Harbor Airs It Out but Taft Wins, 33-14

Despite 215 yards passing from quarterback Eddie Lopez, Harbor College dropped to 0-2 Saturday night as Taft College, the No. 1-ranked team in the state, handed the Seahawks a 33-14 defeat before a sparse crowd at Harbor College.

Taft (2-0), which powered its way to a 21-7 halftime lead, saw the advantage cut to 21-14 four minutes into the third quarter when Seahawk fullback Cory Henry rushed in from the 1 and Luis Solario converted the extra point.

Harbor’s defense then forced Taft to give up the ball on its next three possessions. But the Seahawk offense, despite a few broken-play completions from Lopez, could not move consistently.

With 13 minutes left in the contest, Lopez’ completion to Henry Schelb moved Harbor into Cougar territory, but the officials ruled that Schelb fumbled and Taft recovered at its own 48.

The call proved costly because Cougar fullback Ray Reynolds scored from 20 yards out with 10:19 remaining. Taft’s try for a two-point conversion failed, but the Cougars held a 27-14 lead that Harbor could not overcome.

Taft scored again in the final three minutes as Reynolds hustled in from the Harbor 9.

Harbor started driving in the first half as soon as Ferragamo uncorked his much talked-about pass-heavy offense.

The Seahawks’ first two possessions featured an assortment of ineffective runs and ended with punts, but after Taft Quarterback Kalani Hallums converted a 5-yard option keeper for the Cougars’ second touchdown, Lopez faked a handoff on Harbor’s next possession and connected with Micheal Williams on a 33-yard aerial to the Taft 40.

Three palys later, Quentin Bostie collected a Lopez screen pass and charged to the Taft 10.

Two Harbor penalties, however stalled the drive and left-footed Tim Singleton missed a 28 yard field goal attempt.

Taft scored again on its next possession. Halfback Broderick Hill carried what appeared a short-yardage off-tackle play 84 yards to the Harbor 6, and Anthony Nicholson ran in from the 2 with 9:17 left in the half.

Seahawk Archie Jean, a sophomore receiver formerly of Banning High, lifted Harbor’s spirits on the ensuing kickoff, racing 90 yards for the touchdown. Luis Solario’s extra point cut Taft’s lead to 21-7

The Cougars opened the scoring with about 7 minutes left in the first quarter when Nicholson scampered in from the Harbor 1.