HS FOOT: Crespi holds off Taft 53-47 in wild win

For once, a highly anticipated football showdown lived up to the hype.

Everyone was expecting an offensive shootout Friday between visiting Taft High and Crespi, and that's what they got, as the host Celts prevailed 53-47 behind Kenny Stenhouse, who completed 17 of 23 passes for 364 yards and a school-record six touchdowns before a crowd of about 4,000.

Taft's Michael Bercovici completed 34 of 50 for 431 yards and five touchdowns, but after his last touchdown pass, a 32-yarder to Miles Johnson with one minute, 22 seconds remaining, Crespi's Christopher Harper recovered the onside kick, and the Celts (5-1) ran out the clock.

"We're a good team. We have a chance this year," Stenhouse said.

Stenhouse, a senior who has patiently waited his turn to be Crespi's starting quarterback this season, has passed for 1,730 yards and 20 touchdowns. Three times over the past four games, he has passed for 364 yards or more.

"He's doing a great job. He's connecting with us, and he's a great quarterback," said Devin Lucien, who had six receptions for 188 yards and three touchdowns, including a 65-yarder on Crespi's third play of the game. Mike Davison added six catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns, and he had four kickoff returns of 50 yards or longer.

"We played our hearts out tonight," Davison said. "We knew we could beat this team, and we just kept our focus and played our hearts out."

After failing to make the playoffs the past two seasons, Crespi looks like a strong favorite to win the powerful Serra League - and perhaps beyond - as the Celts begin league competition Friday at Bishop Amat.

Taft's Michael Thomas had nine receptions for 130 yards and three touchdowns. Jonathan Major added seven receptions for 127 yards and Miles Johnson had six catches for 100 yards. Kenny Thompson had 25 carries for 170 yards with three touchdowns, including a 22-yard reception.