Shirreffs stars in Taft's victory
| Friday, Sep 25 2009 11:40 PM
Last Updated Friday, Sep 25 2009 11:42 PM
TAFT -- Running back Cody Shirreffs gained 215 yards on 29 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead Taft High to a 34-21 victory over Coalinga on Friday at Martin Memorial Stadium.
Coalinga (0-3) had not scored in either of its previous outings and things seemed to worsen as Taft's Brian Parsons stepped in front of a wayward pass for an interception on the Horned Toads' first play. That set up a Shaquil Gant 3-yard TD run for Taft (3-1).
The Wildcats' Andrew Smith recovered a fumble on the Horned Toads' next possession, running it in for 20-yard TD.
The Horned Toads broke their scoring drought midway through the second quarter when Dustin Young tossed an 8-yard TD pass over the middle into double coverage to wide receiver Austin Vierhus.
Shirreffs ended the first half scoring when he picked off a pass and ran it back for a 44-yard touchdown to put the Wildcats up 21-7.
Taft's Daniel Watts ripped off a 54-yard TD run to begin the third quarter, giving the Cats a commanding 28-7 lead.
Taft extended its lead to 34-7 in the fourth quarter when Shirreffs sprinted down the sideline for a 38-yard TD run.
Coalinga started its next drive on its own 35-yard line and on the first play, halfback Brian Alvarado took the handoff and tossed a 65-yard pass to a wide open Carlos Hernandez, who ran it in for the score, narrowing the deficit 34-14.
With time running out, the Horned Toads scored in the closing minutes when quarterback Dustin Young hit Hernandez just inside the marker, for a 20-yard TD reception, his second of the game.
