In Defense of Hart, the Indians Have Shown They Are Pretty Stingy, Too

With quarterback Kyle Boller and the high-powered Hart High offense stealing most of the attention, it has been easy to overlook the Indians’ defense, which has been nearly as impressive.

Hart has allowed 90 points in seven games. Only Sylmar and Loyola have scored more than two touchdowns, and Hart had Sylmar blanked, 42-0, before reserves came on to allow 26 points.

Defensive lineman Peter Dubsky was instrumental in Hart’s 52-0 victory over Burroughs on Friday night, the team’s first shutout. He had four tackles for a loss or no gain, including two sacks.

Hart held Burroughs to 118 yards--minus-22 rushing. Burroughs ran the ball 19 times--14 of which went for no gain or negative yardage.

Kyle Cremarosa of Burroughs, who averages six catches a game, had to make impressive grabs just to get three against Jerry Owens, who played defensive back.

Of course, the offense was pretty good, too. Hart scored on its first six possessions, committed only one penalty, did not turn the ball over and did not punt.

For the Indians, it was close to a perfectly played game.

“Well, we had to kick a field goal on our first drive,” Coach Mike Herrington said.

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Jaysen Bluford might be the answer to a trivia quiz.

The Quartz Hill junior is the only player to intercept a pass thrown by Boller this season.

Boller has thrown 219 consecutive passes without an interception since Bluford’s theft in the opening game.

“When he threw it, I closed on the [receiver],” Bluford said. “It barely touched his hands and I was a step behind him and caught it.”

Bluford is planning to put his interception on a resume for college recruiters.

“I would put, ‘As a junior, I intercepted one of the best quarterbacks ever to play high school football,’ ” Bluford said.

Boller has passed for 2,624 yards and 32 touchdowns. The national season record for passing is 4,654 yards.

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Matthew Hicks of North Hollywood started the season as a slot backand primary receiver in the Huskies’ wide-open offense.

But after North Hollywood scored seven points in its first two games, Coach Jason Garrison switched to a ground-oriented attack--with Hicks as the star.

Hicks, the younger brother of Jonathan Hicks, an All-Valley Pac-8 Conference lineman who is a freshman at the Air Force Academy, gained a season-high 247 yards and scored all three touchdowns in the Huskies 22-20 victory over Van Nuys. Hicks accounted for 92% of the Huskies 268 yards. North Hollywood did not complete a pass.

Hicks is the second-leading rusher in the conference with 660 yards.

“We’ve got a quarterback who is just dying to throw the ball and receivers who are dying to catch it,” Garrison said. “But they’ve all committed to make this work.”

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Quarterback Robby Fockaert of Paraclete had a pass intercepted Friday night against Montclair Prep, ending a streak of 99 passes without a pick.

“I wanted to go [the season] without one,” said Fockaert, who is completing 62% of his passes. “That was the goal.”

Next for Paraclete is L.A. Baptist, which doesn’t have an interception this season.

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By most accounts, Notre Dame will be an underdog when the undefeated Knights travel Friday to La Puente to play undefeated Bishop Amat.

But at least one coach thinks Notre Dame has a decent chance of winning.

“I think [Notre Dame] can win,” Coach Bill Redell of St. Francis said. “It won’t be easy but it won’t shock me if Notre Dame can win. I think they can compete with [Bishop Amat].”

Bishop Amat struggled against St. Francis last week, trailing, 7-6, late in the second quarter before rallying for a 28-7 victory.

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Reseda might be the leading candidate to finish second in the Valley Pac-8 Conference behind Sylmar. Van Nuys, who had been undefeated in conference play, lost to North Hollywood last week.

Reseda hasn’t made the City Section playoffs since winning the 3-A title in 1995. This year looked to be more of the same after back-to-back shutout losses to Birmingham and Van Nuys.

But the Regents (4-3, 3-1) have won three consecutive games since quarterback Skyler McKnight returned from a leg injury.

“There comes a time every season where you hit a crossroads,” Coach Joel Schaeffer of Reseda said. “It looks like we’re headed the right direction now.”

Joseph Looney is leading the way--he scored four touchdowns and blocked an extra-point try in overtime to preserve a 35-34 victory over Canoga Park.

The previous two weeks, he scored both touchdowns in a 14-7 victory over Monroe, and scored a touchdown and helped shut down Grant’s running game in a 28-7 victory.

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Kilpatrick is averaging 321 rushing yards per game since scrapping its pro-style offense in favor of the double-wing three weeks ago.

“We didn’t have any choice,” Mustang Coach Sid Ware said. “The kids weren’t grasping the I-formation. [The double-wing] is a real easy system. We just run the same six plays over and over.”

Albert Youngblood appears to have benefited the most, collecting 412 yards in the last three games after rushing for only 274 in Kilpatrick’s first four games.

The emergence of running back Kevin White, formerly of Palmdale High, has also helped Kilpatrick (3-4, 2-0 in the Alpha League).

White, 5 feet 9 inches and 150 pounds, had to beg the coaching staff for a late tryout.

“We kept telling him, ‘No, you’re too small,’ ” Ware said. “We finally gave in.”

White responded by rushing for 190 yards and two touchdowns in his first game, Oct. 9 against Oak Park, and 119 yards and another touchdown Saturday against Marshall.

“He’s shocked us,” Ware said.

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After posting 1-9 records the last two seasons, Oak Park (4-3) is taking aim at the playoffs, thanks to a revitalized running game and an aggressive defense.

“We’re a little bigger and a lot faster than last year so we’re gaining more yards,” Coach Dick Billingsley said. “And our receiver blocking is so much improved. That’s crucial, because we get most of our yards outside.”

Zach Schwartz and Adam Messinger have combined for 531 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Billingsley had praise for linebackers Eric Smentek and Justin Weniger and strong safety Scott Jones.

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A hoarse voice is nothing new for Coach Jon Mack of St. Bonaventure, a noted sideline screamer. But four days after a game?

Mack’s tones were still scratchy on Monday, and not just owing to the Seraphs’ victory over Bishop Diego last Thursday.

As St. Bonaventure’s director of development, Mack was charged with driving up the bidding at a weekend auction to raise funds for the school.

The event raised about $35,000, Mack said.

“I stand in front and scream at people to bid more,” croaked Mack, who bought a cord of firewood at the auction. “My voice is shot; we’ll practice by whistle this week.”

Staff writers Peter Yoon, Michael Lazarus, Tris Wykes and Eric Sondheimer, and correspondents Mike Bresnahan and Dave Desmond contributed to this notebook.