Relentless Granada Hills Overpowers Taft, 34-7

Great Scots! Isn’t it about time somebody came up with a nickname for the Granada Hills High defensive unit?

How does the Fearsome Elevensome grab you?

The Mean Green Wrecking Machine?

Tartan Curtain?

“Just call us relentless for now,” Highlander linebacker Kirk Langer said.

That’ll do.

Granada Hills, the Valley area’s top-ranked team, was relentless and then some in defeating Taft, 34-7, Friday night in a Northwest Valley Conference game at Taft.

The hard-charging Highlanders (5-0, 2-0 in conference play), who have allowed just 34 points in five games, did not give up an offensive touchdown for the second consecutive week.

Taft (2-2, 1-1) scored when Highlander quarterback Bryan Martin ran into running back Leon Glasgow on a broken play, fumbled and Bernard Gregory recovered the ball in the end zone.

By then, however, Granada Hills had already scored 27 points and was comfortably ahead in the fourth quarter.

The Highlanders picked off three passes, returning one for a touchdown, and forced a fourth turnover on a fumble.

Fullback-linebacker Brett Washington led Granada Hills on both sides of the line, scoring touchdowns on runs of 59 and seven yards, and making key defensive stops. He finished with 172 yards in 13 carries.

Martin completed eight of 12 for 141 yards and two touchdowns to William Moringlane.