Carson Is No Match for Taft

If this was a statement game, Woodland Hills Taft made it loud and clear.

The Toreadors dominated Carson from the outset, rolling up a 32-point, first-half lead on the way to a surprisingly easy 39-0 victory in a nonleague game between two City Section powers Friday night at Taft.

Quarterback Cary Dove threw for four touchdowns, three to wide receiver Paul Pratt. But this was a night when the Toreador defense was in the spotlight.

The unit forced three turnovers, registered four sacks and knocked Carson quarterback Beau Davis out of the game with a separated left shoulder.

“If we’re going to win any championship this year, it’s going to be with our defense,” Taft Coach Troy Starr said. “Defense wins championships. They played really well.”

Taft (2-0), ranked No. 8 by The Times, used its offense to apply pressure early in the game. Using a halfback-option pass in the shadow of its end zone, Ian Bell completed a 46-yard strike to Noah Smith on the first play to move the ball to midfield.

Bell kept the opening drive alive with a 29-yard run down to the Carson 12. Two plays later, Dove hit Steve Smith on a slant pattern for a three-yard touchdown.

Taft made it 14-0 when Dove found Pratt in the back of the end zone for a 19-yard scoring play. Dove finished with 188 yards passing, but the Toreadors didn’t need to put up huge offensive numbers as a shellshocked Carson team began to fall apart.

Kevin McCall fumbled a handoff and linebacker Lance Broadus picked it up in stride to make it 19-0. McCall fumbled on the next possession and Taft scored moments later on Bell’s nine-yard run.

The Toreadors added the finishing blow when Dove threw his third scoring pass, a 10-yarder to Pratt over the middle. No. 13 Carson (1-1) made a last-gasp drive to midfield, but Davis was sacked by Justin Thaemert to end a disastrous first half.

“They had a great performance,” Carson Coach John Aguirre said. “But it’s Week 2. You can’t bag the whole season in Week 2. We sort of fumbled and stumbled tonight.”

The Colts finished with 238 total yards, but only 63 came on the ground.

“I’m not going to brag about a September win,” Starr said. “We’re not going to get too high over this.”

Eric Stephens

Lake Balboa Birmingham 38, San Pedro 14--Chad Green had six receptions for 189 yards and caught touchdown passes of 80, 55 and 18 yards in the first half for the visiting Patriots, who led, 31-0, after three quarters.

Ryan Lombardo completed 11 of 14 passes for 334 yards and kicked a 23-yard field goal for Birmingham (1-1), which was coming off a last-minute, 24-20 loss to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Dennis Keyes rushed for 192 yards in 15 carries, including a 66-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter that ended a six-play, 99-yard drive.

Dustin Garneau completed eight of 21 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Starter Steven Taylor completed nine of 16 passes for 104 yards for San Pedro (1-1), which was trying to avenge a 33-21 first-round playoff loss last season.

John Whitt caught seven passes for 137 yards for the Pirates, including a 44-yard touchdown reception with 25 seconds to play. Ranier Howard led San Pedro with 97 yards in 20 carries and Deon Bell added 86 yards in 13 carries.

Steve Galluzzo

Wilmington Banning 28, North Hollywood 6--Patrick Perry rushed for 182 yards in 12 carries, including scoring runs of 57 and 51 yards, and A.J. Tuitele added 132 yards in 18 carries with two touchdowns to lead the Pilots at Banning.

The Huskies (1-1), coming off a victory over Granada Hills, scored on their opening drive by going 92 yards in 20 plays, capped by German Perez’s one-yard scoring run. But North Hollywood committed three turnovers that resulted in 14 points for Banning (2-0). Perez finished with 52 yards in 12 carries and Justin Tyler added 60 yards in 15 rushes for the Huskies.

Rafer Weigel