Harbor Meets Another Ranked Team Saturday : Taft Will Test Improving Seahawks

L.A. Harbor College football Coach Chris Ferragamo says a victory in Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. game against visiting Taft College is not farfetched. Ferragamo is not concerned with the fact that his team is unranked and Taft is ranked first in the state.

“We expected to win last week against El Camino,” Ferragamo said. “I think we just made too many mental mistakes.”

The Seahawks will use the pass against Taft as they did against highly-ranked El Camino. Sophomore quarterback Eddie Lopez, new at the position, had an impressive performance against the Warriors, passing for 263 yards and three touchdowns despite being sacked nine times.

“He’s improved 500%,” Ferragamo said. “That was a good tuneup for him. I told everybody from the beginning that I think he’s a very good quarterback.”

Freshman Marcel Bridges’ and sophomore Michael Williams’ speed and great moves will help the Seahawks’ running game. Both had touchdown receptions last week.

“There’s no doubt,” Ferragamo said, “that our strength right now is defense. We’re two weeks behind in offense. Our blocking isn’t good.”

That has to change if Harbor wants a victory over the Cougars, who defeated Cerritos, 27-7, in their season opener.

Taft’s specialty is offense since quarterback Kalini Hallums has perfected running the option. The sophomore completed seven of 13 passes against Cerritos.

“Our strength right now,” said Taft Coach Al Baldock, “is our speed. Two-thirds of our team is freshman, so we’re very inexperienced, but we have speed.”

An example is wide receiver Davis Harlan, a track star, who caught five passes against Cerritos. Fullback Anthony Nicholson is also very quick and a threat. Ferragamo believes that his team can stop both men and attain it’s first victory of the season as the Seahawks strive to improve last year’s 2-7-1 record.

“I think the key to our winning is to play good defense,” he said. “We’re big and strong, and if we really tackle and get to the ball we can be successful.”