SLOPPY WIN GOES TO TAFT : TAFT 18, DORSEY 6.

Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer

This never had a chance to be a classic. The mistakes wouldn't allow it.

Both Dorsey High School football coach Paul Knox and Taft's Troy Starr walked away shaking their heads over Taft's penalty-filled 18-6 win Friday night at Taft High School.

The Toreadors (2-0) scored 12 first-quarter points and wouldn't score again until Sedric Hurns' game-clinching 36-yard touchdown with 2:38 left. In that three-quarter scoreless period, the Taft defense was busy stopping Dorsey's every threat.

Finally, an interception by Arabin Justinstaved off Dorsey's final drive.

It was penalties, however, a combined 27 by both teams, that overshadowed fine defensive errors. There were six 15-yard flags called and several offsetting penalties which extended the game to three hours.

``We're definitely a long way from the Coliseum,'' Starr said. ``The week off didn't do us any good. We have a lot to work on.''

Dorsey (1-2) abandoned its wing-T offense which gave teams troubles for years. Instead, the Dons tried to establish the pass. It didn't work until the second quarter, when they drove 74 yards in eight plays. Navin McGee's 14-yard catch made it 12-6 Taft.

The Dons would continue to move the ball. And the Taft defense would continue to hold when it counted. Dorsey receiver Edell Shephard caught a 40-yard pass at the Taft 4 late in the second half. The Dons, however, could not score. Quarterback Lonnie Shephard threw two incomplete passes and Major Cobbs was stopped for a 2-yard loss as the half ended.

That seemed to take some momentum away from the Dons.

``That was big because if we score, it's tied,'' Knox said. ``The second half was played even. But I was glad with the way we played.''

Taft's offense, which struggled in the opener, continued that trend. Quarterback Steve Alvarado threw for just 65 yards on 6-of-21 passing. He endured dropped passes, overthrew open receivers and never got untracked. The running game was stymied by a game Dorsey defense, except for two plays, both touchdown runs by Hurns (eight carries, 105 yards).

That left the pressure on the defense. Honeycutt threw for 145 yards, unheard of for a Dorsey quarterback, but the Dons never were able to get the big play. Dorsey drove deep into Taft territory again in the second half. This time Taft forced Honeycutt to throw a prayer into the end zone on fourth down.

It was hardly the Taft team that romped the Dons 42-6 at Dorsey last season. Starr had never beaten Dorsey at home, losing twice in the playoffs in 1993-94. Finally beating Dorsey, however, was lost in Taft's inability to make plays.

``I told you we're not the team everybody thinks we are,'' Starr said. ``We were able to win, but we looked bad doing it.''