Taft, Westchester No Longer on Beaten Paths

That football teams from Taft and Westchester high schools should meet in a City Section 4-A Division semifinal tonight is appropriate. Long before they fashioned identical 12-0 records this season, they were on parallel paths.

Taft, which plays host to the 7 p.m. game, has won Northwest Valley Conference titles three of the past four years. Westchester has been champion of the Coastal Conference four of the past five years.

But despite their regular-season success, both teams have been disappointing in the 4-A playoffs, never advancing past the second round.

Taft reached the quarterfinals in 1993 and 1994, losing to Dorsey each time. Before this season, Westchester lost two consecutive first-round games.

Tonight’s winner advances to the City 4-A title game next Friday at the Coliseum. Top-seeded San Pedro (12-0) and Garfield (8-3) meet in the other semifinal.

“It’s kind of a shame we have to meet before the finals,” Westchester Coach Larry Wein said. “In other years, both teams are probably good enough to play in the finals.”

Westchester is trying to reach its first large-division final since 1967, when it lost to San Fernando, 27-14. The Comets won the championship in the defunct 2-A Division in 1987, defeating Reseda in the final.

Taft has never qualified for a large-division final. The Toreadors’ only title-game appearance was in the 1992 3-A final, a loss to San Pedro.

“It takes a little bit of luck to make it through,” Taft Coach Troy Starr said. “A little more and we can win a title.”

Westchester and Taft are similar on the field, too. Both have high-powered passing attacks and quick-strike capability.

Nick DiPadova, Taft’s senior quarterback, has established a school single-season passing record with 2,403 yards. He has passed for 30 touchdowns and run for 16.

Westchester features senior quarterback Brennan Crooks, who had his best game of the season in a 58-0 victory over Fremont last week. Crooks completed 17 of 28 passes for 333 yards and six touchdowns. In 12 games, Crooks has completed 93 of 192 passes for 1,806 yards and 32 touchdowns, with only three interceptions.

The Comets have outscored opponents, 492-60, this season and have intercepted 19 passes.

Crooks’ favorite targets are Bennie Bishop and Eugene Childs. Against Fremont, Bishop caught six passes for 168 yards and four touchdowns. Childs had seven receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns. On the season, Bishop has 28 receptions for 523 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Childs has 20 for 401 yards and seven touchdowns.

Taft has a home-field advantage when it comes to executing the passing game. Westchester has not played at Taft’s barely-lit field, one of the darkest in the section.

“We’re used to it now,” DiPadova said. “I haven’t heard any complaints [from Taft receivers] since the second game of the season.”

DiPadova spreads his passes among several receivers. Damon Coleman set a school single-season reception record last week. He has 55 catches for 825 yards and 10 touchdowns. Tight end Alex Scheer and wideouts Ryan Long and Keith Johnson also are threats.

Taft’s running game has picked up with the improvement of sophomore tailback Marquis Brignac, who last week rushed for 134 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-21 victory over Washington.

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* GAME DAY

A look at the rest of tonight’s City Section playoff matchups. C14