Hart Zeros In on No. III

Eleven angry men.

Hart High’s overshadowed and underappreciated defense unleashed 48 minutes of fury on St. Francis on Friday night, stifling the Golden Knights in a 13-0 victory in the semifinals of the Southern Section Division III playoffs at College of the Canyons.

Welcome to John Sciarra’s nightmare.

The UCLA-bound quarterback was sacked eight times, sent running for his life several other times and an offense that had averaged 42 points its last three games sputtered to 184 yards.

Coach Mike Herrington of Hart, who takes his two-time defending champions to the final for the fifth time in 12 seasons, couldn’t remember his defense ever playing better.

“I don’t know if we ever have,” said Herrington, whose team meets Mira Costa on Friday for the title at a site to be determined by a coin flip on Sunday. “They were amazing.”

The Indians (11-2), who won their eighth consecutive game, got key contributions from almost everyone on a night when their usually potent offense was average.

Stanford-bound quarterback Kyle Matter completed 20 of 32 passes for 182 yards and rushed for 76 yards in 11 carries, including a 10-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Josh Cummings added field goals of 29 and 34 yards.

St. Francis (10-3), attempting to reach a section final for the first time since 1964, fell to Hart in the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Matt Milton, who rushed for at least 100 yards in eight consecutive games, was limited to 62 yards in 16 carries. The rest of the offense managed minus-60 yards, thanks to two blocked field goals and steady pressure from the Hart line.

Sciarra completed 11 of 23 for 182 yards.

“Our defense was up for the challenge and we took it,” said lineman Evan Allen, who had five sacks to give him a team-high 16.

Linebacker Mike Linn added three sacks.

Hart’s dominance began on St. Francis’ first drive, when Keith Howell got the first of Hart’s two blocked field goals. Chase Mendenhall blocked another Scott Smiland kick in the second quarter.

The Indians forced turnovers on three consecutive possessions in the second half to dash any hopes of a comeback.

Two came on interceptions by Matt Moore deep in his own territory, giving him a school-record nine this season.

“We didn’t come in looking for a shutout, but the way we played, we deserved it,” said Moore, who has helped Hart keep opponents in single-digits in 10 of its 13 games.

Until Hart’s final drive of the half, Matter had done more damage rushing than passing.

He scrambled out of trouble on several occasions and gained 33 yards.

He gave the Indians a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter when he faded to pass and the middle of the line opened wide. He sprinted through the opening for a 10-yard scoring run.

Later in the quarter, he completed eight of 11 passes to move Hart from its 13 to the St. Francis 13.

Cummings capped the drive with a 29-yard field goal seven seconds before intermission.

The Golden Knights had opportunities to score in the half, twice moving deep into Hart territory.

Both times, however, field goal attempts by Smiland were blocked by untouched Indians.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Southern Section Semifinals Results

Division III

Hart: 13

St. Francis: 0

Mira Costa: 41

Notre Dame: (ot) 38

Division IV

Arroyo Grande: 33

Agoura: 30

Division XII

Paraclete: 22

Kern Valley: 6