the Defense Rests

VALENCIA-The alumni were in place, ready for a scintillating game and a championship for Hart High.

The former may not have materialized, but the latter was definitely a part of Saturday night at College of the Canyons.

Hart drubbed Valencia, 34-6, in the Southern Section Division III football championship before an estimated 9,000 people, winning its second consecutive title and third since 1995.

Practice meant perfection for Hart, which coaches said practiced flawlessly this week and, not coincidentally, finished 14-0 for the first time.

“We had probably the best week of practice in the history of Hart football,” said Coach Mike Herrington. “Our kids were so focused, it was unbelievable.”

Hart, the king of the three-receiver offense, won with its usual flair, employing a hook-and-ladder play late in the first quarter to keep alive a scoring drive.

The Indians also went with a new wrinkle--a tight end--and succeeded.

Evan Allen, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound defensive end, caught three passes for 42 yards as a tight end, including a seven-yard touchdown catch with 9:13 left in the second quarter to give Hart a 14-0 lead.

“You can’t do the same thing all the time,” Herrington said.

The bad omens for Valencia (10-4) began on the second play of the game, when defensive tackle Kaelen Jakes, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound junior who figures to be one of the top college recruits in the region next year, was hit in the right knee by a Hart player.

Jakes watched the rest of the game from the sidelines.

“It probably hurt us quite a lot,” said Coach Brian Stiman of Valencia, who said Jakes tore his medial collateral ligament.

Hart showed little sympathy, continuing a drive that lasted 7:03, traveled 80 yards in 14 plays, and was capped by a two-yard pass from Matter to Pat Norton.

Hart wasn’t afraid to gamble--the touchdown was scored on fourth down.

The Vikings, in their fifth year of varsity football, ran their offense with the inefficiency of a first-year program.

At halftime, they had 55 yards. Manuel White had 28 yards rushing in eight carries. Quarterback Kyle Bauer had completed three of 13 passes for 18 yards.

White finished with 59 yards in 16 carries. Bauer completed eight of 22 passes for 110 yards.

“They beat us twice this season,” Stiman said. “They’re the champions. They deserve it.”

White, who has committed to UCLA, finished with 6,745 yards rushing in his career, the fourth-highest total in state history. His two-game total against Hart this season was 152 yards in 44 carries.

“I knew it was going to be tough,” said White, who scored Valencia’s only touchdown on a one-yard run late in the third quarter. “They’ve got great pursuit.”

Hart, which averaged 42.3 points per game coming into Saturday, had little trouble.

Matter, playing in front of last year’s quarterback, Kyle Boller, , completed 12 of 17 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns.

Tim Gregory ran for more than 100 yards for the third time in four playoff games, rushing for 125 yards in 30 carries.

Chris Ciccone was the leading receiver, finishing with four catches for 63 yards.

“How sweet it is,” said Ciccone, noting that the Indians’ victory was less competitive than the 42-21 victory over Valencia in the regular season.