This opening round game was very close early, but the last two-thirds were kind of a train wreck for TO. And it was another fantastic night for Delano Howell.

The summary: Hart kicked off, the Thousand Oaks returner bobbled it and was tackled on the 17. On the first play from scrimmage, the QB threw an INT to Diamond who returned it for a TD. Hart 7-0 after 12 seconds, possibly the quickest score in Hart history.

TO started at the 20 and ran an 11- play scoring drive with the TD coming on a 3-yard pass. 7-7 at 7:38.

Hart started at the 20 and went on a 12-play drive, scoring on a 3-yard pass to Howell. 14-7 at 3:18.

TO got a 33-yard return by Lister then went on a 57-yard, 6-play drive with Lister gaining 50 yards on 5 carries and scoring on a 2-yard run. TO missed the PAT so it was 14-13 at :06 in the first.

Hart went three and out.

TO started at the 41 and moved down to the Hart 8 on an 18-yard Lister run and a 33-yard pass (don't know the receiver). TO stalled out and kicked a 25-yard field goal to make it 16-14 TO at 8:50 in the second quarter.

After that it was pretty much all Hart.

Hart went on a 13-play, 80-yard drive with Howell scoring on a 10-yard pitch play. Hart went for 2 (pass to Diamond) and it was 22-16 at 4:31.

TO got a 35-yard return by Lister and got down to the Hart 26. On fourth down, the QB threw an INT in the endzone (hey, Hart defenders: knock down those fourth down passes, don’t catch ‘em. That’s the second time that’s happened this year.

Hart at the 20: run by Howell on a draw for 10, incomplete and then 70-yard screen pass to Howell for the TD. The PAT pass was incomplete. Hart 28-16 at 1:08.

TO got a 24-yard return by Lister and got down to the Hart 20 and missed a field goal to end the half.

In the first half, Diamond had 1 carry for 13 (and an INT on defense for a TD), Holbrook had 7 carries for 29 yards and Howell had 9 for 73 and a TD. Holbrook was 8 for 11 for 114 yards and 2 TDs (both to Howell).

Lister had 121 yards on 14 carries and a TD, the QB had 6 yards on 3 carries and he was 10 of 16 with 1 TD and 2 INTs and 134 yards.

Second half

TO tried an onside kick but Hart recovered: Hart 3 and out.

TO started at the 17 and moved out to the Hart 34 but then a holding penalty followed by another INT (the third of the night - this one by MacArthur) ended the drive.

Hart started at the 50 and scored 4 plays later on a 19-yard Howell run. Hart 35-16 at 6:09.

The next kickoff was comically bizarre. Hart clearly had decided not to kick deep to Lister so MacArthur tried to kick it low and flat -- a squibber. Oops. He whacked it right into the head of one of the up guys on TO and it bounced about 30 feet up and back to the Hart guys who got it at the Hart 48.

Hart wasn't able to make much of it as Holbrook threw an INT to #5 on TO.

TO started at the 37 and two plays later, MacArthur had another INT on a halfback pass by No. 9 (?).

Hart started at the 23, backed up 5 on an illegal procedure then Howell took off on an 82-yard TD run. Hart 42-16 at 3:38.

TO started at the 36 after another squib and went on an 8-play drive with the TD coming on a 21-yard hook and ladder play. 42-24 at :38.

Hart recovered the TO onside kick and started at the 41 and scored on a 1-yard run by Howell, following a 48-yard run by Howell. Hart 48-24 at 11:17 in the fourth.

TO punted on the next series for the first time in the game. Hart had a fumble and TO had another INT (the second by Diamond) on the next series. The teams each exchanged the ball on unsuccessful fourth down plays on the next 3 series with the subs in and then Hart ran out the clock.

Second half stats: Holbrook had 5 carries for 7 yards. Howell had 7 carries for 149 and 3 TDs. Diamond had 1 for 5, Luster had 2 for 3 and a fumble. Stevens had at least 2 carries for 13 yards and Scholes had 2 for 7 yards. There were a couple of plays at the end I missed. Holbrook was 4 of 9 for 66 yards and 1 INT.

Lister had 77 yards on 10 carries. The QBs (including the sub and the half back pass) were 4 of 14 for 67 yards, 1 TD and 3 INTs.

Totals: Howell had 217 yards rushing and 4 TDs. He also had 99 yards on 4 receptions and 2 TDs. Holbrook finished the night at 12 of 20 for 180 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT.

Lister had 199 yards on 24 carries and a TD. The QBs were 10 of 30 for 198 yards, 2 TDs and 5 INTs.

Howell's 6 TDs ties his own Hart record and he's now within 100 yards of the single season and career rushing records at Hart (season: 1767 yards; Ted Iacenda has the record at 1853) and career at 4029 (Iacenda has the record at 4094).