Tagatauli Gets the Call in Los Amigos’ Victory

Los Amigos running back Noah Tagatauli wasn’t expected to play Friday night. Then, when he was released at noon to play, he was supposed to have a limited role.

Some limited role.

Although he was limited to three carries in the first half, Tagatauli was there with the game on the line--scoring the winning touchdown on a spectacular catch and run, then preserving the Lobos’ 14-12 victory over Garden Grove League rival Rancho Alamitos with a thunderous hit on Vaquero receiver Jeff Turbarg.

Los Amigos improved to 4-0, 1-0. Rancho Alamitos fell to 1-2-1, 0-1. Los Amigos stunned Rancho Alamitos last year, 18-17, handing the Vaqueros their only league loss.

“Last year was a huge upset, but our kids expected to win this year,” Los Amigos Coach Steve Bolton said.

Tagatauli, with his swollen right knee in a brace, did not start and carried only three times for 19 yards in the first half. But when Rancho Alamitos took a 12-7 lead with 1 minute 41 seconds left in the third quarter on a one-yard run by Kevin Allen, Bolton got a tap on his shoulder from Tagatauli.

“Noah just said, ‘Coach, I do it,’ ” Bolton said.

Los Amigos gave up the ball on three downs on the ensuing drive. But when the Lobos got it back with 10:40 left in the game, Tagatauli took over.

He carried on three consecutive plays for four, five and two yards. On the two-yard run for a first down, he was stopped short, but he carried two players beyond the marker.

One play later, with 7:43 left and the ball on Rancho Alamitos’ 43, quarterback Ape Tuato went back to Tagatauli.

“I had a late read and I happened to see Noah open,” said Tuato, who completed six of 13 passes for 146 yards without an interception.

From the slot, Tagatauli broke inside on a slant pattern. Tuato was hit as threw but got it near Tagatauli, who reached for the ball and stumbled as he caught it.

Almost as soon as he made the catch, Tagatauli was hit by Kevin Allen. But the hit seemed to help Tagatauli regain his balance. With another defender coming from his blind side, Tagatauli stopped and reversed his field, then sprinted down the middle of the field.

“I was looking for Ape,” Tagatauli said. “I just got bumped off when I caught it. I don’t remember much from there.”

Said Bolton of Tagatauli’s touchdown: “That’s just a phenomenal play by a great athlete. These guys even surprise me sometimes.”

Rancho Alamitos got two more opportunities to score. The first ended in a botched 50-yard field-goal attempt. Holder Manny Metcalf dropped the snap and Rancho Alamitos never got the kick off.

After a Los Amigos punt, the Vaqueros moved to their 47 before four consecutive incomplete passes ended the game. On first down, Turbarg appeared to have caught a 20-yard pass on the Los Amigos 30, but Tagatauli separated him from the ball.