Updated with head coach Taylor Brown quotes
FALL RIVER — They were takeaways for Taunton, turnovers for Durfee. Whatever label is attached, the plays were pivotal on Friday night as Taunton edged the Hilltoppers 24-21 in their football game at Mac Aldrich Field.
Midway through the second quarter, Durfee fumbled on second-and-5 at the Tiger 7 yard line. On the second play of the fourth quarter, Taunton sophomore Trent Santos intercepted a third down pass and returned 79 yards for a touchdown and 24-13 lead.
Jason Hall's second rushing touchdown run of the night and Isaiah Thomas' conversion pass to Najier Monteiro pulled Durfee to 24-21 with 5:15 to play.
Durfee's defense held, forcing a punt. The Hilltoppers (1-1) took over at their own 29 with 3:23 to play and had second-and-2 at the Taunton 32 yard line with a little over a minute to play before the next three plays netted minus-1 yard, the Tigers (1-1) taking over on downs with 18 seconds remaining.
"It was a great game," Durfee head coach Taylor Brown said. "We did a good job up front. I think we did a good job running the football, getting positive yards. Football games come down to turnovers and penalties and I think we lost that battle tonight with some turnovers."
Taunton grabbed a quick 6-0 lead on Josh Lopes' 2-yard touchdown run. Durfee answered before the first quarter was exhausted. A blocked punt gave Durfee possession at the Taunton 7. Two plays later, Hall scored from 2 yards. Sebastian Inacio kicked for a 7-6 lead.
Monteiro capped an impressive drive with a 3-yard TD run on the sixth play of the second quarter, making it 13-6 (kick failed). Two plays from scrimmage later, Taunton's Daniel MacDougall floated a perfect bomb down the left side for a 52-yard touchdown completion to Javon Franklin, shaving Durfee's lead to 13-12.
Bryan Cruz returned the ensuing kickoff 48 yards to the Tiger 31. Five plays later, Durfee fumbled on first-and-goal at the 7.
Durfee fumbled again late in the half, giving Taunton the ball at the Durfee 31, but the defense held, keyed by Monteiro nailing Lopes for an 1-yard loss on first down from the 11.
"I'm happy with this team's fight," Brown said. "We're a very young team. We've got some very special in front of us. This team's going to respond well. This team is a bunch of football players. They've been playing together for a while, so they're going to respond next week."