Hart Runs Out of Rushers in Loss to St. Bonaventure

Newhall Hart has one of the most prolific passing attacks in the nation, but its running game is becoming nonexistent.

The Indians, ranked No. 17 in the Southland by The Times, lost two more running backs Friday night against Ventura St. Bonaventure and couldn’t keep up with the No. 8 Seraphs, resulting in a 33-21 nonleague loss at Ventura High.

Robbie Casselberry, starting in place of sophomore Delano Howell, who injured his ankle last week in a 7-6 victory over Moorpark, left the game in the second quarter because of flu-like symptoms.

James Wheeler, who replaced Casselberry, left in an ambulance with a neck injury in the fourth quarter.

“We were playing with one hand tied behind our back,” Hart Coach Mike Herrington said. “With the running backs out, it took a lot away from our game plan.”

Hart quarterback Tyler Lyon and wide receiver Troy Yudin attempted to pick up the slack. Lyon completed 22 of 36 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns. Yudin caught 12 passes for 158 yards and both scores.

St. Bonaventure (3-0) countered with a strong running game led by Michael Lee, who had 31 carries for 161 yards and three touchdowns.

Lee scored on two short touchdown runs to give St. Bonaventure a 14-0 lead with 3:48 left in the first quarter.

The Indians (1-1) bounced back, driving 80 yards in 11 plays and cutting the deficit to 14-7 on a one-yard run by Casselberry. After Hart’s defense stopped the Seraphs for the first time, the offense tied the score on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Lyon to Yudin with 5:17 left in the first half.

Hart stopped St. Bonaventure to open the second half and then moved the ball 76 yards in 11 plays, taking a 21-20 lead on a three-yard touchdown pass from Lyon to Yudin.

But it took St. Bonaventure a little more than a minute to regain the lead for good. Michael Williams had a 77-yard kickoff return that set up a 14-yard touchdown pass from Matt Evans to Alex Diaz to make it 26-21.

“I told my line, ‘Just keep pushing’ because I saw them walking at one point at the end of the third quarter,” Evans said. “As an offensive team, we were just pushing them and driving them down the field.”