Holland, Taft Run Past Carson, 35-20

Woodland Hills Taft’s Jamere Holland is the top sprinter in the City Section. The junior is also showing that he can be a top receiver as well.

Holland caught three touchdown passes in the first half -- all on big plays -- and the host Toreadors re-established themselves as title contenders Friday with a 35-20 victory over defending champion Carson that ended the Colts’ 10-game winning streak.

An error-plagued Taft team finished with an uncharacteristic 5-6 record last season. The mistakes seemed to carry over to this season’s opener as quarterback Josh Portis committed two costly fourth-quarter turnovers in a one-point loss to Crenshaw.

After Portis lost a first-quarter fumble that was recovered by Carson’s Lamar Brumfield for a touchdown, Taft didn’t commit another turnover while turning to its newest offensive weapon.

Holland, the defending City champion in the 100 and 200 meters, took full advantage of man-on-man coverage, beating the Colt secondary for touchdowns on plays of 57, 71 and 35 yards as the Toreadors, ranked No. 25 in the Southland by The Times, took a 21-14 halftime lead.

Portis, who passed for 211 yards and rushed for another 64, pushed the lead to 14 points with a 20-yard run in the third quarter.

Shelton Banks added a 38-yard touchdown run.

Carson quarterback Bo Napoleon completed 20 of 39 passes for 206 yards, but the No. 14 Colts lost two fumbles and had trouble finishing drives.

Eric Stephens

*

Compton Dominguez 25, Crenshaw 15 -- The intersectional game ended with 18 seconds left at Crenshaw when several skirmishes broke out on the playing field.

The fighting marred a marvelous game by Dominguez quarterback Marvin Johnson, who threw for touchdowns of nine, 30 and 32 yards, and ran for a 29-yard score in the third quarter. He also intercepted three passes.

Dominguez (2-0), ranked No. 23, led at halftime, 18-0, before No. 21 Crenshaw (1-1) began to rally and frustrations began to grow on both sidelines.

Dominguez was called for seven personal fouls -- six in the second half -- and Crenshaw was whistled for three.

After Johnson’s last interception at the Dominguez 47-yard line with 31 seconds left in the game, there appeared to be at least three different on-field altercations.”It’s sad for the kids and sad for the community,” Crenshaw Coach Robert Garrett said.

Martin Henderson

*

Anaheim Esperanza 38, Manhattan Beach Mira Costa 14 -- Mira Costa suffered its first regular-season defeat since the second week of the 2001 season, giving up 24 unanswered points in the second half at Placentia Valencia.

The No. 18 Mustangs (1-1) held their own against No. 24 Esperanza (3-0) in the first half, out-gaining the Aztecs in total yardage, 215-62.

But Esperanza had three of its four interceptions in the second half, including two by senior linebacker Gary Rogers, turning them into 17 points.

-- Dan Arritt