving Kenmore a 21-0 lead.

North’s deepest penetration of the game took place just before halftime.  North took the ball from their 25 to the Kenmore 8 yard line. With two second remaining in the second quarter, Kennedy’s pass to Shannon Johnson fell incomplete.

As the rains increased in the third and fourth quarters, both offenses put the passing offenses away and concentrated on the run game. 

“Our sloppy play has nothing to do with the weather”, said Peltz.  “I don’t want to make excuses.  We know what we are capable of doing and we have to play to that potential.

Kenmore plays at St. Thomas Aquinas next Friday night. North’s next opponent is the Buchtel Griffins next Saturday.