Negative a Positive for Hart
Hart High figured defense would be the key to beating Valencia. And the key to that defense would be stopping running back Donavan Calhoun.
The Indians did just that, limiting Calhoun to minus-four yards in 13 carries and cruised to a 37-7 victory in a Foothill League game Friday night at College of the Canyons.
“We knew that if we came out and played the way we should, we could stop him,” Hart linebacker Todd Hourigan said. “We realized the defense had to pick it up.”
Not only did Hourigan and his teammates put the clamps on Valencia’s biggest threat, they forced the Vikings (5-2, 1-1 in league) to punt from deep in their own territory time and again.
As a result, Hart (5-2, 2-0) enjoyed good field position all night long.
Travis Carroll made good use of it, completing 20 of 32 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Cody Joyce caught 10 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown.
Hourigan did his part, scoring on two short runs.
Valencia quarterback Kenny Taylor could only shake his head.
“We just broke down,” Taylor said.
Last season, as the fledgling Valencia football program struggled through its first season as an independent, Hart Coach Mike Herrington admired Calhoun from afar.
“He’s going to be something to reckon with as a senior,” Herrington said.
In fact, Calhoun entered the game as the league’s leading rusher, having carried 121 times for 973 yards. Hart finally got to see him up close.
Real close.
On Calhoun’s first two carries, he was met in the backfield by a group of defenders. Sensing a trend, the Vikings shifted their offensive emphasis to Taylor.
On the opening drive, the quarterback scrambled for 18 yards, then threw 15 yards to wide receiver Caleb Willis. Three plays later, he found Willis in the open again, throwing a 17-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead.
The game turned as Hart’s defense tightened. Valencia failed on a fourth-and-one play near midfield and the Indians wasted little time. Carroll threw a quick slant to Joyce, who broke a tackle on his way to a 42-yard touchdown and a 7-7 tie.
On Hart’s next possession, Carroll broke a quarterback draw up the middle, running 25 yards to score for a 14-7 lead.
The Indians added a 23-yard field goal by Greg Corralejo just before halftime after intercepting a pass by the harried Taylor, who completed 10 of 28 passes for 103 yards with three interceptions.
Hart opened the second half with two quick scores, with Hourigan running three yards up the middle for a touchdown on the first possession.
On the next drive, Carroll threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Brian Pritchett.
Hourigan added a fourth-quarter touchdown.
