This Playoff Rivalry Has Been One-Sided for Hart, St. Francis

For the third consecutive season, Hart High and St. Francis will meet in the Southern Section Division III playoffs.

Hart (10-2), two-time defending section champion, hosts the Golden Knights (10-2) on Friday night in a semifinal at College of the Canyons.

Last season, the Indians won, 34-14, in the semifinals. In 1998, Hart routed the Golden Knights, 51-12, in the quarterfinals.

St. Francis is confident, but there’s no boastful talk of paybacks. At least not to the media.

Quarterback John Sciarra said he respects the No. 2-seeded Indians, but says his team can’t be intimidated.

“We have to approach them like any other team and do what we have to do,” he said. “If we can do that, we’ll be OK.”

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Bill Redell might have left St. Francis to build a program at Oaks Christian, but Coach Jim Bonds has continued the Golden Knights’ tradition of trickery, running the fumblerooski to perfection.

Last week, lineman Bobby Garafolo scored on a 66-yard run for the first score in St. Francis’ 47-26 quarterfinal victory at Antelope Valley.

“How about that fumblerooski?” Coach Brent Newcomb of Antelope Valley said. “I’ve got to call Bill Redell, that son of a gun.”

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Quarterback-safety Demetre Booker, who led Antelope Valley to its first outright Golden League championship since 1995, has been selected league most valuable player.

Quarterback Terry Furlow of Palmdale was named back of the year and Michael Graves of Antelope Valley was lineman of the year.

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When first-year Coach Jeff Cortez arrived at Paraclete and installed a wing-T offense, it was met with some resistance from his players.

There is no longer such resistance, from his Spirits (11-1) or opposing defenses.

Paraclete, seeking its fourth consecutive section championship, plays Kern Valley on Friday night in a Division XII semifinal at Antelope Valley College.

The Spirits, who are averaging 8.9 yards per carry, have a chance to become the only team in the region with three 1,000-yard rushers this season.

Curtis Brown has rushed for 1,593 yards, Erick Jackson has 994 yards and Michael Washington has 852 yards.

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Southern Section

Semifinals

(All games 7:30 p.m.)

FRIDAY

Division III

* Hart vs. St. Francis at College of the Canyons

* Notre Dame at Mira Costa

Division IV

* Arroyo Grande at Agoura

Division XII

* Paraclete vs. Kern Valley at Antelope Valley College

SATURDAY

Division IV

* Lompoc at Ventura

Division XI

* St. Bonaventure vs. Carpinteria at Moorpark High

Division XII

* Montclair Prep vs. Bosco Tech at Valley College