Catch This: Carlson Sets Taft Record

There’s a reason Greig Carlson’s mother didn’t go for the common spelling when she named her son.

And it isn’t because she can’t spell.

“She just wanted me to be a little different. . . to stand out,” Carlson said.

Carlson stood out like a glaring neon sign on a foggy, moonless night Thursday night by breaking a 24-year old Taft High school record with 293 receiving yards in the Toreadors’ 48-28 victory over host Chatsworth in a West Valley League game.

Taft (5-4 overall, 4-0 in league play), which trailed once, 21-20, early in the third quarter, clinched a share of the league title.

The Toreadors, who rolled for 592 yards, had plenty of big plays on offense, but Carlson hoarded the lion’s share.

“We were throwing 10-yard passes, the receivers were breaking a lot of tackles and just running free,” said Brandon Hance, who completed 13 of 20 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns.

Three of Carlson’s eight receptions went for 59 yards or more. He scored on pass plays of 96, 59 and seven yards and set up Taft’s second touchdown when he turned a short pass into a 68-yard gain.

His 15-yard reception on third and two at Taft’s 34 late in the third quarter gave him 267 yards in five catches, snapping Jeff Fisher’s record of 256 yards set in 1975. Fisher is coach of the Tennessee Titans.

Carlson was surprised by his yardage when he was told of his record-setting feat.

“It didn’t seem like I was doing that well,” he said. “We just did what we had to do. [We] were catching passes and it was off to the races.”

The game did resembled a track meet. Taft’s first play from scrimmage was a 71-yard run by Lee Marks which set up the Toreadors’ first score, Hance’s one-yard touchdown run. Marks finished with 143 yards in 17 carries.

Chatsworth (2-7, 1-3) countered with a scoring drive and tied it, 7-7, on an eight-yard pass from Matt Cassel to Marvin Street.

Cassel completed 20 of 36 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns.

Three plays later Taft scored on an eight-yard swing pass from Hance to Marks for a 13-7 lead.

Later on second and 13 at its own four-yard line, Hance hit Carlson with a timing pass at the 20 and Carlson streaked down the Chatsworth sideline for a 96-yard touchdown and a 20-7 lead.

Chatsworth scored on its last possession of the first half and first possession of the second half to take a 21-20 lead.

Taft, which scored touchdowns on its final four possessions, trailed for only 19 seconds, reclaiming the lead on a 59-yard pass play from Hance to Carlson.

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FRIENDLY ADVERSARIES

Longtime friends Sean Blunt and Chris Richards, former high school teammates, will meet for the first time as football coaches when Blunt’s San Fernando team plays Richards’ Monroe squad.

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GAME DAY

Notre Dame High’s stifling defense will be tested by St. Francis’ balanced offense tonight in a game that most likely will decide the Mission League title.

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