Brignac, Taft Plant Seed for a Playoff Run

Marquis Brignac is beginning to appreciate the finer aspects of playing defense.

Better known as Taft High’s tailback, Brignac is more used to keeping track of his rushing yards than tackles. Brignac has become increasingly effective at outside linebacker, constantly coming up with big plays.

None were bigger than the botched handoff Brignac scooped up and returned 71 yards for a touchdown in the Toreadors’ 24-7 Northwest Valley Conference victory over El Camino Real on Friday night at El Camino Real.

The Toreadors were clinging to 10-7 lead with just over five minutes left but the Conquistadores had driven to the Taft 29 and faced third down and one.

Aaron Fredette handed off to Quincy Wright, who never got a secure hold on the ball. It lay on the ground for a full two seconds before Brignac picked it up.

Taft (9-0, 7-0 in conference play) finished its second consecutive undefeated regular season and probably will be the top-seeded team in the City Section 4-A Division playoffs when the pairings are announced today.

The Conquistadores (6-4, 3-4) might slip into the 3-A Division playoffs.

“I’m beginning to figure out when I have a good game on defense, I have a good game all-around,” Brignac said. “I wanted to make a big play.”

The fumble return was the second big play of the game for Brignac. With El Camino Real driving in the third quarter, Brignac batted around a Fredette pass until senior linebacker Tyler Brennan could make a diving interception.

The linebacking corps of Brennan, Brignac and David Melo keyed Taft’s best defensive effort of the season, especially in the fourth quarter.

The Conquistadores still had a chance after the return, but cornerback Airabin Justin intercepted Fredette’s pass and returned it 73 yards for an insurance touchdown with three minutes left.

Then Brennan made his second interception--along with a fumble recovery--with two minutes left, returning it to the El Camino Real 15 before a clipping penalty brought it back.

Wright had 142 yards in 17 carries--only 42 in the second half.

Steve Alvarado of Taft completed 11 of 14 passes for 137 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Andrews.