Taft Plays It Just Wright, Stops El Camino Real, 24-21

The third time proved to be the charm for the Taft High defense in stopping Quincy Wright and El Camino Real’s comeback bid in the Toreadors’ 24-21 victory Friday night at Taft.

Twice in a critical fourth-quarter drive, Wright barely pulled off first downs on fourth-and-short plays.

But faced with a fourth and two at the Taft 37 with less than four minutes to play, Wright gained only one yard before being consumed by a wave of defenders.

The handoff to Wright was expected. He gained 193 yards in 30 carries and had gotten the call on the previous six plays.

“We just had to go a little harder at him,” said linebacker Donte Morgan. “We knew it was going to [Wright].”

The measurement came up three inches short, Taft was able to run out the clock and the Toreadors’ biggest scare of the season was over.

Taft came into the Northwest Valley Conference opener with overwhelming victories over Sylmar, Fairfax and Dorsey.

But the Toreadors (4-0, 1-0) were anything but impressive against El Camino Real (2-2, 0-1). Taft’s Nick DiPadova completed only three of 10 passes in the first half, and the Toreadors didn’t sustain a possession until midway through the third quarter.

However, that drive came at a critical time as DiPadova regained his touch, completing six consecutive passes. A 16-play, 83-yard drive culminated in a 21-yard field goal by Jamie Mena early in the fourth quarter. It would be the only score of the second half and broke a 21-21 tie.

“This was our wake-up call, it shouldn’t have been this close,” said DiPadova, who also was intercepted for the first time this season. “We played bad and they played good.”

El Camino Real and Wright controlled the game in the first half. A 53-yard touchdown burst up the middle by Wright highlighted a 150-yard first half for the tailback.

The Toreadors stayed even only because of an opportunistic defense.

On the first snap from scrimmage, sophomore quarterback Brett Dempsey stumbled and fumbled and Lonnel Black recovered. Three plays later, DiPadova hit Ryan Long on an 11-yard screen pass for a 7-0 lead.

After Wright’s run tied it, 7-7, DiPadova scored on a four-yard run.

On the Conquistadores’ next possession, Aaron Fredette threw a wild pitch to Wright that was recovered by Taft’s Jaron Lawson at the El Camino Real 11. Sedric Hurns (75 yards, 19 carries) scored on the next play for a 21-7 lead.