The562’s coverage of football in 2024-25 is sponsored by The Terry Donahue Memorial California Showcase.
The562’s coverage of Jordan Athletics is sponsored by former LBUSD superintendent Chris Steinhauser.
Every orchestra needs a great conductor— a leader that can set the tempo and arrange their gestures so the musicians can understand and be in sync.
For a second straight week Jordan was without All-Moore League quarterback JJ Nielsen. Now it’s up to senior Kalib Tautolo to orchestrate Jordan’s offense.
It sounded great when Tautolo led a go-ahead drive in the final minutes. He and John Lim had big first-down runs before Tautolo connected with Da’Mari Taylor for a 15-yard touchdown to give the Panthers a lead with 1:34 remaining.
However, Kennedy responded with a dramatic drive of its own and scored the game-winning touchdown and 2-point conversion with 10 seconds on the clock, 22-21.
Lim finished with 107 yards rushing for Jordan, and kicker Luis Rivera made a pair of field goals.
When asked about Nielsen’s absence Jordan coach Jon Nielsen declined to comment stating, “I can only talk about people that are on our roster.” On Maxpreps, JJ is no longer listed on the Jordan roster.
“It’s been kind of rough,” Taylor said. “Some of our players couldn’t play. But at practice we try to develop every time. For me it’s all about execution, I don’t blame it on anything. It’s on us.”
Kennedy won the coin toss and scored on the 74-yard game opening drive. Quarterback Devin Almazan found Rocco Street for an 8-yard touchdown that gave the Fighting Irish an early 7-0 lead.
Jordan’s rushing attack and Lim took some of the pressure off of Tautolo. Lim rushed for 46 yards on four carries on the opening drive to keep the Kennedy defense honest. Tautolo capped the drive with a 14-yard touchdown strike to Kani Swisher to tie the game.
After four scoreless drives, Kennedy’s defense broke the stalemate when Deon Bynum picked off a Tautoloo and returned it for a touchdown and a 14-7 halftime lead for the Fighting Irish.
Jordan’s Da’Mari Taylor sparked his team in the second with a punt return to Kennedy’s 9-yard-line. The Fighting Irish defense held and Rivera’s kick cut the lead to 14-10 with 4:31 remaining in the third quarter. After a stop and a short drive, Rivera’s second field goal from 17-yards out cut the lead to 14-13 with eight minutes left to play.
Jordan’s George Richmond came up with a huge interception on Kennedy’s next drive to give Jordan the ball with three minutes left.
Tautolo, Lim’s and Taylor took it from there to take the lead with 1:34 on the clock.
Jordan’s defense wasn’t able to hold on for the win after some penalties extended the Kennedy drive and gave the Fighting Irish a short field.
With time ticking down, Almazan connected Brandon Hahm for a touchdown to cut Jordan’s lead to 21-20 with 10 seconds remaining.
Electing to go for the win, Almazan was able to convert the 2-point try and push Kennedy to the victory when he found tight end Ezekiel Gomez in the end zone.
“When you come to Orange County you got to play against them too,” Nielsen said about the referees and their calls throughout the game. “We’ll send this to the officiating people over in Orange County. They just took the game away from our kids for playing football. They just gave it to them.”
Jordan (0-2) will be back on the road next Friday at George Washington Prep.
