San Fernando Gets Clocked by Taft

The fourth quarter of the first-round playoff game between Taft High and San Fernando on Friday night lasted barely 20 minutes, but it had to feel like hours to the Tigers.

With Taft ahead by 46 points after three quarters, officials used a running clock in the fourth quarter, and two touchdowns by San Fernando didn’t make a 52-18 loss at Taft any less 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 into the fourth quarter before the Toreadors held on for a 20-6 victory.

San Fernando stayed close because it didn’t make mistakes. This time, the Tigers made plenty right from the start.

This time, three turnovers and a failed fumblerooski led to a 21-0 lead for Taft one play into the second quarter.

Making the biggest contribution was 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.”

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

“Marquis really opened things up,” said Andrews, who had two interceptions and recovered a fumble. “He ran really well.”

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

San Fernando (6-5) rebounded briefly with a two-yard scoring run by Schauntte Parker with 43 second left in the half. But the Toreadors drove down the field and added a field goal for a 31-6 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, Brignac scored on a 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 led, 52-6.

Alvarado completed 13 of 20 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns. He did not play in the fourth quarter.

Dominic Early caught five passes for 76 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown in the first quarter for Taft.

Terrell Stanley caught seven passes for 104 yards for San Fernando. Sean Atkins completed eight of 19 passes for 137 yards and had two touchdown runs in the fourth quarter.