It came down to a penalty.

With 7:36 to play in the game, and the score tied at 21, Scott Hamilton appeared to have his second interception of the night. But a roughing the passer penalty against the Saugus Centurions enabled the Taft Toreadores to continue their drive.  On the next play, Taft quarterback Jake Dashnaw connected with running back Forrest Carter from 34 yards out to give the Toreadores the win 28-21 over the Centurions.

The game was televised by SCVTV.

The Centurions (3-2) had control of this game, however.  They amassed 372 yards of total offense, 356 of it on the ground.  The Toreadores (1-3) were held to just 218 total yards.

But the difference was the big plays.

On the first play of the game Saugus quarterback Jared Carbajal fumbled.  A minute 38 later Taft scored their first touchdown of the season as Dashnaw hit Anthony Fowler from 15 yards out for the early score.

The Centurions were able to take advantage of two Taft turnovers in the second quarter to take a 14-7 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, Taft’s DeJuan Butler returned a punt 65 yards for the score to tie it at 14,  After both teams traded punts, Saugus drove the length of the field and Carbajal made it count with a 1-yard touchdown plunge to give the Centurions a 21-14 lead.

But on the very next possession, Dashnaw hit Devon Hawkins for a 72-yard touchdown strike to tie the game at 21.

And then came the penalty.

Carbajal was 1 of 7 passing for 16 yards but did pick up 86 on the ground and two touchdowns.  Vincent Gerardo was the leading rusher for Saugus with 99 yards and a touchdown.

Saugus has a bye next week as they prepare for Canyon to start league play on October 14.