Harvey Kochel, football coach at Ventura High,...

Harvey Kochel, football coach at Ventura High, called it a “point of emphasis.” He had been prodding running back Danny Taylor to hit the line of scrimmage at full speed rather than slowing to find a hole.

Taylor, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior, is the fastest player on the Ventura team. Even when he was picking his way through the line, he broke free enough to average 6.2 yards a carry in the Cougars’ first two games.

If Taylor would only hit the hole quickly, Kochel mused, who knows what kind of yardage he could amass.

After Ventura’s 34-28 win over Westlake last Thursday night, everybody knows. Taylor rambled for 273 yards--a school record that ranks fourth on the all-time Ventura County rushing list. Taylor, who had 24 carries, included touchdown runs of 37, 59 and 60 yards. He also caught one pass for 15 yards.

“Danny hit the line of scrimmage a lot harder,” Kochel said. “You could see it in the game and you could see it in the films.”

And now you can see his name in the record book.