Hart Throws Burroughs for Big Loss

You never know what Hart High is going to throw at you. About the only thing you do know is that Hart is going to throw the football.

And throw the football . . . and throw the football.

Hart hammered host Burroughs, 47-11, in a Foothill League opener Friday night as Rob Westervelt completed 22 of 32 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns.

Senior tailback Howard Blackwell scored four touchdowns--one on a four-yard pass from Westervelt--and ran for 152 yards and three touchdowns in 16 carries.

The pair have been virtually unstoppable this season. Hart (5-1 overall), however, unleashed multiple weapons, tactics and surprises in its eighth consecutive victory over Burroughs.

Wide receiver Adam Barlow (three receptions, 39 yards, one touchdown), reserve fullback Pablo Garcia (two receptions, 21 yards, one touchdown) and reserve wide receiver Matt Bullock (two receptions, 58 yards) each stepped to the fore.

Blackwell, one of eight Hart players with a reception--hauled in six passes for 67 yards. All this against a Burroughs defense that had allowed only 277 yards passing in five games.

“We expected them to play a little better against the pass,” Westervelt said.

Hart also executed to perfection a surprise onside kick late in the first quarter that led to a 19-0 lead, and a hurry-up offense near the end of the half that produced four Westervelt completions--including a 26-yard touchdown to Barlow--and a 26-3 halftime lead.

“The onside kick, we didn’t plan on using,” Hart Coach Mike Herrington said. “But they had all their linemen in between the hash marks and we said, ‘Look at this!’ They gave it to us and we took advantage of it.”

Hart scored three times before Burroughs made a first down.

Hart’s opening drive faltered when Westervelt and Blackwell bungled a pitch and Burroughs recovered at its 17.

Four plays later, however, Hart began an eight-play, 36-yard march that culminated in a one-yard touchdown run by fullback Scott Renfro.

Three minutes later, Westervelt connected with Garcia for an eight-yard touchdown pass. Thirty-eight seconds later, after the onside kick, Blackwell pranced eight yards for a touchdown.

Burroughs (1-5) moved from its 37 to Hart’s seven on the opening drive of the second quarter as quarterback Dennis Rodriguez completed passes of 40 and three yards to running back Danny Suarez. The drive stalled, however, and Jeff Geirok kicked a 24-yard field goal.

Burroughs’ other score came early in the fourth quarter on a 33-yard touchdown run by Andre Banks. Burroughs managed only 219 total yards to Hart’s 471.

Westervelt, who was eight for eight for 101 yards in the second half, connected with Blackwell on a four-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter for a 33-7 lead. Blackwell ran for touchdowns of four and 18 yards in the fourth quarter.