RICHMOND – The varsity football Lions wrapped up a resurgent football campaign on Saturday in the opening round of the North Coast Section Division 4 playoffs, falling to fourth-seeded John F. Kennedy of Richmond, 38-0.
El Molino finished the season with a final record of 5-6.
The Lions represented the number 13 seed in the playoffs, drawing a tough first-round match-up with the fourth ranked Kennedy Eagles.
The game took an ominous turn on the opening kickoff, when El Mo return man Jack Fricker broke loose on a long return, only to fumble the ball at the Kennedy 40. It proved to be the start of a long night for the Lions.
The Eagles got on the board to lead 8-0 after one before extending the lead to 22-0 at the half. Miscues continued to plague the Lions after intermission, as Kennedy took a 29-0 into the final period en route to a 38-0 rout.
“Mistakes killed us,” El Mo head coach Randy Parmeter said later. “After fumbling the opening kickoff, our first offensive play was called back. We fumbled on the three yard line. Things didn’t go well on offense, but it’s been that way all season. Hopefully this young team will mature and be able to overcome mental errors next year,” he added.”
