Canyon kept it close through halftime 21-17 and then Hart simply outmuscled the Cowboys on both sides of the ball going up 45-20 midway through the fourth quarter.

Some notes before I get to the summary.

First, the kickers were impressive on both teams with all but two kicks into the endzone.  Both nailed their extra points and field goal attempts.  (There was one Canyon miss but a Hart penalty negated it.)

Second, there were some big hits on some receivers by Hart DBs and one serious bell ringer by a Canyon receiver on a Hart DB.

Third, I’ve been surprised and disappointed at the number of penalties in most of the games this year.  Hart and Saugus combined for 19 or 20 last week and there were 18 or 19 tonight, most of the 15-yard variety including 5, count ‘em 5 unsportmanlike conduct (3 for Canyon 2 for Hart). And so far as I could tell, all deserved.  Seriously uncool.

Now for the details.

Canyon started at the 20 and went 3 and out.

Can started at the 45 after a short punt return and scored on a 6-play, 55-yard drive on a 2-yard TD run by Jake Stephens.  Hart 7-0 at 8:43.

Canyon started at the 20.  After a run for no gain, the QB completed a short pass but there was a fumble at the end of the play, right into the arms of Borland and Hart took over at the Canyon 30.  Hart scored 3 plays later on a 3-yard run by Stephens.  Hart 14-0 at 7:10 in the first quarter.

Canyon once again started at the 20.  This time the Cowboys moved the ball well taking the ball in for a score on a 7-play drive.  Drew Wolitarsky took a pass 23 yards for the TD.  14-7 at 4:28 in the first quarter.

Hart then went five and out and punted down to the Canyon 1-yard line.  From there, Canyon marched down to the Hart 6 but then the Hart defense stiffened and Canyon was forced to kick a 23-yard field goal.  14-10 at 6:59 in the second quarter.

Hart took the ball 80 yards for a TD.  15 of those yards came on an unsportsmanlike penalty and the TD was on a 28-yard pass to Hairston.  Hart 21-10 at 4:05 in the second quarter.

On the next play from scrimmage, the Canyon QB threw an interception to Hart’s Cornelius who took it down near the goal line but a “block-in-the-back” penalty on the return made Hart start at the 36.  Hart got as close as the 6 but a sack moved the ball back to the 13 and Hart settled for a 30-yard field goal.  Hart 24-10 at 1:46.

Canyon got a 26-yard return on the ensuing kickoff and with a 15-yard face mask penalty added to the end of the return, started at the Canyon 42.  Canyon got to the Hart 36 but stalled and then tried a very long field goal which missed but a 15-yard roughing penalty gave the Cowboys new life and they scored on the next play on a 26-yard pass to Wolitarsky.  24-17 with 20 seconds left in the half. 

Hart started the second half at the 20 and simply ran it down the Cowboys' throat going 80 yards on 15 plays with only one 12-yard pass.  The TD was on a 1-yard run by Stephens (and NO penalties by either team during the drive – wow).  Hart 31-14 at 5:14 in the third.

There was a penalty on Canyon on the PAT so Hart kicked from the 45.  But then Hart went offsides on the kickoff and had to rekick – touchback.  Canyon moved down to the Hart 19 but then was stopped on third and long with a big hit on the receiver by MacArthur was jarred the ball loose.  Canyon kicked a 36-yard field goal.  31-20 at 1:25 in the third.

Hart again started at the moved the ball quickly for another score, the big plays being a 27-yard catch by King followed by a 42-yard reception by Stephens for the TD.  Hart 38-20 with 10:39 left in the fourth quarter.

Canyon got a short return out to the 24 and 2 plays later, Borland, playing free safety (which seems far more suited for his talents than corner) intercepted and returned to the Canyon 33.  Hart scored 6 plays later on a 15-yard pass to MacArthur.  Hart 45-20 with 8:15.

Canyon again started at the 20 and 5 plays later, MacArthur intercepted a pass and returned it to the 46.  Hart inserted the second stringers at the skill spots and went nowhere and had to punt.  

Then came the really, really ugly series.  Canyon got a decent return on the punt.  Then Hart was assessed a 15-yard PENALTY for a late hit out of bounds.  After a 4-yard run, Canyon passed and Hart was hit with a pass interference PENALTY and another 15 yards.  Following an incompletion, Canyon had a completion to about the Hart 16.  Two of the Canyon kids starting swinging at a Hart kid, he started back after them and pretty soon a whole bunch of kids on the field were going after each other.  The Canyon bench headed onto the field.  The Hart coaches managed to keep the Hart bench off the field.  When it was all over, the refs assessed a 15-yard (half the distance of the goal) PENALTY for unsportsmanlike conduct against Hart and then 2, 15-yard unsportsmanlike PENALTIES against Canyon with at least one Canyon kid ejected (possibly two) and one Hart kid ejected (interestingly, one who joined the fray late, not the original participant).  The net result was the ball at the Hart 38.  Next play: illegal procedure PENALTY for -5 yards.  Canyon got down to the Hart 28 and then there was another penalty, either a late hit or unsportsmanlike conduct PENALTY against Hart (I’m not sure of the call) and another Hart kid ejected.  Canyon scored two plays later on a 2-yard run by 22 to make the score 45-27 at 0:58.8 in the fourth quarter.  Canyon booted the next kickoff into the endzone and a couple of knee and it was over.

Hart stats:

• Rushing: Stephens 117 yards on 27 carries for 3 TDs; Reyes 7 for 49 (one sack); Hairston 3 for 6.  I think the back up QB had 1 for -2.
• Passing: Reyes was 14 of 20 for 236 yards and 3 TDs.
• Receiving: MacArthur 5 for 69 and a TD; Hairston 5 for 76 and a TD; Stephens 2 for 64 and a TD; Borland 1 for 0 yards and King 1 for 27.

Canyon stats:

• Passing: 21 of 35 for 236 yards, 2 TDs and 3 INTs.
• Rushing: 27 carries for 141 yards (not sure that I have the individual stats sorted out correctly)
• Receiving: Habberstad had 7 catches for 77 yards; Wolitarsky had 5 for 74 and 2 TDs; Yonkers (spelling?) had 4 for 30; Diaz had 1 for 6; there were 3 other completions for about 49 yards for which I didn’t get the receiver.

Finally: the Hart players ejected -- the two starting defensive tackles.  Don't know who the Canyon players were.  Not real helpful for either teams prospects next week.