Though the teams competed until the final whistle, it was clear that this game was about more than winning or losing.

Thursday night was an important matchup for both the visiting Taft Toreadors and the host Granada Hills Highlanders. In their second contest of West Valley League play, both teams were looking for something specific from the game outside of a win or a loss. Though Granada Hills took the win 40-21, there was much more to this one than the box score. The Highlanders came in looking for consistency following their overtime loss to Cleveland last week, whereas the Toreadors were looking for their next man up. Playing without standout wide receivers Legend Wilson and Erik Koron, coach Thomas Randolph shuffled players around looking for someone to step up and fill a role for the team moving forward. 

“The thing that we’re proud of is that they’re working hard and they’re getting better,” reflected Granada Hills head coach Bucky Brooks after the game. “They play hard. They’re a good group and as long as they work hard, we have a chance.”

Once the game started, there was no looking back. The Highlanders marched the field and scored just over two and a half minutes into the game. The Toreadors answered back, going down the field in about the same time span. Their two-point pass attempt was no good and the game stood 8-6. Granada Hills would punch back immediately with senior Logan Brock taking the first hand off the next drive 80 yards for a touchdown.

The Toreadors cut into the lead late in the second quarter down 32-6 with a rushing touchdown from senior AJ Sims. Taft converted the extra point to make it 32-13. The Highlanders, however, would respond quickly again. This time junior Michael Osuna scored on a 7-yard run just 40 seconds later. A converted two-point run would cap the scoring for Granada Hills, giving them a 40-13 lead going into halftime.

Randolph asked the officials for a running clock during the second half because there was more to play for than what was on the scoreboard. “I never want my kids, because they are kids, to believe that they are defined by a final score.” He said after the game. “Nothing tells you who you are more than adversity and being down.” 

Randolph went on to say that part of the decision to run the clock was to keep the morale of his team up on the sideline. The Toreadors defense had been unable to produce any stops on defense in the first half. There was the potential of the score growing more and more lopsided and Randolph losing the team to their perceptions of a blowout. With the running clock, Taft was able to experiment more with different looks, and the players on the sideline stayed engaged and cheered their teammates on until the final whistle.

Senior Dakota Garner replaced starting quarterback Nathan Swinson as the team utilized a wildcat setup. This almost resulted in a touchdown late in the third quarter when Garner, on what appeared to be an option play, lateralled the ball to Sims who gained nine yards but was stopped at the 1-yard line on fourth and goal. Garner later broke free for a 20-yard touchdown for the final score of the game.

“We’ve shown them (in film sessions) you’re really close to being a really really good team” said Brooks. “What we hope is in the next few weeks we find our stride and it clicks in time for the playoffs.

Both teams will return to action on Friday October 18. Taft will host the Chatsworth Chancellors while Granada Hills travels to El Camino.