Defense of Hart Supplies Heroics in 22-3 Victory

Members of the Hart High defense, take a bow. Finally, a victory can be attributed to you and you alone--almost.

The Hart defense gave up 246 yards, but it managed to come up with the big plays when they were needed in a 22-3 victory over West Torrance in the Southern Section’s Coastal Conference semifinals Friday night in Torrance.

Hart (9-3-1), will play No. 1-ranked Muir (12-1) for the conference championship next week. Muir defeated Pasadena, 28-14, Friday night.

Give quarterback Jim Bonds an assist in this victory, however, for it was he who accounted for all but two of the Indians’ points, running for two touchdowns, throwing for another, and even tossing in a two-point conversion. About all he doesn’t do is kick PATs.

In the process of passing for 217 yards, Bonds also broke the school record for passing yards in a season (2,252 in 13 games) previously held by his brother, Tom, who passed for 2,155 yards in 14 games in 1983.

But wait a minute. Let’s remember that this night belonged to the defense.

“We were counting on a great defensive effort and we got it,” said Hart Coach Rick Scott amid the post-game celebration. “The people up front read their keys and did exactly what we wanted them to do. They believe in their ground game and we thought we could stop it if we watched their guards and tackles to see what they were up to.”

The strategy worked so well that it sometimes appeared West Torrance linemen were whispering Hart defenders the plays.

Example: Down 22-3 midway through the third period, West Torrance threatened to get back into the game when Kaiser Noa blocked a punt by Hart’s David Lee and West Torrance took over on the Indians’ 20-yard line.

On the next play, Kevin Maher broke off a 13-yard run, but what followed summed up Hart’s effectiveness on defense.

On first-and-goal from the seven, Hart defensive end Kyle McMullen hit Maher for a two-yard loss. Tim McLean then sacked Warrior quarterback David LaCroix for a six-yard loss, and McMullen sacked him again for a loss of four more yards.

On fourth-and-goal from the 19, West Torrance was forced to go for the touchdown and defensive back Cedric Ingram swatted away a LaCroix pass intended for Richard Bungarden.

Good night, West Torrance.

“We knew they would have to come out in the second half and throw.” McMullen explained. “We just teed off. It bothers me a lot when we play well on defense and no one seems to notice. It feels good to get some credit.”

Hart led, 14-3, at the half, although Bonds had statistically suffered one of his poorest two quarters of the season.

He completed only 5 of 15 pass attempts for 93 yards. During one stretch in the second quarter, he through five incompletions in a row.

The 6-0, 180-pound junior did manage to hurt West Torrance running the ball, however, scoring both of the Indians’ touchdowns.

His one-yard scoring plunge capped a four-play 55-yard march on Hart’s second possession. The short drive was set up when defensive end Kyle McMullen recovered a fumble by West Torrance’s Kaiser Noa. The fumble was forced by a hit from Ingram.

Bonds increased Hart’s lead to 14-0 midway through the second quarter on a seven-yard run.

The defense also set up that score, forcing West Torrance to punt out of its own end zone and giving Hart field position at the Warriors’ 33.

Bonds broke the game wide open on Hart’s first possession of the second half, executing a screen pass to perfection. He faded back under the rush of three West Torrance linemen and apparently had a screen set up to fullback Brian Baie down the right sideline, but he chose to throw back across the field to tailback Chris Hite instead. Hite used some excellent downfield blocking and went 66 yards for a touchdown.

Bonds hit John Libby with a pass for a two-point conversion.

West Torrance (8-3-2), the champion of the Bay League, scored its only points of the game on a 37-yard field goal by Dominick Cefalone with 1:45 remaining in the first half.