Hart’s D Gets an A in 45-3 Trouncing

Sophomore quarterback Erik Vose of Chaminade High has a bright future, but it’s going to take some sleepless nights to forget the nightmare he experienced Friday night against Hart.

First there was cornerback Chase Mendenhall slamming him to the ground for a safety. Then there was linebacker Josh Christensen returning an interception 25 yards for a touchdown. Finally there was lineman Pete Dubsky dropping him four times for sacks--all in the first half.

Hart’s defensive onslaught combined with the passing of Kyle Matter overwhelmed the Eagles, 45-3, in a Division III playoff opener at College of the Canyons.

Matter completed 25 of 33 passes for 352 yards and five touchdowns to help second-seeded Hart (9-2) earn a quarterfinal matchup against Crescenta Valley.

Hart (9-2) held a 31-3 halftime lead and quickly extended its advantage to 45-3 in the third quarter on Matter touchdown pass plays of 57 yards to Kevin Donoho and 20 yards to Keith Howell.

The game was such a mismatch that nine players caught passes for Hart, eight players ran the ball and four players took turns at quarterback.

Hart out-gained the Eagles (6-5), 477-41.

Vose, who came in with 1,944 yards passing, was seven of 17 for 37 yards with four interceptions.

“The plan was to get into his face,” Dubsky said.

Dubsky should know what kind of toothpaste Vose uses the way he kept greeting him on the field.

“He’s actually a nice guy,” Vose said. “He’d give me a pat on the butt, ‘You’re doing a good job.’ ”

Chaminade is trying to create a passing tradition in the mold of Hart, and Vose remains a player first-year Coach Bill Culpepper can build around.

Even Matter offered a vote of confidence.

“He’s got a lot of talent and will have a great career ahead of him,” he said.

But Vose admitted, “This is not a game I want to remember.”

Christensen made two interceptions and Mendenhall had another.

Hart kept picking up yards with relative ease.

“I think this is the best we’ve played all season as far as not making mistakes,” Matter said. “I didn’t feel pressure at all [Friday night].”

Hart won despite the absence of lineman Chris Frome, a two-way starter who was held out because he missed a class.

Julian Lewis caught seven passes for 62 yards and Donoho caught three passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns.

Matter ran his season totals to 2,958 yards and 30 touchdowns, completing 63% of his passes.

As for Vose, he’ll take a week off and start getting ready for next season, hoping one day he can be as good as Matter.

“It was a learning experience,” he said.

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BY THE NUMBERS

Kyle Matter’s game statistics from Friday night:

Completions: 25

Yards: 352

Touchdowns: 5