Another Hart Streak Pattern Beats Valencia

As far as Hart High is concerned, streaks are something receivers do.

Indians players and coaches shrugged off the fact that their 21-7 victory over Valencia on Friday night at College of the Canyons was their 45th in a row in the Foothill League.

“The only streak we’ve talked about is winning five in a row and [winning the league championship],” Hart Coach Mike Herrington said.

When Hart (5-2, 2-0 in league play) stumbled to a 3-2 start with a faltering offensive line and without running back Tim Gregory, it appeared the Indians were ripe for their first league loss since 1990.

Valencia (5-2, 1-1), which lost to Hart last season in the Southern Section Division III final, was the top candidate to unseat them.

But Hart is used to sending off upstarts, and it did it again thanks to a defense that stifled the Vikings’ passing game and limited the Vikings to 210 total yards, all but 39 in the second half.

Kyle Matter completed 22 of 34 passes for 283 yards, connecting with nine receivers before halftime, including Peter Dubsky who caught a 15-yard scoring yard pass for a 7-0 halftime lead.

Kevin Donoho had a 40-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter that lifted Hart to a 21-0 lead.

Kyle Bauer of Valencia, who passed for 335 yards last week, completed only one of seven passes in the first half and finished with 13 of 26 for 151 yards.

He threw 12 times to Will Broadous, his favorite target, but Hart defenders limited Broadous to two catches for 34 yards.

The Indian running game has been almost nonexistent since Gregory went down with a knee injury in the second week. Before Friday, he still led the team with 187 rushing yards.

Mickey Mercado changed that rushing for 98 yards in nine carries to give him 211.

Brandon Fuselier of Valencia scored on a 13-yard run--his only carry--in the fourth quarter to break the shutout.

Dubsky, who caught only one pass through six games, pulled in a short pass from Matter in the second quarter, then lowered his shoulder and bowled over Broadous at the five and staggered into the end zone for the only touchdown in the first half.

Matter took another step toward breaking two school records, moving to within one touchdown pass of the career mark of 65 set by Ryan Connors.

With five sacks on Friday, he is also two shy of David Neill’s season record of 41.

Those might still lie ahead, but at least Valencia is behind Hart.

“I personally take a sigh of relief,” said Matter, who scored on a one-yard sneak in the third quarter for a 14-0 lead.

“It feels good to get this one under our belts because there was such a buildup to this game.