Finding New Quarterback a Snap for Taft

Taft High’s 55-7 victory over Eagle Rock in a City Section 4-A Division playoff opener read like an elementary school primer: See Taft. See Taft pass. See Taft run. See Taft score. And score. And score.

A week after losing starting quarterback Mike Ferguson to a broken clavicle, Taft High unleashed Brian Shubin on the Eagles, and the junior transfer passed for 235 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Toreadors to a second-round matchup next week against Dorsey, a 20-16 winner over San Fernando.

Taft was hoping to face San Fernando, which ruined the Toreadors’ unbeaten season a week ago with a one-point victory.

The Toreadors (10-1), 1993 North Valley League champions and the 3-A division runners-up a year ago, scored on their first six possessions and ran up 538 yards and 55 points against an Eagle Rock team (6-5) that had allowed fewer than 175 yards and 13 points per game.

Dayon Shaw started at quarterback for Taft and threw touchdown passes of 37 and 68 yards to Dion Gaston in the first period. Shubin, a transfer from Canyon, took over in the second quarter.

Shubin completed seven of 13 in the quarter, tossing for touchdowns of 66 yards to Andre DeSaussure and 15 yards to Gaston (three catches, 120 yards, three touchdowns) to give Taft a 35-0 lead at halftime.

Shubin, who finished nine of 20 with two second-half interceptions, also fired an 80-yard touchdown pass to Donte Dailey on the first play of the third period.

“I felt kind of good after I got a couple of smacks in there,” said Shubin, who was sacked three times.

So who’s Taft’s No. 1 quarterback?

“I don’t know. When I wake up (today), I’ll think about that one,” Taft Coach Troy Starr said. “If teams stack up the defensive line against us like they did tonight, we can throw the ball. We have the ability to pop big plays on anybody.”

Taft running back Jerry Brown gained 141 yards in 11 carries with two touchdowns.