Harbor, Rusty in Return, Loses to Valley : Community colleges: Undefeated Monarchs race to 17-0 halftime lead and cruise to 24-3 victory.

Putting aside its recent off-field troubles, the Harbor College football team returned to action Saturday night against Valley.

The Seahawks, however, had their share of problems against the Monarchs, losing, 24-3, in a Western State Conference game at Valley.

Harbor temporarily suspended its program and forfeited its Oct. 2 game against West Los Angeles in the aftermath of a brawl involving fans, coaches and players following a Sept. 25 game against Pierce at Wilmington.

“We aren’t the bad guys every one has made us out to be,” Harbor linebacker Tyrone Coleman said. “We were afraid they were going to cancel the program. It’s great to be back on the field. It took a lot of work to bring everybody back together.”

The Seahawks committed seven turnovers--five fumbles and two interceptions. Harbor also did not compete a pass until the fourth quarter.

Sean Fitzgerald completed 18 of 41 passes for 163 yards and Eddie Fry and Irving Carter rushed for 43 and 40 yards for Valley (4-0, 3-0 in conference).

Harbor running back Damin Hurst had 80 yards in 21 carries, 77 coming in the first half, and quarterback Gabe Sadi completed six of 19 passes for 72 yards for Harbor (1-3, 1-2).

“Any time you don’t play for two weeks, it’s going to affect you,” Hurst said. “In my mind, I thought we played a pretty good game. Things just didn’t go our way.”

Harbor’s Joe Betton could attest to that. Betton blocked two punts, but Valley was able to turn one of them into a large gain, keeping alive a drive that ended with a second-half touchdown.

Betton blocked a punt by Fitzgerald at the Valley two-yard line, but Fitzgerald picked the ball up and ran for a 51-yard gain.

Valley then drove 47 yards in seven plays with Fitzgerald connecting on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Brian Bernier for a 24-0 lead with 8 minutes 44 seconds left in the third quarter.

Harbor’s Jon Williams kicked a 29-yard field goal with three minutes to play to avert the shutout.

The Monarchs took advantage of four first-half fumbles by Harbor en route to a 17-0 halftime lead.

A fumble by Seahawk running back James Franks at the Harbor 28-yard line set up the Monarchs’ first score. Three plays later, Valley running back Irving Carter scored on a six-yard run for a 7-0 lead with 7:26 to play in the first quarter.

Valley defensive tackle James Norton recovered a fumble by Hurst in the end zone for a 14-0 lead with 2:09 to play in the first quarter.

Two Harbor fumbles on punt returns resulted in a 28-yard field goal by Tim Cronk with four seconds to play in the half.

With Valley punting from its own 29, Fitzgerald’s punt bounced off Harbor’s Alejandro Sanchez and Valley’s John Peterson recovered at the Harbor 44.

The Monarchs punted again only to have the punt hit Harbor’s Michael James. Andy Nakane recovered at the Harbor 21-yard line.