Taft’s Hurns Delivers the KO

The touchdown was merely insurance but the moment put an indelible imprint on Taft High’s 42-14 victory over Birmingham Friday night.

Early in the fourth quarter, Taft’s Sedric Hurns broke into the open field with only defensive back Demetrus Patterson standing between Hurns and the end zone.

Instead of darting to the left or right, Hurns bowled over Patterson to complete a 24-yard run and give Taft an insurmountable lead in the Northwest Valley Conference game at Taft High.

Knocked to the ground, Patterson was woozy for several minutes before wobbling to the sideline. He did not return to the game.

“He had scored earlier and as soon as I saw [Patterson] standing there I had to go for it,” Hurns said.

With the victory Taft (7-0, 5-0) clinched a tie for the conference title. A victory over either Chatsworth or El Camino Real gives Taft its fourth title in the past five years.

Birmingham (6-2, 3-2) had emerged as the top challenger to Taft, but the Braves were powerless to stop Taft’s offense, especially the passing game.

With the Braves geared to stop the run, Taft quarterback Steve Alvarado completed 19 of 29 passes for a career-high 318 yards and three touchdowns. After being held to 11 yards in the first quarter, tailback Marquis Brignac finished with 161 in 26 carries and two touchdowns.

“We felt going in we were going to have to try to stop the run,” Birmingham Coach Dave Lertzman said. “They were better than us.”

Taft was potent offensively the entire game, rolling up 530 yards. It could have been worse for the Braves.

The Toreadors had a 10-yard touchdown run by Brignac taken away by a clipping penalty in the first quarter.

Wide receiver Dominic Early dropped three long passes. Early still finished with 112 yards in seven receptions.

After gaining only 38 yards of offense in the first half, Birmingham came back in the third quarter. Emmanuel Evans scored on a 21-yard run on the first possession of the second half to cut Taft’s lead to 14-7. After a 35-yard scoring pass from Alvarado to Lawrence Wallace, Brave quarterback Scott Doherty connected with Patterson on a 68-yard pass play that went for a touchdown.

“We had one little drive and one big pass and that was it,” said Lertzman.

Taft came right back when Alvarado hit Ronald Andrews on a 22-yard score.

Doherty struggled the rest of the game. He completed nine of 29 passes for 150 yards. Evans was held under 100 yards rushing for just the second time this season, finishing with 96 in 16 carries.