Raphael Leads Kennedy Past El Camino Real

When Dorothy clicked her heels three times and told the cinematic world “There’s no place like home,” she could not have had El Camino Real High in mind.

The Conquistadores have played five games this season, and they still don’t know exactly where home is.

With no field to call its own, El Camino Real divides its “home” games among three different schools. After previous home games at Canoga Park and Taft highs, the Conquistadores tried their luck at Chatsworth on Friday night against Kennedy in a West Valley League game.

It was not home sweet home to El Camino Real, which fell to Kennedy and tailback Elijah Raphael, 14-7.

Raphael, who this year replaced All-City Section back Ontiwaun Carter, was the difference in the second half as Kennedy (4-1, 2-0 in the Northwest Valley Conference) overcame a 7-0 intermission deficit.

Raphael carried 23 times in the second half, gaining 93 yards and scoring two touchdowns. He finished with 123 yards in 31 carries.

“We stopped Carter last year better than we stopped Raphael. He’s a pretty good little back,” El Camino Real co-Coach Ralph Stam said.

Kennedy took the second-half kickoff and immediately drove to the tying score. Raphael carried on the final seven plays of the 10-play march, scoring on a one-yard run. Jeremy Deach’s kick tied the score, 7-7.

The Golden Cougars, who held the Conquistadores to 48 second-half yards, took the lead midway through the fourth period on a five-yard run by Raphael.

El Camino Real (2-3, 0-2), which has been outscored, 84-14, in three consecutive defeats, had its way with Kennedy in the first half, limiting the Golden Cougars to 21 yards, all on the ground.

Kennedy quarterback Tavarus Logie misfired on all four of his first-half attempts and finished four of 10 for 79 yards .

The Conquistadore defense shackled Raphael in the first half, holding the slippery tailback to 30 yards in eight carries.

The only Golden Cougar first down in the first half came on an El Camino Real penalty.

The Conquistadores, meanwhile, were busting open some sizable holes for running backs Andy Hasson and Jeff Astgen.

Hasson led all first-half rushers with 66 yards in 11 carries, and Astgen added 37 yards in six carries. Hasson finished with 69 yards in 13 carries as the Conquistadores rushed for just 13 yards in the second half.

El Camino Real scored the only points of the first half, taking over at its 40 midway through the second period and marching 60 yards in 10 plays.