MacArthur kicks Hart to the Foothill League title

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We all knew Johnny MacArthur could make the clutch field goal -- just ask the boys over at Canyon how well he can kick under pressure. But after Hart’s 21-21 tie a couple of weeks ago against Valencia, there was a sense of uneasiness when MacArthur trotted onto the field with the score tied at 21-21 with 16 seconds left.

But MacArthur made sure he was clutch Friday night, kicking a 29-yard field goal to give Hart a 24-21 victory and its first Foothill League title since 2003. Two out of three isn’t bad for a guy who hadn’t even made a field goal until his game-winner against the Cowboys.

‘We talked about when he missed the one against Valencia, how he hurried it and tried to kick it too hard,’ said Herrington about his kicker who’s committed to play golf next year at Pepperdine. ‘So we told him, ‘Johnny take it just like your golf swing -- nice and easy and follow through’. And he just got it done for us.’

MacArthur, in my book has been the revelation of the season for the Indians. Without him, they easily could have endured three ties instead of one and Saugus would be the Foothill League champion. I think everyone over at Hart should chip in and buy him a new set of clubs when the season is over.

(Here’s a photo of MacArthur concentrating on the sidelines just before his game-winning kick.)

-- Austin Knoblauch