Byrd, Britt Lead Taft Past Monroe

Before Taft’s 21-0 victory against Monroe on Friday night, Taft Coach Tom Stevenson said a 44-point loss was the most important game for his team this season.

Taft lost 44-0 to Crespi, the top-ranked team in the Valley by The Times, earlier in the season. But despite the score, Stevenson thought the game was important for his team.

“It was the best thing we ever did, playing Crespi,” Stevenson said. “Our kids think they can play anybody now.”

Against Monroe in a Sunset League opener, Taft played well against an undefeated team. Going into the game, Monroe had the top-rated defense for a Valley-area City Section team, allowing just 107.3 yards per game and only 19 points in three straight victories.

But Taft shredded the Monroe defense, totaling 380 yards to 130 for Monroe. All but 39 of Taft’s yards came on the ground, and 86 of the Vikings’ yards came on runs by quarterback Kesa Harding.

“We did what we had to do, run the ball,” Stevenson said.

Kelvin Byrd led Taft with 164 yards and 2 touchdowns on 21 carries. Teammate Terrance Britt added another 106 yards and 1 touchdown on 10 carries.

After leading, 7-0, at halftime, Taft increased its lead when Byrd scored from 12 yards out, capping a six-play, 55-yard drive.

Byrd scored again when he broke away for a 49-yard run with 3:14 left in the game. Adam Zutler’s point-after made the score 21-0.

During the second half, Monroe put together one sustained drive, but on a fourth-and-goal play, Harding threw incomplete.

Later in the game, the Vikings failed to capitalize on a Taft fumble. With a first and 10 from the 14, the Vikings settled for a 31-yard field goal attempt--and missed.

Taft’s defense controlled the first half, holding the Vikings to 50 total yards and just three first downs. Britt broke two tackles and sprinted down the left sideline 62 yards for the game’s first score with 5:38 left in the half.

On Britt’s run and the ensuing conversion kick, Monroe was hit with three unsportsmanlike conduct calls, two on Monroe co-Coach Howard Reisbord, who was automatically ejected.

The Toreadors missed a chance when they marched to the Viking 10 on their first possession.

Quarterback Rich Consentino pitched to Britt, who fumbled. Monroe’s Semaj Johnson caught the ball in mid-air and returned it inside Taft’s 10-yard line. A clipping penalty, however, brought the run back to the Monroe 10.