With momentum from back-to-back victories, the Coyotes delivered a fiery offensive display in a blowout win against Kennedy High School. Quarterback Dom Hardy and senior Jeremiah Smith led the charge with a combined 5 touchdowns, propelling Calabasas to its highest point total in a win since Week 5 of 2022 when they defeated Crescenta Valley 57-20.
Due to extreme heat, the game was initially postponed 30 minutes after the scheduled 7 o’clock start time, and it finally kicked off at 8 o’clock after a second delay. These delays were in line with the new CIF WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) guidelines, which measure heat stress in direct sunlight. According to these guidelines, any outdoor activities, such as workouts or contests, must be postponed until the WBGT reading drops below 92.1 degrees.
After a sluggish start in the season opener, the Coyotes’ offense has found its rhythm, putting up 7 touchdowns in back-to-back games. Calabasas began Friday night’s game strong, with senior JJ Smith scoring on a jet-sweep to take an early lead. A big sack by sophomore Obi Ofomata quickly returned possession to Calabasas, but quarterback Hardy lost the ball while scrambling out of the pocket, resulting in a fumble. The defense held firm, forcing another punt, but the offense stumbled again as Hardy’s deep pass was intercepted, leading to a second consecutive turnover for Calabasas. However, the Coyotes shook off their turnover troubles and extended their lead to 14 with a 24-yard touchdown run by Kayne Miller.
In the second quarter, Kennedy showcased their old-school offense, running the ball five consecutive times and capping the drive with a touchdown in the wildcat formation, cutting the lead to 14-7. Calabasas quickly fired back with an 18-yard touchdown pass to JJ Smith for his second score of the night. Kennedy continued to show resilience as quarterback Diego Montes scrambled for a 17-yard touchdown, bringing the game back within one possession. It was déjà vu for the Coyotes, who quickly marched down the field in under a minute and responded with a third JJ Smith touchdown, this time with a 24-yard strike from quarterback Dom Hardy, putting the lead at 28-15 heading into halftime.
Calabasas used the third quarter to gain separation from the Cougars with a 38-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Kingston Celifie. It was one of the longer Coyotes’ drives of the game, interrupted by 2 penalties and a timeout. Kennedy continued to hang around, going 44 yards on 5 plays and finding the end zone again in the wildcat formation. The Cougars’ ground game was a bright spot in an otherwise challenging night, with 200 rushing yards on 32 carries from 5 different players. After missing the extra point, Kennedy opted for an onside kick and miraculously recovered it in Calabasas territory. They capitalized on the opportunity with a 38-yard pass, setting up first and goal at the 5-yard line. However, the Coyotes’ defense held firm after a botched snap on second and goal pushed the ball back to the 15-yard line. The Cougars then attempted a 32-yard field goal to cut the lead to 11 points but were unsuccessful, returning any remaining momentum back to Calabasas.
From there, it was all Calabasas. Junior running back Kayne Miller ripped off a 54-yard rush for the longest play of the night by either team. Sophomore Kingston Celifie then caught a touch pass from Dom Hardy to score from 7 yards out. Celifie followed up his short touchdown with a 29-yard rushing touchdown, putting Calabasas up 49-21, which would be the final score.
The Coyotes’ offense was both explosive and efficient, as they picked up 25 first downs over 50 total plays. Quarterback Dom Hardy had his best game in the Calabasas black and gold, completing 15 of 19 passes for 219 yards and 5 passing touchdowns. Running backs Kayne Miller and Kingston Celifie continued to display their potent potential, combining for 174 yards and 2 touchdowns on only 17 carries. Calabasas’ 448 yards of total offense was their most since Week 5 of last season, when they exploded for 500 yards in a heartbreaking overtime defeat against the Agoura Chargers. The seniors on Calabasas know they can’t let another game slip away like it did last year.
“The urgency is definitely there… securing the Las Virgenes Cup in our final year means everything,” said senior linebacker Milad Toufighi.
Other seniors, such as safety Dylan Hein, reiterated the importance of the upcoming matchup.
“It’s obviously a big game, and we know they’ll be coming to play,” said Hein. “We had a great week of practice and are confident that our preparations will translate under the lights tomorrow.”
Fortunately for the Coyotes, they’ll have their chance for revenge against Agoura at home this time on Friday, the 13th.
