BY MICHAEL WOJTYCHIW                                                                  Sept. 25, 2010

Not even a rough start could stop Taft from coming up with a 24-20 Big Shoulders win over Schurz Friday afternoon at Lane Stadium.

Michael Shewchuk overcame two first-half interceptions to lead the Eagles to a come-from-behind win. With a minute on the clock, Shewchuk completed two of three passes for 60 yards and scored the go-ahead 10-yard touchdown with 24 seconds remaining.

“I don’t think I did anything special,” Shewchuk said. “I did what I needed to do. When we are down by a certain numer of points, we come together. It’s not supposed to be that way, it should be that way the entire game. But we did come together and pulled out the win.”

Schurz got the ball back at the 40-yard line and a Vernall Atwater 42-yard completion to Louis Kelly gave the Bulldogs a first down at the 18. His ensuing pass was intercepted by Leo Ivery, giving Taft (5-0, 3-0) the victory.

After a scoreless opening quarter, the Eagles got on the board on the first play of the second period as Shewchuk (8 of 18, 151 yards, touchdown) ran 30 yards on a quarterback draw to put Taft up 6-0. Atwater tied the game with a 10-yard run of his own with 19 seconds to go in the first half.

Shewchuk rushed for two more touchdowns (8 and 10 yards) on his way to 68 yards rushing on six carries. Michael Calabrese added four catches for 60 yards and a touchdown for the Eagles.

Jonathan Ramos led the Bulldogs (1-4, 0-3) with 51 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries.