City Section Football Playoffs

Taft 33, San Pedro 14--Kelvin Byrd rushed for 215 yards and three touchdowns to lead Taft in a 3-A first-round game at Taft.

Taft (8-2) will play the winner of Monday’s quarterfinal between Palisades and Locke next week.

San Pedro (6-4) scored the game’s first touchdown on an Anthony Tapp five-yard run with 5:05 left in the first quarter. But Taft Coach Tom Stevenson said falling behind worked to his team’s advantage.

“I think them scoring so early got San Pedro so excited that they forgot to play,” Stevenson said.

Taft scored its initial touchdown with 3:13 left in the first quarter on a six-yard run by Byrd. The Toreadors took a 20-6 halftime lead on Marc Harris’ seven-yard run and a 47-yard run by Byrd over left tackle.

Taft held the Pirates to 104 yards in the first half and 70 yards in the second half. Taft scored twice in the third quarter on a three-yard run by Terrance Britt and a 12-yard run by Byrd. Britt finished with 58 yards in 19 carries and a touchdown. Harris had 23 yards in seven carries and scored a touchdown.