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My overall perception of this game: Hart, particularly the defense, was in control from wire to wire -- well, at least for
47 minutes -- with a single big error by the defense very late. As has been the case in almost every Loyola-Hart matchup,
the hitting was big and the score ended up close.
The Hart offense was very basic and very straight forward with only one pass thrown more than a few yards down field.
Holbrook completed 10 of 18 for 75 yards and 1 interception. He also had 18 carries for 72 yards and a TD (3 sacks). Howell
had 18 carries for 81 yards and 2 TDs. He also had 2 receptions 13 yards and a 60 yard kickoff return. Diamond had 1 carry
for -1. Hart also had a "team" rush (the ball was knocked out of Holbrook's hand as he was passing) for -14 and
two "knees"; at the end.
The offensive numbers look very unproductive. However, Hart was playing on a short field for the first two TDs. Throw
in five penalties against the offense and 7 against defense penalties including three pass interference calls (all which figured
prominently in the Loyola TDs) and it wasn't much of an offensive night. While Hart's offense seemed on the verge of breaking
things open a number of times, the penalties combined with Loyola penetration into the backfield (typically 6 rushers) kept
the Indians in check.
Despite the limited offensive output, the Hart defense was dominating and at times, intimidating with a lot of really
hard hitting.
The production by halves is interesting. In the first half, Loyola had 54 yards rushing on 16 carries and the QB was
2 of 11 for 13 yards and a fumble on one of the catches. Hart had 68 yards on 19 carries and 2 TDs. Holbrook completed 8
of 14 for 67 yards and his first interception. 67 yards of offense vs. 135 yards. However, the Loyola yards were larger
than they should have been due to three offside penalties against Hart. The Hart offense was hobbled by five first half penalties.
Nevertheless, the first half dominance of the Hart defense was complete. The Cubs had only one play that was as long as 10
yards, getting into Hart territory only twice, once after the interception and once after a fake punt that got the Cubs to
the Hart 48.
The third quarter started off with a bang: a 60-yard kickoff return by Howell. The offense went into hibernation getting
-6 yards rushing on 5 carries including 3 sacks and only 8 yards on 1 of 2 passing -- a total of 2 yards for the quarter.
Meanwhile, Loyola had 40 yards on 10 carries (29 of it on 1 carry) and 26 yards, 1 TD on 3 of 5 passing. It seems incongruous
that Loyola scored on a 92-yard drive when the Cubs had only 66 yards of offense. The reason for the magic numbers: two pass
interference calls against Hart for 30 yards, the first coming on third and long.
In the fourth quarter, Hart had 90 yards on 14 carries (64 on 1 carry by Holbrook) and did not throw a pass. Loyola had
11 yards on 7 carries and 85 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs on 6 of 13 passing (34 of it on the last pass of the game for a TD).
As with the first TD, Loyola was helped mightily by a pass interference call on 4th and long.
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Here's the detailed summary:
Loyola started at the 18, the QB passed for no gain. The receiver got hammered and fumbled on the first play of the game
[my first impression was that this was questionable call against Loyola, that it probably was not a catch by the Loyola receiver
and should have ruled incomplete rather than catch and fumble but a very big hit to jar it loose; there is a great picture
in the local paper this morning that makes the referee's call look better). Hart recovered on the Loyola 19 and scored 6 plays
later on a 1-yard run by Howell. Hart 7-0 at 8:20 in the first quarter (note that it took Hart almost 4 minutes to score from
the 19).
On the ensuing series, Loyola punted. Hart got out to the 31 when Holbrook threw his first INT of the year which Loyola
returned to the 26. The Cubs went nowhere and missed a 37-yard field goal attempt.
Thereafter the teams exchanged 4 more punts. On the last of these, Loyola started at the 21, got out to the 32 and fumbled
with a little over a minute left in the first half. The fumble was the result of a strip by Diamond and a recovery by Comrie.
Hart started on the Loyola 21 and scored 7 plays later on a 2-yard run by Holbrook to go up 14-0 at half.
In the first half, both teams had a major case of "shoot in the foot." Loyola had 2 turnovers which Hart turned
into 14 points. Hart had 1 turnover and only a "wide right" field goal attempt prevented a Loyola score. There were
12 penalties in the first half plus some sacks and a lost snap by Hart which really killed the offense on both teams. The
Loyola receivers didn't help the QB with a few drops. The Loyola QB also took a heckuva beating, releasing just as he was
hit/leveled several times.
Hart opened the second half with a 60-yard kickoff return by Howell but then went: pass for 0, incomplete (penalty declined),
sack for -7 and punt.
Loyola punt. Hart punt. Loyola then went on a 92-yard drive for a TD which was helped considerably by two PI penalties
against Hart to make it 14-7 with :33 in the third.
Hart scored on the next series, a 78-yard 7-play drive, most all of it coming on a 64-yard run by Holbrook, followed four
plays later by a one-yard run by Howell for the TD. Hart was up 21-7 at 10:20.
Hart's defense really controlled Loyola on the next series which ended when Dakota Luster intercepted a Cub pass. One
would think this would have taken the air out of the balloon but Loyola shut down Hart and forced another punt.
On this series, Hart's Tyler Eyrich intercepted another Loyola pass. Hart got nailed for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty
at the end of the play which put the ball back to the Loyola 42 with 4:52. Hart ran the ball for 7 downs, forcing the Cubs
to burn their last two timeouts before getting the ball back on downs with 2:42.
It looked like Hart would keep things under control when, with about a minute to go the Hart pass defenders kind of got
lost. The series: pass for 21, incomplete, SACK for -2, PENALTY for illegal procedure -5, run by the QB for 7. Then the critical
play pass interference PENALTY on fourth and long for +15, pass for 10, incomplete and then pass long right down the center
to a wide open receiver for 34 yards and the TD. The PAT snap was off the mark so it was 21-13 with 1:14 to go. Hart recovered
the onside kick, took two knees and it was over.
It's a win -- Mike Herrington's 200th as Hart's head coach.
Next week Canyon. Hart Dad has not missed a Hart Canyon game in 1985. Unfortunately that streak will be broken next week.
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