Brignac and Taft Run Wild

The fourth quarter of the City Section 4-A first-round playoff game between Taft High and San Fernando Friday night lasted barely 20 minutes, but it probably felt like hours to the Tigers.

Trailing by 46 points after three quarters, San Fernando was grateful that officials used a running clock in the fourth quarter, but even a pair of touchdowns didn’t make its 52-18 loss at Taft any more bearable.

“It was just a blowout loss,” said San Fernando Coach Sean Blunt.

The top-seeded Toreadors will play eighth-seeded Palisades in a quarterfinal Wednesday at Taft.

When the Northwest Valley Conference rivals met six weeks ago, the Tigers gave Taft (10-0) a game going into the fourth-quarter before holding onto a 20-6 victory. San Fernando stayed close because it didn’t make mistakes. This time it made plenty.

Three turnovers led to a 21-0 Taft lead one play into the second quarter.

Making the biggest contribution was tailback Marquis Brignac, who scored on runs of 74 and 36 yards.

“They knew what was coming but it didn’t matter,” said Brignac. “I wanted to make a big play.”

Brignac finished with 147 yards in 11 carries, scoring a 20-yard touchdown in the second half.

Taft increased its lead to 28-0 midway through the second quarter when Steve Alvarado found Ronald Andrews wide open for a 54-yard touchdown.

San Fernando (6-5) got on the scoreboard with a two-yard run by Schauntte Parker with 43 second left in the first half. But the Toreadors drove right down the field and kicked a field goal to make it 31-6 at the half.

The third quarter saw more of the same. Brignac scored on the 20-yard run, Alvarado connected with Sedric Hurns on a 72-yard pass play and Larry Jones had a 30-yard scoring run.

After three quarters, Taft had 466 yards of offense and a 52-6 lead.

Alvarado completed 13 of 20 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns.