For Some Taft Players, a Bigger Test Comes Saturday

Win or lose tonight in the City Section 4-A championship against San Pedro, several players on the Taft High football team will have an early morning the day after the game.

They are scheduled to take the American College Test on Saturday.

“If we win, I’m not going to mind taking the test too much. I’ll still be happy,” said cornerback Airabin Justin.

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It stood to reason that San Pedro, or at least somebody from the Southern Pacific Conference, would make the 4-A final. Either Carson, Banning, Dorsey, San Pedro or Crenshaw--all Southern Pacific teams--have been in every higher-division final since 1974.

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Six of the 17 schools from the San Fernando Valley--Poly, San Fernando, Granada Hills, Sylmar, Canoga Park and Birmingham--have won either the 4-A final (since 1975) or the only City title (1912-1974). Van Nuys, Reseda and Chatsworth have won smaller-division titles.

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If Taft wins tonight, there could be an ice cream party in the Toreadors’ future.

The father of kicker Donnie Whittemore owns Dandy Don’s Ice Cream in Van Nuys. Whittemore, a junior who plays soccer, has become a reliable kicker for Taft. He has made five field goals.

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This is the first year as a head coach for Rick Hayashida of El Camino Real, but it isn’t his first City championship appearance.

In 1979, Hayashida was the starting fullback for Chatsworth in the Chancellors’ 14-11 victory over Canoga Park in the 3-A final.