CRENSHAW IS HUNGRY FOR REVENGE.

Byline: - Matthew Kredell

A lot has changed since Taft beat Crenshaw 35-34 in a wild game to open the season.

Crenshaw's star in that game, receiver/defensive back Tyquan Knox, was forced off the team because of an off-field issue. And Taft quarterback Exavier Johnson, a shaky sophomore making his first start at the time, has blossomed into one of the top quarterback prospects in the area.

If that seems to point toward a Taft victory in tonight's City Section final at the Coliseum, there are other factors yet to play themselves out.

Crenshaw turned the ball over four times in the first half to fall behind 35-12, then dominated Taft in the second half and nearly pulled out a victory.

``We just ran out of time in Game 1,'' said Crenshaw offensive coordinator Eric Scott, a former UCLA receiver. ``If you take away the four turnovers in the first half, it would have been a different game.''

Scott thinks Knox's departure has made Crenshaw a better team, making the offense multidimensional, with several players stepping up to fill Knox's place.

Like Taft, Crenshaw is a team hungry for a title. Crenshaw has never won a City championship, and this is its first final six years.

Few teams can keep up with Taft's speed, but Crenshaw has the athletes to do it better than most.