Brown Gets Taft’s Motor Running in Rout of Gardena

Taft High scored only three points last week, but it was enough because the Toreadors shut out Crespi.

Against Gardena on Friday, a field goal would have been enough again. But the Taft offense, behind the running of Jerry Brown, kicked into high gear and helped the Toreadors run over the Mohicans, 40-0, at Taft.

Brown, the City Section 3-A Division player of the year last year, rushed for 180 yards in 24 carries and scored three touchdowns, playing a little more than three quarters.

Taft scored touchdowns on its first three possessions. First, quarterback Mike Ferguson scored on a two-yard sneak three minutes into the game.

Then Brown took over.

After being stopped on his first carry for a loss of four yards, Brown took a sweep around the left side 36 yards for his first touchdown, breaking three tackles on his way to the end zone.

On the Toreadors’ next possession, Brown scored on a five-yard run up the middle. By halftime, Brown had 120 yards in 12 rushes. Brown scored on an 11-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

“I have to give the credit to the offensive line,” Brown said. “They were opening up big holes for me all game, especially to the outside when I could turn the corner. I felt good even after last week because I had some holes and blocking to work with.”

Crespi held Brown to a career-low 38 yards in 16 rushes.

Ferguson completed three of 10 passes for 87 yards, each completion covering at least 25 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown pass to Dion Gaston late in the second quarter.

Starting wide receiver Dayon Shaw, relieving Ferguson, scored the last touchdown on a seven-yard run with less than a minute to play.

“We wanted to work on our offense this week,” Shaw said. “Our defense did the job last week. This week we wanted a combination of both, and we got it.”

Taft limited Gardena to 59 yards.