Once again, I did not attend the game. This week I was in another state with my oldest son where he was admitted to the Bar. As last week, my comments are based are derived from listening to the game on the radio, reading the newspaper accounts and talking to friends.

Hart v. Antelope Valley: for those of us who have been around for awhile this match-up immediately brings to mind the battles of the mid-90s. In 1994, Hart was 13-0 going into the championship game at COC and was soundly defeated by AV. In 1995, AV was 13-0 going into the championship game at AV. Hart won 35-28 in one of the most exciting, well-played high school games I've ever seen.

What's happened to AV? It was 49-0 at half (the second highest Hart total in a half; 50-0 is the biggest spread which came against Burroughs in 1992). Most of the Hart offensive starters were pulled well before half time. Hart won this one 55-6 and sad to say, it was nowhere near that close.

It's hard to offer any commentary other than Hart was vastly superior to AV.

Here's the play-by-play:

Howell returned the kickoff 43 yards to the AV 43: pass to Arndt for 20, run by Pettee for about 15 -- he fumbled and Vairo recovered it in the endzone for a TD. Hart 7-0 at 11:37.

AV got a 17-yard return and started at the 26: run for 2, run for 2, incomplete and punt.

Howell -- returning punts for the first time this season -- dropped the punt but recovered it and Hart started at the AV 41: penalty illegal procedure -5, pass to Howell for 10, pass to Vairo for 2, incomplete, penalty holding (?) -20 incomplete (dropped) and punt.

AV at the 38: run for 2, run for 1, penalty delay -5, SACK and fumble recovered by AV -21 and punt.

Hart fielded the punt the AV 40 and returned it for a TD. Hart 14-0 at 6:28 of the first quarter.

AV got 7 on the return and started at the 22: run for 4, run for -2, incomplete and punt.

Hart got no yards on the return and started at the Hart 46: pass to Arndt for 20, pass to Arndt for 11, pass to Howell for 14, run by Howell for 9 and the TD. Hart 21-0 at 3:56 in the first quarter.

The kick went out of bounds and AV started at the 35: run for 5, incomplete, run for 0 and punt.

Hart at the 42: incomplete, run by Howell for 8, run by Howell for 7, pass to Heirshberg for 41 and run by Howell for 2 and the TD. Hart 28-0 at :38 in the first quarter.

AV at the 20: run for 2, run for 0 [END OF QUARTER], run for 2 and punt.

Hart at the 40 (Reyes as the return man): incomplete, incomplete, incomplete and punt.

AV at the 6: run for -3, run for 2, run for 1 and punt.

Reyes got a 15-yard return to the AV 25: incomplete (dropped), run by Howell for 24, run by Howell for 1 and the TD. Hart 35-0 at 7:35.

AV got an 8-yard return to the 26: run for 5, run for 20, run for 0, run for 0 and FUMBLE recovered by Larimore.

Hart at the Hart 49: SACK for -4, run by Howell for 55 and the TD. Hart 42-0 at 4:47 in the second quarter.

AV got 7 on the return and started at the 26: run for -2, incomplete, run for -2 and punt.

Reyes returned the punt 29 yards to the AV 28: penalty against AV for illegal substitution -5, run by Howell for 13, run by Howell for 10 and the TD. Hart 49-0 at 2:40 in the second quarter.

AV had a 13-yard return and an additional 15 for a face mask penalty and started at the 43: penalty roughing the passer +15, incomplete, pass for 18 and INTERCEPTION by Levingston.

Hart started at the 20: run by Levingston for 12, run by Pettee for 18, penalty illegal procedure -5 and knee to end the half.

Howell had 130 yards on only 9 carries (but for the "short" field, he would have had a couple of hundred). He also had 2 receptions for 21 yards and a 40-yard punt return. He set a new Hart record with 6 TDs in a game, all in the first half.

Pettee was 7 of 13 for 105 yards. He also rushed for 36 on three carries and had one fumble.

Second half.

AV had a 13-yard return and started at the 25: run for 6, run for -2, penalty illegal procedure, pass for 1 and punt.

Hart at the 49 (Holbrook at QB): penalty facemask +15, run by Levinston for 11, run by Holbrook for 5, run by Luster (?) for 11, run by Holbrook for 6 and the TD. Hart 55-0 (PAT missed) at 6:23 in the third quarter.

AV got 6 on the return and started at the 19: screen pass for 7, run for 16, run for 4, pass for 4, run for 2, incomplete, incomplete, run by QB for 9, run for 3 and penalty facemask +5, run for 6, run/fumble for -5, penalty offsides +5, pass for 12 [END OF QUARTER], run for 6, run for 0, run for 3 and run for 1 on fourth down was short.

Hart at the 4: run by Aka for 5, run by Aka for 4, run by Holbrook for -3, punt.

AV: FUMBLE on the punt return recovered by Hickok.

Hart at the 47: run by Aka for 1, run by Aka (?) for 8 and FUMBLE.

AV at the 46: run for 2, run for 17, incomplete, run for 15, run for 2, incomplete, run for 2, pass for 12, run for 4 and the TD. Hart 55-6 at 2:54.

Hart at the 20: run by Aka for 2, run by Aka for -4, pass to Diaz for 15 and knee.

Obviously the ease with which the offense scored in the first half and the complete domination of the defense in the first half were bright spots. The dropped passes and fumbles remain worrisome but this is about as dominant as it gets.

Next week Loyola. And I'll be there.