San Pedro defense stops Taft, 27-7

Thanks to another trademark performance by the City Section’s best defense, San Pedro will be gunning for its fifth section title next weekend.

The Pirates held Taft star running back D.J. Morgan to a season-low 31 yards in 11 carries and maintained a scoreboard presence thanks to the efforts of running backs Joseph Deguchi and Robert Franco to defeat the visiting Toreadors, 27-7, on Friday night.

With the victory, San Pedro (12-1) will play Marine League rival Narbonne for the City Section title on Dec. 13 at the Coliseum. The Gauchos beat San Pedro, 27-24, on Oct. 24.

“It feels good to go back to the championship game,” San Pedro Coach Mike Walsh said. “It’s what we’ve worked for.”

Deguchi spearheaded San Pedro’s running-back-by-committee attack, finishing with 127 yards and a touchdown in 30 carries. Franco finished with 37 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Barry Heads completed one of two pass attempts -- a 23-yard touchdown completion to Benny Weischedel.

Morgan was a non-factor in the game and ran the ball little in the second half.

“Frankly, I thought [Taft Coach Matt Kerstetter] gave up on D.J. too early,” said Walsh, whose team will be making its seventh finals appearance. “We really didn’t have to worry too much about him.”

San Pedro dominated the game from the start, holding Taft (11-2) to 38 total yards in the first half.

The Toreadors found offensive success only after the Pirates used their reserve players late in the game.

Taft quarterback Bam Goodall completed eight of 15 passes for 126 yards, the bulk of which came on a 50-yard touchdown pass to Kalan Booker in the fourth quarter. He also threw two interceptions -- both of which led to San Pedro touchdowns.

-- Austin Knoblauch

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St. Bonaventure cruises into final

Devon Blackledge rushed 18 times for 156 yards and three touchdowns and Logan Meyer completed 11 of 16 passes for 140 yards and one touchdown as top-seeded St. Bonaventure proved why it is ranked among the top teams in the state with a 35-8 victory over Saugus in a Southern Section Northern Division semifinal game at Ventura.

The Seraphs (12-1) advance to next week’s final against the winner of today’s semifinal between Valencia and second-seeded Moorpark.

Blackledge scored on a 34-yard run to give defending champion St. Bonaventure a 35-0 lead with 4:54 remaining. He also had a two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and scored from 17 yards in the third.

Ryan Zirbel rushed for 74 yards in nine carries for Saugus (9-4). Centurions quarterback Desi Rodriguez rushed for 55 yards in 19 carries and completed 13 of 25 passes for 129 yards with one interception.

Saugus (9-4) averted the shutout with an 11-play, 73-yard drive capped by Zirbel’s nine-yard touchdown with 1:09 left. Zirbel then threw to Mario Lara for a two-point conversion.

-- Steve Galluzzo

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Mira Costa rushes past Palmdale

Manhattan Beach Mira Costa had 294 yards rushing in a 20-14 victory over top-seeded Palmdale in a Southern Section’s Western Division semifinal.

The Mustangs (10-3) have won seven straight games and they ended a nine-game winning streak for the Falcons (11-2). Palmdale suffered first-round losses in two of the previous four years.

Junior running back Kellen Lockwood ran for 71 yards and a touchdown, while Chris Loatman had seven carries for 72 yards.

Palmdale quarterback Brandon Mims was 11 for 18 for 117 yards with one touchdown. He also had 18 carries for 42 yards and a touchdown.

Mira Costa took the lead for good late in the third quarter. Trailing 14-13, the Mustangs capped a 10-play, 92-yard drive with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Demarco to Kyle Nunn just as time expired.

-- Mark Medina