Wallace Catches Defense Napping

Lawrence Wallace of Taft High was on his way to a potentially record-breaking season when a broken hand sidelined him for a month and appeared to shelve any chance of putting up any big numbers.

Then again, maybe not.

In his second game back, Wallace showed no effects from his injury, decimating the El Camino Real secondary for five touchdown receptions and the Toreadors (8-1, 6-0 in league play) cruised to a 42-0 victory in a Northwest Valley Conference game Thursday night at Canoga Park High.

Wallace, who finished with 10 receptions for a career-high 222 yards, did much of his damage in the first nine minutes.

On Taft’s first play from scrimmage at its 26, Brandon Hance threw deep to Wallace, who caught the ball in stride and completed the 74-yard touchdown play.

“We’ve done a [running] play first every game,” Wallace said. “[El Camino Real] was bunching up by the line. It was a good time to try going deep.”

Wallace added touchdown receptions of 20 and 36 yards in the first quarter. The latter came after he bobbled a pass from Hance, broke two tackles and sprinted to the end zone.

“He made me look like a superstar,” Hance said.

Hance, who completed 13 of 18 passes for 226 yards, kept going to Wallace in the second half. Still facing single coverage, Wallace added touchdown receptions of five and two yards before leaving early in the fourth quarter.

Wallace caught 26 passes in Taft’s first three games and appeared certain to break Damon Coleman’s single-season school record of 73 set in 1996.

He eased back into the offense last week, catching three passes against Chatsworth. He’s among the City Section leaders with 39 receptions despite playing in only five games and could play in five more, if Taft reaches the City championship game.

Wallace’s return comes at an opportune time for the Toreadors. Ronald Andrews, a two-way starter who has 24 receptions, was dismissed from the team this week.

“Losing Ronald is tough, but with [Wallace] back, it’s like having 1 1/2 players back,” running back Marquis Brignac said.

Even with the El Camino Real defense keying on Brignac, he gained 110 yards in 22 carries.

Backup Damion Ramsey added 78 in 10 carries and a four-yard touchdown in the final minute.

Taft’s passing game overshadowed a defensive effort the held the Conquistadores (4-4-1, 3-3) to 74 yards and posted its fourth shutout in seven games.

El Camino Real’s tailback committee of Devontra Hargrove, DeAngelo Nedd and Justin Graham was held to 82 yards in 26 carries.

The Conquistadores had only one sustained possession, a 13-play drive in the second quarter that didn’t get past the Taft 34.

The Toreadors set up a showdown next week with Granada Hills for the Northwest Valley Conference title. Another victory for Taft would virtually guarantee a high seeding in the City playoffs.

Taft has reached the 4-A title game the last two years but has never won.

“All the shutouts are great,” Brignac said. “But it’s not going to mean anything if we don’t win the championship.”

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* CAREER DAY

Kyle Boller of Hart High passed for 474 yards and seven touchdowns and the Indians downed Burbank, 49-6.

* Campbell Hall: 42

* Southern California Christian: 14

Roundup, Page 15