The Indians have displayed a penchant through the first three games for some truly excellent football mixed with an almost preternatural ability to shoot themselves in the collective foot. Against Westlake, the Indians came with six-shooters fully loaded and were earnestly engaged in some serious foot-shooting, as the lawyers like to say “ab initio” (from the beginning).

I like to look at things positively, so despite the score, I’ll try to highlight a few of the positives things (there were only a few) in my summary.

Things went a little off the tracks from the first whistle – Hart’s kickoff went out of bounds very near the goal which is, of course, a penalty so Westlake started at the 35. (Shot number one to the foot.) The Indian defense was effective and the Warriors were three and out.

Hart got a short return by MacArthur and started at the 23 and Jake Stephens started things off well for the offense with an 8-yard run on a pitch play. On the next play, the QB overthrew the intended receiver and the Westlake QB, Isham intercepted. (Shot number two.) Starting at the Hart 43, Westlake scored three plays later on a 26-yard pass from Isham to Spruce. Westlake 7-0 at 9:03.

Hart started at the 20 and moved the ball in small chunks of yardage out to the Westlake 40 (11 plays) but ran out of downs.

On the first play, the Hart defense seemed to decide as a group to not finish a tackle and Westlake’s Mowry was off and running for 38 yards to the Hart 22. (Shot number three.) The defense got it together and forced a 21-yard field goal. 10-0 at 1:43 in the first.

The Hart offense then moved the ball rather handily on an 80-yard, 8-play drive, all runs. The big play was a 46-yard run by Stephens. Reyes scored the TD on a 1-yard run. 10-7 with 9:43 left in the second quarter.

Up to this point, Hart looked very decent. The first Warrior score derived from an unforced error (an overthrow). Even with poor tackling, the Indians kept the second Warrior effort to a FG and then immediately and effectively moved the ball down the field for a TD. Unfortunately, the Indians still had plenty of foot-shooting ammo left.

On the kickoff, Hart gave up a 45-yard return (Michael Tack) out to the Westlake 45. (Shot number four.) Two running plays by Mowry of 11 and 19 yards with poor tackling followed by a 31-yard pass to Spruce who ran by the flat-footed coverage for the TD (Shot number five) and it was 17-7 Westlake at 8:36 in the second quarter.

Starting again at the 20 (the Westlake kicker put it out of the endzone), Hart ran one play and then another interception (by Michael Tack) on another overthrown pass (Shot number six – and mercifully, the six-shooter was empty. Or was it?) and Westlake had the ball at the Hart 36. Here, Hart finally caught a break when Westlake fumbled and Justyn Eddins recovered on the 39. Seems that there was another fully loaded foot-shooter still available. Hart fumbled an exchange (Shot number seven and another unforced error) and Westlake had the ball at the Hart 42. Westlake scored 7 plays later on a 1-yard run by Isham. Westlake 24-7 with 3:15 left in the half.

Hart started at the 20 again, a familiar refrain. The Indians moved out to the 33 but Reyes was then hit from behind as he prepared to throw and Westlake recovered at the Hart 34 (Shot number eight and the fourth turnover of the first half, though credit goes to Westlake on this one, the Warrior defense caused it.) Just when it looked like Hart might get out of the first half with no further damage, Isham was flushed from the pocket but then scrambled 19 yards into the endzone for the score. Westlake 31-7 at :43 left in the half.

Hart got out to the 47 on the last series of the half before time ran out.

The Hart offense, when it kept the ball, moved fairly well in the first half. Jake Stephens had 122 yards on 15 carries, a very impressive eight yards a carry. The Indians had almost 200 yards from scrimmage, again, a decent effort for the half (Westlake had about 240 – the big difference being Westlake’s 117 yards passing to Hart’s 47 and 2 INTs).

Hart took the second half kickoff at the 20 and went three and out. Westlake got a 60-yard return by Spruce down to the Hart 2 (Shot number 9) and the Warriors scored two plays later on a 1-yard run by Mowry. Westlake 38-7 at 8:30 in the third quarter.

Hart again went three and out. Westlake got down to the Hart 20, stalled and then missed a field goal attempt. Hart then moved 80 yards on 8 plays and scored on a 21-yard pass to MacArthur to make it 38-14 at :41 in the third.

Hart tried an onside kick which Westlake recovered at the 48. Mowry then popped off a 38-yard run featuring several more fruitless tackling efforts. Westlake once again stalled out and kicked a field goal. 41-14 at 9:41 in the fourth quarter

Hart moved out to the 45 on the next series but the third interception of the night (the second one by Tack) ended that drive.

Westlake scored again on a 8-play 86-yard drive with Clayton taking it in from 20-yards. Westlake 49-14 at 3:59 left in the game.

Hart again marched 80 yards, this time in only 7 plays, to score on a 19-yard pass to Borland. 48-21 at 1:39 left in the game. A couple of short runs later it was over.

Jake Stevens finished the night with 171 yards on 22 carries which I think is his highest yardage total at Hart.

Reyes finished with 15 completions on 27 attempts, 172 yards and 2 TDs. But it was the 3 INTs that ultimately ended up being the most significant factor.

Da’Jon Hairston had a very solid night with 88 yards on 6 catches (I may have credited one reception to the wrong kid).

All-in-all not a night to remember. Interestingly, Hart’s offense was really pretty effective. The Indians had 200 first half yards even with the four turnovers. The Indians had close to 200 yards in the second half as well but much of that was against the subs, especially in the fourth quarter.

Westlake is a very powerful offensive team and they’re going to rack up yards and score points on just about anyone. Isham throws well and is very nimble. Mowry is slippery and fast. Nelson Bruce is one of the better receivers I’ve seen lately (he had quite the night with 2 receptions for 57 yards and 2 TDs and 1 kick off return for 60 yards.)  But the Warriors really were not dominating on defense.  Take away the 3 unforced turnovers in the first half (and I know that’s asking a lot) it's probably a game.  Hart moved the ball every time.  The sloppy tackling on defense, the 2 miscues on special teams were also game changers.  Hart can play with just about any opponent if they simply avoid self-inflicted errors, polish up the special teams and cut out the grabbing and tackle and wrap up. . Maybe we’re out of foot-shooting ammo. One can only hope.

Next week: Paraclete in the high desert.  Hope it ain't windy.