Banning’s Losing Streak Halted at Taft’s Expense : Prep football: Perennial City power accumulates 305 yards and bottles up Toreador running game.

A note to anyone in Wilmington who might have been thinking of running Banning High Coach Joe Dominguez out of town: It’s too late.

He’s driving himself, and has been for some time. An 0-2 start makes a guy do some funny things. And if Dominguez is going to feel hot breath on the back of his neck, he’d prefer it to be from an ally.

Banning defeated Taft, 34-18, in a nonleague game at Taft on Thursday night. The victory was just what Dominguez--whose team had lost six consecutive games--needed.

“There’s no doubt it was a big win for us,” Dominguez said. “Now I can finally get a haircut in town. That should save me some gas money.”

Longtime City Section power Banning (1-2) poured it on Taft, scoring on its first two possessions and running its option-oriented offense to near-perfection.

The Pilots gained 305 yards and shut down the Taft running game.

Taft scored on a seven-yard pass from quarterback Jessie Menchaca to tailback Darnell Hendricks with 2 minutes 17 seconds left in the half to bring the Toreadors within 14-6 at halftime. Banning contributed 45 yards in penalties to keep the drive moving.

After a scoreless third quarter, Banning put Taft away with a 55-yard scoring drive in which the Pilots converted four third-down plays. Second-string tailback Travis Davis--who finished with 172 yards in 20 carries--scored from two yards to give Banning a 20-6 lead.

Taft, pressing to stay close, shot itself in the foot on its next possession.

Menchaca, trying to throw downfield, tossed an interception to Banning defensive back Enrico Nelson, who returned the ball 39 yards to the Taft one-yard line.

Fullback Ken McKinley (74 yards in nine carries) scored on the next play to give the Pilots a 27-6 lead.

Taft’s only effective weapon was a rollout pass by the 5-foot-8 Menchaca, who completed seven of 16 passes for 157 yards.

Menchaca hit Hendrix on scoring passes of seven, 10 and 74 yards, all on sprint-out plays.

“That’s a straight read pattern,” Taft Coach Tom Stevenson said. “Wherever they weren’t, he ran.”

Banning was darn near everywhere else defensively, however. The Toreadors (1-1) rushed for 39 yards.

But Stevenson still wants more.

“Our guys played tough,” Stevenson said. “We never quit. We’ll see them again in the playoffs--and I can’t wait. We’ll throw on every down.

“They can’t defend the pass. They were unbelievable on the run, but they can’t play pass defense.”

Menchaca connected with Hendricks from 10 yards to bring Taft within 27-12 with 3:32 left.

But after an onside-kick attempt by Taft failed, Banning scored two plays later on a 22-yard pass from quarterback Anthony Nicholson to tight end Lino Quintana to give the Pilots a 34-12 lead with 2:57 remaining.

Nicholson completed five of eight passes for 40 yards.

Hendricks, who was held to 16 yards in eight carries after rushing for 167 yards in Taft’s opener, scored on a 74-yard pass from Menchaca to make it 34-18 with 1:33 left.

Banning scored on its first two possessions, riding Davis almost all the way.

Filling in for injured starter Wendell Dumas, Davis carried four times in Banning’s six-play scoring drive, which he finished with a 15-yard run that gave the Pilots a 7-0 lead.

Davis gained 88 yards in eight carries in the first quarter alone.

The Pilots took a 14-0 lead when McKinley scored from three yards with 9:20 left in the first half.

Banning was certainly charitable: The Pilots were flagged 17 times for 190 yards. Banning was penalized for 168 yards in its season opener.

“We have some things we need to work out,” Dominguez said. “Shoot, we need to get back in the playoffs.”