There was no stopping 205-pound senior running back Jace Demacabalin and the Wing T offense carried by Robert Kennedy High of Delano, 30 minutes from Bakersfield. Even City Section Open Division champion Carson couldn’t figure out how to stop the run down the middle in a 35-33 loss Saturday night in the CIF State Championship 3-A regional game in Carson.
“Their offensive line was physical,” Carson coach William Lowe said. “It was a booster game.
People in Southern California are probably not familiar with Demakabalin, who is part Filipino and part Samoan. He doesn’t get tired. He became Kern County’s all-time leading rusher with over 7,000 yards, gaining 223 yards on 38 carries and scoring three touchdowns.
Delano Kennedy’s Jace Demacabalin rushed for 223 yards against Carson.
(Craig Weston)
“What makes the Wing T difficult to defend is mainly the team’s focus on defense against the spread offense,” Demacabalin said. “With the Wing T, you run right at them. You pound the rock. You get the yards you need.”
Kennedy (12-3) was the Central Section Division III champion and will face Oakland McClymonds for the state title next weekend in Orange County.
Carson’s offense stalled after a 27-point first quarter and didn’t produce any points until 3:14 left when Chris Fields III scored on a four-yard run to bring the Colts (10-4) within two points. But the run fell short and Kennedy ran out of clock.
Fields ran for three touchdowns and passed for two touchdowns, but Kennedy’s ability to use big chunks of time as well as the pressure on Fields left Carson feeling frustrated throughout the second half. When Jamison Membreve broke free for a 35-yard touchdown run with 9:25 left, Kennedy’s lead grew to eight points.
Quarterback Chris Fields III of Carson passed for two touchdowns and ran for three touchdowns in a loss to Delano Kennedy.
(Craig Weston)
Demacabalin came up with 2,284 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns. People in Delano know him well. The only question is when he and his teammates will get a parade to celebrate their success.
Six touchdowns were scored in the first quarter and Carson led 27–14. Fields had two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns. But Kennedy’s wing T started eating up the clock in the second quarter after a simple handoff up the middle to Demacabalin, who scored on two short touchdown drives for a 28-27 halftime lead. Carson only ran four plays in the second quarter until getting the ball back with 1:05 left. Demacabalin had 126 yards rushing on 15 carries and three touchdowns in the first half. The Thunderbirds only attempted one pass the entire game.
Both teams lost fumbles on kickoffs, and Kennedy’s Member scored on an 80-yard kickoff return. Fields was eight of nine passing for 149 yards in the first half. He finished 14 of 26 passing for 202 yards. Kennedy limited his opportunities by running the clock one move at a time.
The match could not have started worse for Carson. The foals caught the dog’s kick. Then on Kennedy’s first offensive play, Demacabalin ran 39 yards for a touchdown.
It was a season in which the Colts returned to the top of the City Section with a 12th championship behind Fields, a junior and likely City Player of the Year. He will be someone to build on next season.
It was a tough night for the City Section teams. South Gate lost to Bishop 47-28 in Division 5-A and Santee was defeated by South El Monte 56-7 in Division 7-A.
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