Kocicka Begins to Master Hart’s Run-and-Shoot : Quarterback Impressive in L.A. Games Opener

Preparation for summer school began early for Mike Kocicka.

Started in the winter to be exact. And not a moment too soon because the Hart High quarterback had lots to catch up on in one important subject: the Indians’ passing attack.

Since January, offensive coordinator Dean Herrington has tutored Kocicka, a transfer from Crescenta Valley, in the finer points of Hart’s run-and-shoot offense. The aim was to have Kocicka ready for a summer schedule of passing league games.

The student is coming along nicely. Even better than hoped, Herrington said.

Kocicka was sharp in the Indians’ 34-6 win over Fairfax on Saturday in the first round of the L.A. Watts Summer Games seven-on-seven passing tournament at Compton College. Hart will play Carson in a quarterfinal game of one bracket today at 9 a.m.

Fairfax defenders flailed at numerous deep passes thrown perfectly by Kocicka as they watched Hart receivers repeatedly run past them for scores. The story was the same on short passes, medium passes, sideline passes--name the pass, Kocicka was impressive. Moreover, he displayed superior arm strength.

On one especially noteworthy play in the first half, Kocicka threw a long pass to receiver Cameron Perry who found one of numerous seams in the Fairfax defense for what would have been a 50-or-so-yard touchdown pass--that is if the fields had been marked. The score gave the Indians a 20-0 lead.

Kocicka also connected with Perry on a nifty pass in the corner of the end zone in the second half that gave Hart a 28-6 lead and left Fairfax wondering how the ball reached its target so quickly.

OK, so it was only one game . . . no pads . . . with nothing really on the line.

And while Herrington and his brother Mike, Hart’s head coach, have not yet cleared space in their office for a Southern Section championship trophy, they are pleasantly surprised and extremely encouraged by what they witnessed.

“Today was a big day for (Kocicka),” Dean said. “He also did real well in our alumni passing game and he’s done a good job picking up the offense.

“But there is still a long way to go.”

Mike tempered the enthusiasm even more.

“Some days he looks real good, some days he’s real frustrated,” Mike said. “He still has to iron out some things.

“He has tools but he has to sharpen them.”

Getting Kocicka sharp is a priority for the Hart coaching staff. At stake is the Indians’ proud tradition of All-Southern Section signal-callers. Starting with Dean in 1981, Hart has had seven quarterbacks receive section honors.

Davis Delmatoff continued the success last season, leading state quarterbacks in touchdown passes with 36 and finishing second in passing yards with 3,032.

At every bit of 6-foot-4, 208 pounds, Kocicka, 16, is believed to be the biggest quarterback ever in the program. Kocicka, who is entering his senior year, said he transferred from Crescenta Valley to Hart in November when his family moved to Santa Clarita.

Last season, Kocicka completed three of 13 passes for 21 yards with two interceptions before quitting the Crescenta Valley team after two games.

The Herringtons have worked with Kocicka constantly since January, slowly acquainting him with the run-and-shoot offense.

The offense, which requires quick decisions by receivers and the quarterback, has meant additional study time for Kocicka.

“Everything here is so different,” Kocicka said. “Crescenta Valley is a run-oriented offense and (Hart) is so much passing.”

For months he has watched videotapes of previous Hart games, read playbooks and been tested on his progress. Time well spent, Kocicka said.

“I’m real happy with how far I’ve come,” Kocicka said. “When I first looked at the playbook I said, ‘Man, there is no way I’m going to learn this,’ but I think I’m getting it.”

Darren Renfro, an All-Southern Section quarterback at Hart in 1987, agrees. After watching Kocicka on Saturday, Renfro said the big right-hander is headed for success.

“Awesome,” Renfro said after watching Kocicka throw a touchdown pass. “He’s a big guy with a great arm. He should be fine.”

Soren Halladay hopes so.

Halladay, a receiver on last season’s team, was expected to be the starting quarterback next season until Kocicka arrived on campus. Halladay is doing all he can to stay a receiver.

“I’m going to help him out as much as I can because I want nothing to do with quarterback,” Halladay said jokingly. “But seriously, Mike has surprised everyone with how fast he has learned everything.”

Wisely, Kocicka is not giddy about his initial success. He knows bigger challenges await.

“I’m just going to keep working hard to learn the offense,” Kocicka said. “Then I can show people what I can do.”