Hart Handles Canyon, 56-21

There will be no changing of the guard this year.

At least not in the storied rivalry between Newhall Hart and Canyon Country Canyon.

In what was supposed to be Canyon’s game to turn the tables on their Foothill League rivals, it was business as usual Thursday night as Hart pounded the Cowboys, 56-21, at Canyon High.

Canyon (6-1, 1-1 in league play) entered the game with hopes that its high-flying offense could stifle a Hart team that had struggled early in the season, but a 28-point first-quarter outburst by Hart (4-3, 2-0) sent Canyon’s hopes floating away.

Hart quarterback Sean Norton completed 17 of 27 passes for 324 yards and four touchdowns and added 88 yards rushing and two touchdowns in 18 carries to lead the Indians to their 13th consecutive victory in what has become a lopsided rivalry. All four of Norton’s touchdown passes came in the first quarter.

“We’ve been doubted all year,” Norton said. “Nobody gave us respect and we’re all about gaining respect.”

The 56 points by Hart are the most scored by either team against each other in at least 19 years and the victory signified that a significant gap still remains between Hart and everyone else in the Foothill League.

“I’m very surprised [by the final score],” Hart Coach Mike Herrington said. “But our guys were focused all week and had a lot of confidence. It looked easy but it wasn’t. They’re a fine team but we were on all cylinders.”

Hart scored early on Norton passes of 20 and 40 yards to Norris Whitmore and Evan Surratt, respectively, when a stadium blackout delayed the game for 32 minutes just before Hart’s ensuing kickoff. After the delay, Hart kicked to open space in the Canyon return formation and recovered the ball.

Norton connected with Terry Leigh two plays later for a 21-0 lead. After the Hart defense forced a Canyon punt, Norton connected with Whitmore on a 66-yard touchdown play.

Dan Howell, who had 113 yards rushing in 17 carries, added a 31-yard scoring run for Hart in the fourth quarter.

Peter Yoon

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Orange Lutheran 55, Anaheim Katella 0 -- Ethan Haller passed for 200 yards against No. 7 Orange Lutheran -- not that it mattered. He had four passes intercepted, with two returned for touchdowns, and the Lancers (6-0, 2-0) scored a one-sided Empire League victory at Glover Stadium in Anaheim.

“They’re a lot faster than you see on film,” said Haller, who completed 16 of 36 passes, with 142 yards coming on four completions. “A lot faster. Every position.”

Haller entered the game for Katella (4-3, 1-1) averaging more than 297 yards passing per game, No. 1 in the Southland, with 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Michael Haddad returned an interception 68 yards to give Orange Lutheran a 42-0 lead with 1:48 left in the first half. Kyle Renny returned the first of his two interceptions 10 yards to set up a 28-yard field goal by Troy Van Blarcom on the last play of the first half. R.J. Badger had a 30-yard interception return for a score to make it 55-0 with 55 seconds left in the third quarter.

Seth Blackamore completed eight of nine passes in the first half for 197 yards and two touchdowns and Pat Roxas, John Ausmus and Alex Mason each rushed for a touchdown.

-- Martin Henderson