Hart came into the semi-final game with Arroyo Grande having won 10 straight games and 11-1 overall. The game started well. Hart scored twice in the first half and basically stuffed Arroyo Grande into the mud at COC. Darren Renfro was 10 for 12 passing. Hart led 14-0 at half.

In the second half, the wheels came off. Craig Whitten, Hart's leading rusher, was held to 42 yards on 15 carries and Renfro's passing tailed off considerably to 5 of 15. Hart fumbled three times. Arroyo Grande recovered and scored on all three turnovers.

Hart had one last gasp. Jim Harper was Hart's kicker (he still owns the record for longest field goal at Hart, 52 yards). Jim had a severely separated shoulder but still managed to kick in the first half but then it appeared he was done for the night, taking off his shoulder pads. Hart used another player to attempt a field goal fairly late in the game. It missed badly. With a little over a minute left, Harper went back in and tried about a 25-yarder, an easy chip shot for him. It missed. AG got the ball and ran the clock out. AG went on to beat Burroughs the next week for the championship.