There was no question the winning coaching staff would have a family member in it.

Mike Merrill is the head coach of the Lincoln team that visited a Kennedy Catholic squad that has his father Tom Merrill as an assistant coach.

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When all was said and done, it was Kennedy that won in convincing fashion -- pounding the visiting Abes by a 52-14 score in a Class 3A West Central District football playoff played at Highline Stadium.

Kennedy goes on a long trip to the Vancouver area to play Camas in its state quarterfinal at 7 p.m. Saturday, and Lincoln was sent home for the year with this past Friday's loss to the Lancers.

Both teams started out slowly, before Kennedy slipped ahead first.

Orion Prescott punched in a 1-yard run with 3 minutes, 17 seconds left in the first quarter, before kicker Colin Cossette's bounced the extra point attempt off of the post.

Lincoln took its only lead with 2:03 remaining in the first quarter.

Julius Colwash scored from 19 yards out with a pass reception in the end zone and Travis Nguyen gave the Abes a 7-6 lead with his PAT kick through the uprights.

Kennedy struck -- and surprisingly stayed ahead the rest of the way -- with 23 seconds to go in the initial quarter.
D.J. Hardy scored on a 31-yard run around the right side to make it 12-7 before a pass for two points failed.

The Lancers answered at the 8:18 mark of the second quarter.

Ian Nobmann scored around the left end from 18 yards out and Cossette's kick was good to pad Kennedy Catholic's lead to 19-7.

With 6:52 to play in the second quarter JFK struck again on a 24-yard pass from Jason Thompson to Prescott and Cossette kicked the ball for the extra point and a 26-7 lead.

Thompson connected with Cole Madison on a 21-yard touchdown with 1:03 remaining until halftime and Cossette's ensuing boot put Kennedy's advantage at 33-7.

The Lancers continued to dominate in the third quarter.

Prescott scored the first touchdown on a 26-yard run with 4:53 on the clock, but the kick was blocked to keep it at a 39-7 lead.

The next PAT kick was missed after Conner Richardson scored on a 26-yard at 4:53, leaving it as a 45-7 advantage.

Kennedy got its final word in with 10:12 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Prescott struck for a 14-yard touchdown run around the left side and Cossette's kick was good to widen the margin to 52-7.

Lincoln scored the game's final points with 53 seconds left to cut the lead to a more cosmetic 52-14.

Emmanuel Thompkins punched in a 1-yard run and the PAT kick was good.

JFK then decided to run out the game and get ready for the Camas Papermakers.