Taft Ground Up Again, This Time by Locke, 27-21

Taft High succumbed to a strong running attack for the second week in a row and was upset by Locke, 27-21, Friday in a nonleague game at Locke.

Alvin Marshall rushed for 147 yards and scored three touchdowns, including a 91-yard kickoff return, to lead the Saints (1-1).

Locke, which was defeated last week by San Pedro, 30-8, set up the deciding score when Deshawn Cabong intercepted a pass and returned it 41 yards to the Taft 24. Five plays later Leonard Payne scored on a one-yard run to give the Saints their first lead, 27-21, with 5:13 to play.

Taft (0-2), the defending City champion, surrendered 250 yards rushing to Locke a week after giving up 338 yards on the ground in a 49-19 loss to Banning. Locke completed only one pass.

The Toreadors twice had the ball with less than five minutes remaining, but the first drive ended with an interception and on the second Taft turned the ball over on downs.

Brandon Hance of Taft passed for 198 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. Tight end Gregg Guenther left with a shoulder injury in the first quarter.

Hance connected with Gerard Jones on an 11-yard pass play to give Taft a 21-13 on the first play of the fourth quarter, but Marshall returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.

Greig Carlson had touchdown receptions of 68 and 21 yards for Taft.