HS FOOTBALL: Tough times at Taft

It's back to the drawing board for Taft. After advancing to the City Section Div. I quarterfinals or further in each of the past four seasonws, the Toreadors continue to struggle under new coach Chris Rizzo, losing 20-14 to Birmingham on a long touchdown with five seconds left.

Taft (1-6) has given up an average of more than 35 points a game - a far cry from last year's team that featured record-setting quarterback Michael Bercovici (now at Arizona State) and defensive lineman Antwaun Woods (now at USC).

"Our kids played with passion and fought until the end," Rizzo said. "As disappointing as it was not to get the win, it's a performance we can learn from and build on."