Taft’s Polk Makes a Big Impression

What was billed as a showdown between tailbacks Jerry Brown of Taft High and Antwane Smith of Kennedy instead turned into a stage for the big-play capability of Taft’s DaShon Polk.

Polk caught five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown and returned a kickoff 92 yards for another score as the host Toreadors defeated Kennedy, 32-12, Thursday night in a North Valley League game.

The victory was the ninth in a row for Taft (9-1, 7-0 in Northwest Valley conference play) since a 20-19 loss to Crespi in the season opener.

“Everyone was talking about, ‘Jerry Brown this, and Antwane Smith that,’ ” said Polk, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound wide receiver-defensive back. “It was like they all forgot about me. I mean, I’ve caught some touchdown passes this season.”

Taft had a 20-12 lead midway through the fourth quarter when Polk made his final clutch play.

On fourth and 16 from the Kennedy 37-yard line, he caught a 30-yard pass from quarterback Dayon Shaw to give the Toreadors a first down on the seven. Two plays later, Shaw scored on a one-yard sneak to give Taft a 26-12 advantage.

“I didn’t do anything fancy on that play,” said Polk, who has 24 receptions for 382 yards and seven touchdowns this season. “I just ran to the first-down marker and caught the ball. But they were giving me a lot of room. I guess it was because I had been running those fade routes all night.”

Brown, who rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns in 21 carries, gave Taft its final margin with a 84-yard run with 1 minute 37 seconds remaining.

Polk gave the Toreadors a 6-0 lead with 7:33 left in the first quarter when he caught a nine-yard pass from Shaw.

Kennedy (6-4, 4-3) cut the deficit to 14-6 with 2:17 remaining in the first half when Damion Thompson scored on a one-yard run, but Polk returned the ensuing kickoff for a score.

Smith, who had rushed for 1,465 yards entering the game, was held to 21 yards in nine carries before leaving because of a strained left knee late in the second quarter. He did not return.

Kennedy’s Jaret Harris scored on a 58-yard run in the second half and finished with 89 yards.