Taft’s Sluggish Start Isn’t Enough to Slow Clausen & Co., 41-30

First quarter, not so fruitful.

Second quarter, different story.

Taft High scored four touchdowns in the second quarter, led by 19 points twice and finished with a 41-30 victory over Locke on Friday night in a nonleague game at Taft.

Quarterback Ricky Clausen completed 16 of 27 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns for Taft (2-0).

Clausen’s 31-yard scoring strike to Chris Morgan three seconds before halftime gave the Toreadors a 27-8 lead.

Clausen scored Taft’s last touchdown on a one-yard sneak.

Lee Marks rushed for 141 yards in 12 carries and scored Taft’s first touchdown on a 75-yard run early in the second quarter. He also caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Clausen.

Morgan had five receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns, and Steve Smith added five catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.

Marks fumbled the second-half kickoff, and Locke recovered at Taft’s 13-yard line. Jerry Jackson scored on a 10-yard run three plays later.

Lamar Reynolds ran 36 yards for another score on the Saints’ next possession to pull Locke (0-2) to within 27-22 with 8:52 remaining in the third quarter.

Taft answered with a six-play, 71-yard drive capped by Clausen’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Smith. The Toreadors next possession was a five-play, 65-yard drive which ended with Clausen’s sneak.

It appeared Taft would score again when it marched to the Saints’ 11-yard line late in the fourth quarter, but Isaiah Abubaker intercepted Clausen’s pass and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown.