Dorsey Running Game Wears Out Taft, 42-28

It was a review of an already familiar physics lesson for Taft High.

For every action there is an opposite and . . . yada, yada, yada.

The Toreadors didn’t need the reminder, but Dorsey supplied it anyway, storming to a 42-28 victory Friday night at Taft.

Banning was the first to send the message in a 49-19 victory over Taft two weeks ago. Yes, the same Pilots defeated by the Toreadors in last year’s City Championship game.

Dorsey rushed for 456 yards and overcame a halftime deficit by grounding Taft into complete exhaustion. Yes, the same Dons defeated by the Toreadors in last year’s semifinals as well as during the regular season.

“We turned it into a physical football game in the second half and all that pounding took its toll [on Taft],” Dorsey Coach Paul Knox said.

Tashiri Williams had 163 yards in 25 carries and Jason Pickens added 146 in nine carries for Dorsey (3-0). Javaun Lewis rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

Taft (0-3) led at halftime, 21-12, on the strength of three big plays, but Dorsey scored on its first third-quarter possession and dominated thereafter.

Every time the Toreadors began to move the ball, penalties stalled them. Taft was penalized 12 times for 95 yards.

On a key sequence early in the fourth quarter with Dorsey ahead, 28-21, Taft drove inside the 10-yard line only to be hit twice with delay-of-game penalties. A missed field-goal attempt gave the ball back to the Dons, who scored in seven running plays for a 35-21 lead.

“We are extremely inexperienced and young,” Taft Coach Troy Starr said. “Our effort is increasing, I’ll say that.”