Norton Passes Hart’s Test

Forget about arm strength, intelligence and mobility. Anyone who hopes to continue the succession of renowned quarterbacks at Newhall Hart High must pass a toughness test.

Kyle Matter’s came when he was sacked 11 times against Westlake Village Westlake. He never complained. Matt Moore’s was against Wilmington Banning, when he was battered four times on late hits. He kept limping back to the huddle.

Over the years, just about every Hart quarterback has faced--and conquered--such challenges.

On Friday night, 16-year-old Sean Norton faced the toughest test any Hart quarterback has encountered in a debut. He was asked to perform under the intense scrutiny of live television against Los Alamitos, the second-ranked team in Southern California.

From the outset, the Griffins tried to rattle Norton with a series of blitzes and disguised pass coverages that would have made lesser quarterbacks crumble. Time and again, they launched free safety Randy Estes into the backfield. Sometimes Estes tackled him, other times he hit him just after the ball was released.

Eight times Norton was tackled for losses, but he never stopped competing. “He’s pretty tough because I don’t know anybody else who gets up after I hit him,” Estes said.

So there was Norton, a 5-foot-11 junior, going back to pass with his team down seven points as the clock ticked down to zero. He threw the ball as far as he could, hoping for a Doug Flutie-like, Hail Mary ending. Receiver Cody Kase made it happen, catching the ball after two tips and running into the end zone to complete a 68-yard reception. With the extra point, Hart had a 21-21 tie.

“It feels like a win,” Norton said. “We were expected to lose. To play like this was unbelievable.”

Look at Norton’s final passing totals: 17 completions in 28 attempts, 245 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions.

Those numbers alone provide evidence that he’s on his way to joining the list of Hart quarterbacks who have earned All-Southern Section honors for 17 consecutive seasons.

But don’t base everything on statistics. To play quarterback for Hart requires heart, fearlessness and trust in the team’s system. Norton fits the mold perfectly after playing last season on junior varsity.

“He jumped into fire, and there was some heavy duty heat,” Coach Mike Herrington said. “He could have been gun-shy with as much pressure and as many hits as he took.”

Norton didn’t hide his emotions.

“I was definitely nervous, very nervous,” he said.

Welcome to the club.

Last weekend, Matter made his college debut as a freshman for Stanford before 41,000 fans at Boston College. It was a breeze compared to the pressure and expectations of replacing the record-setting Kyle Boller, a senior at Cal, in his first start as Hart quarterback in 1999.

“You really don’t know what’s going to happen and how you’re going to react,” Matter said. “It was tough sleeping the night before.”

The advantage Norton and other Hart quarterbacks have is preparation from an extensive summer passing season that’s almost a boot camp for quarterbacks. They play in more than 50 seven-on-seven passing competitions and are put through almost every conceivable game situation.

“There isn’t one thing that can scare me or surprise me,” Norton said. “Hart’s offense is so complicated you can’t afford to miss out on anything. Every time you step on the field, you’re taught something new. It is overwhelming at times, but if you stay level headed and focus on your goals, you’ll prosper.”

Until the frantic final minute, the Hart-Los Alamitos game featured outstanding defense. Inside linebacker Brian Elledge of Hart was so effective tackling Griffin ballcarriers that he might earn a college scholarship off his dominating one-game performance. Estes showed repeatedly that he’s the best free safety in Southern California with his speed and aggressiveness.

But in the end, Norton’s resiliency and toughness made the difference.

He was admittedly shaken at halftime with his team trailing, 10-0.

“The first half was rough,” he said. “I wasn’t able to make reads, but coach said, ‘Calm down.’ ”

Norton let his instincts and athletic ability take over in the second half. He completed a short pass to running back Paxton Howard, who ran 46 yards to set up a third-quarter touchdown. He contributed a 13-yard scramble to pick up a critical first down in the fourth quarter. He had a seven-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Ryan Wolfe.

“In the second half, he stepped up absolutely phenomenally,” said Davis Delmatoff, Hart’s offensive coordinator.

Afterward, Barry Sher, Los Alamitos’ defensive coordinator, stood in the middle of Veterans Stadium in Long Beach trying to make sense of the game’s final play.

“We had all our best players back there,” he said. “I still don’t know what happened. I’m in shock.”

Meanwhile, Norton was being mobbed by fans, trying to explain the wonder of playing quarterback for Hart.

“There’s something about it,” he said.

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Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

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SYSTEMATIC SUCCESS

Hart’s 17 consecutive years of quarterbacks who have earned all-section honors

*--* Year Player PA PC Int Yds TDs 1985 Jim Bonds 345 182 9 2,439 14 1986 Jim Bonds 322 201 10 3,153 39 1987 Darren Renfro 343 219 6 2,808 26 1988 Rob Westervelt 294 176 11 2,163 21 1989 Rob Westervelt 243 139 11 2,131 24 1990 Ryan Connors 345 187 11 2,825 24 1991 Ryan Connors 471 290 16 4,144 39 1992 Davis Delmatoff 327 192 11 3,196 36 1993 Mike Kocicka 277 165 10 2,966 32 1994 Steve McKeon 259 160 11 2,925 30 1995 Steve McKeon 291 167 11 3,331 33 1996 Travis Carroll 294 196 9 2,780 27 1997 David Neill 339 188 17 3,053 26 1998 Kyle Boller 450 291 3 4,841 59 1999 Kyle Matter 355 238 7 3,774 48 2000 Kyle Matter 439 287 9 3,754 33 2001 Matt Moore 353 234 8 3,334 33

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