Hart Wins, Prepares to Stalk Antelopes

Goodby, Russell White.

Hello, Antelope Valley?

Hart High routed previously unbeaten Peninsula, 37-3, at College of the Canyons Friday night in the semifinals of the Southern Section Division II football playoffs.

In the process, Ted Iacenda broke White’s Southern Section scoring record. White, of Crespi, finished with 568 points in 1989. Iacenda scored four touchdowns and has 586 points.

The Indians (11-2), who outgained Peninsula, 420-129, have earned a trip back the championship game, which they lost to Antelope Valley, 36-15, last season.

Hart was hoping for a rematch, and the Indians will get it if the Antelopes beat Downey tonight in the other semifinal at Gahr High.

But Iacenda, who scored on three one-yard runs and a 23-yard reception, didn’t seem excited by the record or the possible rematch.

“Records don’t mean anything,” said Iacenda, who had 97 yards in 22 carries and caught four passes for 67. “I’ll let it mean something after the season. Right now, one thing’s on my mind.”

Hart’s Steve McKeon completed 15 of 22 passes for 255 yards and one score, and rushed 13 times for 63 to keep the Panthers, who had not allowed more than 13 points, off balance.

Peninsula (12-1) and quarterback Damon Gourdine was stymied by a Hart defense that recorded three sacks and two interceptions, including a 28-yarder for a touchdown by linebacker Marc Zimmerman to cap an 18-point fourth quarter.

The Indians led, 12-3, at halftime but pulled away in the third quarter on McKeon’s scoring pass to Iacenda.

Hart wore down the Panthers in the fourth quarter, with Iacenda scoring again and Kevin McLaughlin kicking a 42-yard field goal before Zimmerman’s interception.

After a scoreless first quarter, Hart broke on top with Iacenda capping a 12-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard run that tied him with White. The Indians only got six because of a bad snap on the extra-point attempt.

With 2:48 left in the second quarter, Iacenda broke White’s record with another one-yard run to make it 12-0. Iacenda and McKeon accounted for all 73 yards on the 10-play drive.

The Panthers’ speedy defensive backfield neutralized Hart’s deep passing. McKeon threw two interceptions while trying to throw deep. Gourdine stepped in front of J.B. Nelson to grab the first at the one-yard line.

The second interception came with 39 seconds left in the half. Hart’s Cody Joyce, who caught five passes for 102 yards beat Craig Hilbig by five yards but Hilbig closed in time to intercept in the end zone.

The interception led to a 39-yard field goal by Scot McMorris on the last play of the half. Gourdine, who had completed only one of five passes for three yards, connected with McMorris on two big pass plays. With no time left, McMorris slipped on an incomplete pass and Hart was flagged for interference, setting up the field goal.

Until then, Hart had outscored its playoff opponents, 63-0, in the first half.