Taft Gets Gift in Fumbles

San Fernando High may not have gotten its second consecutive upset of an unbeaten team, but the Tigers’ 20-6 loss to Taft on Friday night falls right in line with the rest of recent matchups between the teams.

After a scoreless first half, the Toreadors took advantage of two San Fernando fumbles--converting them into touchdowns--and a 53-yard touchdown pass play from Steve Alvarado to Ronald Andrews to hold off the Tigers in a Northwest Valley Conference game at Taft.

Despite having a poorer record almost every time the past five years, San Fernando had won three of the games on the field, played closer than expected in the other two, and was coming off a 27-22 upset of El Camino Real last week.

“We were in the game the entire game,” San Fernando Coach Sean Blunt said.

Especially midway through the fourth quarter. After a 38-yard fumblerooski on fourth down by Jaime Sagastume and a 15-yard touchdown pass from Sean Atkins to Terrell Stanley cut the lead to 13-6, the Tigers (3-3, 1-2) allowed a long run by Marquis Brignac, but the junior tailback fumbled just beyond midfield and it was recovered by Leonard Cobb.

Two plays later, San Fernando had driven to the Taft 33 when Justin Rivas fumbled. Airabin Justin picked up the ball and returned it 10 yards.

“We needed to make a big play,” Justin said. “That’s why we work so hard in practice. We don’t get tired.”

The Toreadors (5-0, 3-0) used their power running game to drive 57 yards, with Sedric Hurns scoring from 11 yards out with two minutes left.

“This was a big gut-check,” said Taft Coach Troy Starr.

Both teams were able to move the ball but had few scoring opportunities until Taft’s Eric Griffin recovered a fumbled pitch from Atkins to Dauvile Milhouse at the San Fernando 27 midway through the third quarter. Hurns scored on a one-yard run to give Taft a 7-0 lead.

The Toreadors appeared comfortably ahead early in the fourth quarter when Alvarado--showing off his strong arm--hit Andrews in stride for a 13-0 lead.

“I had to put something in the arsenal in the passing game,” said Alvarado, who completed nine of 15 passes for 118 yards.

Brignac finished with 89 yards in 13 carries and Hurns had 56 in 15.