Obviously, this was not a competitive game but then no one expected it to be.

The Hart offense scored on it's first four possessions in the first half. Unfortunately, Golden Valley coughed up the ball a lot and the Hart defense returned two interceptions and one fumble for touchdowns in the first half. The score was 56-0 at half. Hart scored on it's first possession of the second half and that was it for the night.

On offense, it was apparent that the Hart coaches intent was to keep everything in the middle of the field, avoid going out of bounds and keep the clock running. Other than moving the chains, Hart's offense caused the clock to stop only twice in the first half, once when a receiver got loose after a short pass and was knocked out of bounds downfield and once on an incomplete pass (the only incomplete pass of the game by Hart).

I also suspect that the coaching staff may have been a little put out with at least one defender who, just before half, intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. He probably should have taken a knee or gone out of bounds. The defensive scores forced the first string off the field one minute into the second quarter with the lead at 28-0.

The second stringers on offense took over for the rest of the second quarter (a single series, all the other scores were by the defense).

The JVs and miscellaneous other players who almost never see the field played most of the third quarter and all of the fourth.

Stats: Howell had 85 yards on 8 carries and 2 TDs. He also had two receptions, one for 62 yards and a TD and another for 31 yards. Pettee was 8 of 9 for 193 yards and a TD. He also ran once for 18 yards and a TD. The starting unit ran only 18 plays before being pulled.

Here's the play by play, omitting some detail:

GV got a 12-yard return to the 22 and went three and out.

Hart started at the 26 (on a very big punt by the GV punter): Howell run for 8, pass to Arndt for 9, pass to Arndt for 20, run by Howell for 13 and run by Howell for 22 and a TD. Hart 7-0 at 8:27.

GV 14-yard return to the 24: run for 0, run for 2, pass for 25, run for 1, run for 1 and INTERCEPTION by Reyes.

Hart at the 40: pass to Davis for 14, pass to Vairo for 23 (he was knocked out of bounds, stopping the clock), run by Howell for 17 and run by Howell for 6 and a TD. Hart 14-0 at 4:10 of the first quarter.

GV after a 12-yard return: pass for 35 (biggest GV gain of the night), incomplete, pass for 9, run for 2 and INTERCEPTION by Howell (Ardnt, the starting corner was pulled after the GV second pass completion in this series).

Hart at the 21: pass to Davis for 17, pass to Howell for 62 and a TD. Hart 21-0 at 2:15 of the first quarter.

GV to an 18-yard return and started at the 30: 3 and out.

Hart at the 19: pass to Vairo for 13, run by Howell for 7, run by Howell for 6 [END OF QUARTER], pass to Howell for 31 (Pettee was almost sacked, got his arm loose and got it off to Howell), incomplete (the only other time Hart caused the clock to stop in the first half), run by Howell for 6 and run by Pettee for 18 and the TD. Hart 28-0 at 10:23.

GV fumbled the kickoff and started at the 8: INTERCEPTION by Luster at about the 20 returned for a TD. Hart 35-0 at 9:37

GV at the 20 (touchback): run for 0, incomplete, pass for about 5 and then a FUMBLE picked up by Holbrook and returned for a TD. Hart 42-0 at 8:18.

GV got a 10-yard return to the 23: 3 and out.

Hart got a 21-yard return by Reyes and started at the GV 35: the subs were in at all of the skill positions and, I think many of the line positions: run by Levingston for 8, run by Levingston for 2, run by Holbrook for 2, run by Holbrook for 7, run by Levingston for 7, run by Levingston for 1, run by Holbrook for 7, run by Holbrook for 1 and the TD. Hart 49-0 at :18.1 second left in the half.

GV once again fumbled the kickoff and started at the 15: incomplete and INTERCEPTION by Arndt returned about 65 yards for the TD. Hart 56-0 with time expired in the half.

Second Half (running clock).

Hart got no return on the kick off and started at the 30 (a very short high kick that the Hart kids almost didn't get!): run by Luster for 2 (third string running back), run by Luster for 8, pass by Holbrook to Diaz for 11 (only pass by Hart in the second half), run by Luster for 4, run by Luster for 5, run by Luster for 6 (Luster pulled), run by Diamond (JV running back) for 21, run by Diamond for 13 and a TD. Hart 63-0 at 6:21 in the third.

GV got a 30 yard return with a TD saving tackle by the kicker, Mendenhall, and started at the GV 49: run for 4, run for 0, incomplete, run for 6 (on fourth down), run for -1, run for 4, incomplete, incomplete.

Hart took over at the 38L run by Diamond for 7 [END OF QUARTER] FUMBLE recovered by GV.

GV at the Hart 48: run for 5, run for 4, run for 7, run for 3, run for 0 and INTERCEPTION by Roberts (?) and returned 25 yards to the 30.

Hart: Diamond for 4, ? for 1, run by Diamond for 4, run by Diamond for 8 (Diamond taken out), run by Diaz (another JV player) for 3, run by Diaz for 6, run by Diaz for 10, run by the QB (Souza?) for 3, run by Diaz for 2, run by Diaz for 3 and knee to end the game.

Actually, I think the coaches were probably not particularly thrilled with the defensive scoring. Certainly they would have preferred no defensive scores and to have kept the starting offense in longer (18 plays is not much of a workout). The score right at the end of the half would have been better as simply going out of bounds after the catch.

Next week, GV gets to take on West Ranch which is likely to be a game. Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, one has to think they may be in the record book, losing their 4 Foothill League games by a collective score of 269-7.

Hart set one record tonight -- most points in a half, 56 and tied the Hart record for most points in a game, 63.

Next week Saugus.