Hargis Gains 106 as Magnolia Rushes Past Katella, 28-7

James Hargis, a 5-foot 5-inch, 145-pound tailback, rushed for 106 yards on 7 carries and scored a touchdown to help lead Magnolia High School to a 28-7 victory over Katella Friday night in Anaheim’s Glover Stadium.

Hargis led the Sentinel rushing attack that gained 303 yards and accounted for all four of Magnolia’s touchdowns. Fullback Dan Falt scored two touchdowns and gained 60 yards rushing while quarterback John Hangartner--the coaches’ son--ran for the other.

The game marked the Magnolia coaching debut of John Hangartner Sr., who had coached at Kennedy High in La Palma for 19 years prior to a one-year layoff at the end of the 1983 season.

Katella took a 7-0 lead by driving 69 yards in 8 plays to a two-yard scoring run by quarterback Greg Portis just 3:52 into the game. Running back Terry Johnson, who gained 144 yards on 18 carries, rushed four times in the drive, netting 57 yards.

The Knights appeared to be driving toward another score on the following possession when Portis’ fumble at the eight-yard line was recovered by Magnolia linebacker Pat Henry. From there, the Sentinels drove 92 yards in 8 plays, with Hangartner scoring from the eight to tie the score at 7-7 with 10:59 remaining in the half.

Magnolia took the lead, 14-7, on its next possession as Falt scored from the two with 2:29 left before halftime.

Hargis made it 21-7 with an 18-yard run with 7:58 left in the third quarter and Falt added a one-yard scoring run with 8:05 remaining in the game to cap the Sentinels’ scoring.

Magnolia fullback Tim Schmidt gained 85 yards rushing on 10 carries and Halt added 60 yards on 12 carries.