If you're a fan of offense, this was the game for you.  The two teams put up close to 900 yards from scrimmage.  Throw in the return yardage and it was over 1000.  Defense?  We don't need no stinkin' defense or at least that was the case in the first half.

In the first half both teams scored on every possession with Hart settling for a field goal as time ran out in the half to make it 20-17 West Ranch.  Hart scored on the first possession of the second half and then, finally (mercifully?) WR went three and out with the only punt of the game.  Hart scored again.  WR scored again.  Hart scored again.  Then for some variation, each team decided to throw a pass to an opponent (the only turnovers of the evening) to start the fourth quarter.  Hart scored a final TD with about 30 seconds left to end the scoring.

Now for some details.

West Ranch bobbled the opening kickoff, got a very short return and started at the 10.  The first two plays went nowhere and then on third and 6, WR had a 25-yard completion (this third and long completion was symtomatic of the much of the game for the Hart defense).  Further down the field, WR once again was in third and long and completed a 12-yard pass.  The Cats were at the Hart 19 and again in third and long and completed a 19-yard pass for the TD.  The PAT was blocked.  6-0 West Ranch at 5:29.

Hart started off with a bang -- a 53-yard return by Hairston to the West Ranch 45.  Hart scored in two plays, the TD on a 35-yard run by Stephens.  Hart 7-6 at 4:38.

With a holding penalty on the kickoff, West Ranch again started at the 10.  The Cats scored on a 14-play drive, once again converting d 3 times on 3rd and long.  The TD was on a 6-yard run (3rd and long!) by Snell.  13-7 at 10:10 in the second quarter.

Hart started at the 20 and scored on a 12-play drive with the TD by Stephens on a 4-yard run.  Hart 14-13 at 3:17.

West Ranch started at the 20 and, facing third and 10, completed a 19-yard pass then moved smartly down the field and scored on a 2-yard run by Snell.   20-14 West Ranch at :42.5 left in the half.

With only 42 seconds and one timeout remaing before half, it didn't look like Hart would get another opportunity but the Indians moved down to the Cats 16 and kicked a field goal to end the half at 20-17.

Second Half.

Hart got a 30-yard retun by MacArthur to start the second half and scored on a 4-play, 67-yard drive with a 16-yard pass to MacArthur.  24-20 at 10:10 in the third quarter.

For the first time in the game, an offense was stopped and West Ranch punted (the only punt in the game).  With no return, Hart started at the 13 and scored on an 11-play drive when Stephens took it in from the 4.  Hart 31-20.

The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds so WR started at the 35.  And -- you guessed it -- on third and long (actually I'm exaggerating here, it was third and 3) WR scored on a 35-yard pass play.  31-26 at :32.9 left in the third.

Hart wasted no time scoring again  -- 1-play -- 80 yards for the TD on a short pass and really long run by MacArthur.  Hart 37-26 at :16.2 in the third.

On the next series, WR got to the 48 but on third and long -- the QB threw an interception to Hart's Eiden who returned it about 65 yards to the WR 9.  Stephens ran for 3 to the 6 and then on the next play: interception in the endzone returned out to the 22.  WR went nowhere and lost the ball on downs at the Hart 28.  Hart moved down to the WR 13 but Reyes was then sacked for a 10-yard loss.  A 40-yard field goal attempt was off the mark and WR took over at the 20.

WR turned the ball over to Hart on downs at the 22 with 2:45 left in the game.  Hart just ran between the tackles down to the 7 when, inexplicably, WR called timeout on second down.  Quite frankly, I think Hart would have simply taken a couple of knees to run the clock out but the time out actually forced Hart to move the ball forward and Stephens ended up scoring another TD with :34.5 left in the game.  WR made one last stab, moving down to the Hart 34 before time ran out.

The Stats;

Hart:

Rushing: Stephens had 20 carries for 118 yards and 4 TDs.  Reyes carried the ball 8 times for 13 yards including 1 sack for -10.

Passing: Reyes was 14 of 20 for 322 yards, 2 TDs and 1 Int.

Receiving: MacArthur was 7 for 180 yards and 2 TDs; Borland was 4 for 68 yards; Hairston was 1 for 14, King was 1 for 16 and Stephens was 1 for 44 yards.

West Ranch

Rushing: The running backs had 24 carries for 122 yards and 2 TDs.  I think almost all of this was by Snell, there may have been one other ball carrier; The QB had 2 carries for -1 including a sack.

Passing: The QB was 20 of 37 for 308 yards (190 in the first half), 2 TDs and 1 Int.  Snell also threw 1 pass which was incomplete.  Without a program, I was unable to get the WR receiver stats.

Comments:  I noted earlier in the week four keys: 

• Win the turnover battle.  It came out 1-1 tonight but that beats the heck out of 1-5 last week but the interception game on a really poor choice when Hart as again knocking at the door. 
• Start well.  Reyes completed his first six passes and 8 of the first 10 for 137 yards, a vast difference from last week's 2 for 10. 
• Tackle well.  Not so hot tonight with WR scoring on all three first half possessions with long third down completions. Once again, things tightened up in the second but can't do it.
•  Avoid special team problems.  WR had minimal return yards on kickoffs and there were not Hart punts.  Hart got some big return yardage on a couple of kicks.  The kicking game was not without problems as Reyes missed 2 PATs (largely due to high snaps) his first misses in many many weeks.  He also misseda field goal and a kickoff went out of bounds.

The defense seems to get tentative on third down and WR made 'em pay, racking up close to 300 yards from scrimmage in the first half.  The Indians slowed 'em down in the second half but they still had close to 200 yards in the last two quarters.

Total offense for Hart was about 453.  For WR it was about 430.  That's a lot of offense.

Next week, Golden Valley.