SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Connors Leads Hart to Victory Over El Modena

In a matchup of junior quarterbacks, Hart High’s Ryan Connors outperformed El Modena’s Jose Prado to lead the Indians past the Vanguards, 14-7, in the quarterfinal round of the Southern Section Division III playoffs.

Hart (9-3) will play top-seeded Esperanza, a 31-7 winner over Leuzinger, in the semifinals next Friday night.

Connors completed 14 of 25 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown, although three passes were intercepted. Prado was nine for 16 for 134 yards with one interception and fumbled inside the Hart one to end a scoring opportunity in the second quarter.

Connors started the game quickly. After Hart took the opening kickoff, he passed 50 yards to Doug Distaso and then 30 yards to Brian Bernier for the touchdown with just 34 seconds elapsed.

El Modena (8-4) answered at the end of the first quarter on a two-yard touchdown run by Adam Garcia and had another chance to score moments later. After the kickoff, El Modena’s Tim Gray intercepted at the Hart 45 and returned the ball almost to the goal line. But on first down and inches, Prado fumbled the snap, and Hart recovered on the El Modena 3. The Vanguards never again threatened.

Hart finally broke the tie with a 12-play, 70-yard drive.