Prep football: Josh Taylor’s big night lifts Casa Roble over No. 14 Lincoln

When the Casa Roble High School football team needed its starting running back to step up, he answered the call.

Senior Josh Taylor was limited to 10 yards on the ground in the first half of Friday night’s game against No. 14 Lincoln in Placer County Then the player nicknamed “Tarzan” by his teammates and coaches exploded for 120 yards and had a 9-yard touchdown in a 29-21 win for the 19th-ranked Rams.

“We needed to burn some clock so we gave him the rock and let him do his thing,” Casa Roble coach Chris Horner said. “He’s a man amongst boys. He did a really good job.”

Horner added, “It’s a huge win. It’s definitely one that tells us what kind of football team we are.”

Taylor made the switch to running back from receiver his sophomore year because his coach wanted him to change positions.

It paid dividends.

“I followed behind my star Ethan Elder,” Taylor said. “We had some great blocks tonight. Great run game. The pass game was there, too. I love running behind my lineman. We have such a good connection.”

What didn’t work out well for Lincoln was kicking the ball to Casa Roble star junior Cole Owens. After Owens burned a defensive back for a 65-yard touchdown in the first quarter, he followed it up with a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown.

“I was like (before that play) there’s no way they’re dumb enough to kick to Cole,” Horner said. “We watched all week that this kid can kick it deep and they don’t have their starters on kick team. If they’re dumb enough to do it, we are going to house it. I just knew it. He’s so good.”

Rams quarterback Connor Campbell threw 101 of his 152 yards to Owens. Campbell’s other touchdown pass was a 6-yard toss to Jack Spradling, who also hauled in the game-sealing interception with less than two minutes remaining. Rams kicker Kevin Curry went 4-for-4 on point-after kicks.

Elijah Huddle also had an interception in the fourth quarter. All Casa Roble players who force a turnover are greeted on the sideline with a white cowboy hat with lights on the side. It’s called the turnover hat and it was made by the wife of a Casa Roble assistant coach.

“Ever since I’ve been at Casa, we have had a turnover hat,” Owens said. “It’s cool. You get to take some pictures in it and celebrate with your team. If you’re a two-way player, you put that thing on and run right back out.”

The big offensive night couldn’t have been possible without the bruising line of Michael Burkhart, Nicholas Castillo Vl, Joe Dexter, Ethan Elder and Bryan Mcelroy. They opened holes and dominated on both sides of the ball.

So how does one reward their linemen after a strong performance? Lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings.

“It’s going to be Bdubs” Taylor said with a laugh. “Those boys eat all day. I love it.”

The game was deadlocked at 14 before Lincoln star running back Ryan Henning scored a 2-yard touchdown. Henning finished with 80 yards and had an 8-yard touchdown burst in the second quarter.

Casa Roble (2-1) has a bye next week. Lincoln (2-1) will play No. 19 Roseville on the road Thursday night.