Hart Wins Its Traditional Title, 43-26

There was no excitement for Hart Coach Rick Scott after his team won its fourth consecutive Foothill League championship.

It was expected. Had been ever since spring training.

“We worked so dog-gone hard in the summertime, when it pays off,” Scott said. “We’re big and strong. We’ve got tradition. And we play hard.

“That’s why we deserved it.”

Hart clinched its latest league title with a 43-26 decision over Burbank on Friday night at College of the Canyons. The hero? Why Jim Bonds, of course. Who else on this night of the very expected?

Bonds completed 16 of 23 passes for 340 yards and 5 touchdowns. And all that in less than three full quarters of play. Scott Wheeler and David Lee, both tight ends, combined to catch four of the touchdowns. Wheeler’s went for 29 and 80 yards, while Lee’s went for 42 and 6.

Hart scored on four of its five possessions in the first half to take a 30-0 lead.

Bonds, who was 11 of 16 for 204 yards in the first half, got the Indians off to a fast start with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Wheeler. It was the first of three scoring passes for Bonds in the first half.

On Hart’s next possession, Bonds completed a four-play, 69-yard drive with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Lee.

Linebacker Ralph Elliott intercepted an Eric Vargas pass at the Burbank 33-yard line to set up Hart’s third touchdown of the first quarter, a one-yard run by Andy Iacenda.

Burbank’s only serious scoring threat of the first half failed when Abo Velasco’s 35-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right in the second quarter.

Burbank defensive tackle Jim Russell was responsible for thwarting Hart the one time the Indians had the ball and didn’t score. He recovered a fumble by Bonds at the Hart 31.

But even that backfired. After stopping Burbank on four plays, Hart came back to score on a Bonds-to-Chris Hite pass of five yards.

Hart’s final score of the half came on a 35-yard field goal by Jim Harper with 37 seconds left.

Hart led, 43-6, when Bonds went out with a little less than two minutes left in the third period.

Three fumbles by Hart’s second and third offensive teams led to the rest of Burbank’s points, including a 47-yard fumble return by Jeff Holt.