Taft Has Enough Big Plays to Overcome Sloppy Game

Taft High was the football team with the bye last week, but both the Toreadors and Dorsey played as if they hadn’t set foot on the field for a while.

In a game marred by 33 penalties and long stretches of ineffective offensive play, Taft was able to come up with enough big plays to come away with a 18-6 victory Friday night at Taft.

The infractions ranged from six procedure penalties against the Dons in the first quarter to several off-setting unsportsmanlike conduct calls as play got chippy in the second half.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” said Taft Coach Troy Starr.

Taft (2-0) took control less than two minutes into the game. Senior Sedric Hurns took an inside handoff, burst up the middle and raced 53 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead.

After and exchange of possessions, Taft quarterback Steve Alvarado found K.C. Bounds wide open and connected on a 27-yard scoring play. After the two-point conversion failed, the Toreadors led 12-0 and appeared in command.

But the Taft offense would mostly struggle for the remainder of the game.

Alvarado, who completed three of his first five passes, threw eight consecutive incompletions.

Bounds--again wide open, dropped a 30-yard pass at midfield.

Junior tailback Marquis Brignac was held to 17 yards in his first 10 carries and fumbled once.

Coming off a shutout loss to Hawthorne in which the Dons gained less than 100 yard of total offense, Dorsey (1-2) continued to struggle in the first quarter before finally showing signs of life.

Dorsey drove 75 yards in eight plays, cutting the lead to 12-6 on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Lonnie Honeycutt to Nevin McGee.

The Dons were able to keep the ball moving on offense, but kept getting derailed by penalties--19 of them for 180 yards--and turnovers.

Honeycutt completed 17 of 34 passes for 166 yards and was intercepted three times, although one was fumbled by Ronald Andrews and recovered by the Dons.

Andrews had two interceptions and Airabin Justin added another in the final minute off a desperation pass by Honeycutt.

“It was tough; the defense had to come up with some big plays,” said Taft linebacker Dionte Hall, who had an important sack and fourth-down stop in the fourth quarter.

Still, Dorsey kept within shouting distance because Taft was having problems of its own. The Toreadors had only three first downs--all by penalties--until Hurns scored on a 42-yard run with just under two minutes left.

Hurns finished with 119 yards in nine carries and Brignac had 54 in 15. Alvarado completed six of 21 passes for 70 yards.

Edell Shepherd caught 10 passes for 101 yards for Dorsey.