Taft Able to Turn It Around

With the final seconds ticking off the clock and a victory over Venice secure, Woodland Hills Taft Coach Troy Starr could exhale and point the way toward the City Section championship game.

“I’ve got directions to the Coliseum,” Starr yelled out to his coaching staff. “I know how to get to it.”

On the strength of three fourth-quarter touchdowns by running back Ian Bell and five interceptions by their talented secondary, the Toreadors continued their path toward redemption with a gritty 31-13 semifinal victory Friday night at El Camino Real High.

Taft (13-0) will play Lake Balboa Birmingham on Friday at the Coliseum for the title in a rematch of the teams’ West Valley League game on Nov. 15, when the Toreadors won, 30-6. It will be the first championship between San Fernando Valley teams in 32 years.

The Toreadors have stayed focused on a mission to avenge a heartbreaking final-play loss to Dorsey in last year’s title game. That focus was never more apparent Friday as they rallied from a 13-10 deficit and held high-scoring Venice to 24 points under its average.

“We’ve got some unfinished business to settle,” said defensive back Paul Pratt, who had two of the interceptions off Venice quarterback Eddie Miller.

Taft quarterback Cary Dove didn’t have his best game of the season but he got the job done when the situation required it. On a decisive 13-play, 70-yard drive to end the third quarter, the senior came up with the game’s biggest play.

Facing third down and seven at the Venice 11-yard line, Dove went back to pass but found a blitzing Carlos Rojas in his face. He escaped the linebacker’s grasp and managed to scramble to the four-yard line for a first down.

Venice Coach Angelo Gasca said the play changed the momentum. “That’s been [Dove’s] biggest improvement ... the ability to create and escape,” he said. “We stop that and its fourth down and, at best, they tie the game with a field goal.”

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Bell squirted through for a 17-13 lead.

The Gondoliers (10-3)managed one first down and had two passes intercepted in the fourth quarter.

Taft made them pay for those mistakes. The Toreadors finally got their running game going as Bell ran for a 12-yard touchdown with 8:27 left for a 24-13 lead. The junior later capped the scoring with a five-yard touchdown after Pratt’s second interception.