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Once again things appeared to start well and then -- splat. This group has as much physical talent as any other Hart team
but insipid play on both sides of the ball does 'em in.
Here are the details.
Hart took the opening kickoff and Wheeler returned it 55 yards to the Canyon 44. The first play from scrimmage was a sack
for a 2-yard loss and Toledo -- who started at RB -- went out for the rest of the game (he was on crutches shortly thereafter).
Lyon ran for 19 on the next play, was flushed and threw for an incomplete followed by a pass to Surratt for 6, an incomplete
and then a 42-yard field goal. Hart 3-0 at 9:47.
Canyon got the ball on the 35 when the kick went out of bounds: run for 20 by the running back (all runs by the RB except
where noted), inc., inc., pass to Jimenez for 9 [note a continuing inability of the Hart defenders to stop opponents on third
and long, in this instance, third and 1 , Canyon went for it on 4th and about an inch and got it on 1-yd run; pass for 15
to Armbruster (pardon by spellings, didn't have a program), run for 0, inc., sack for -6 and incomplete on 4th down.
Hart took over at the 26: run by Bright for 8, pass to Wolfe for 10, run by Bright for -4, inc., inc. and punt.
Canyon at the 35: run for 1, penalty for delay, pass to Negron for 28, run for 3, run for 4, pass (on third down!) for
27 to Armbruster, run for 5, run for 3 and the TD. Canyon 7-3 with :11 in the first.
Hart started at the 25 following about a 15 yard return by Wheeler: run by Casselbury (RC) for 6 [QUARTER], run by Lyon
for 9, pass to RC for 11, run by RC for -1, run by Bright on a draw for 10, run by Lyon for 2, pass to Leigh for 0, penalty
procedure for -5, run by by Bright for 6, run by Lyon for 7, penalty offsides for +5, inc., pass to Wolfe for 3 (he slipped
and fell or would have had a much bigger gain), inc,. and on 4th down, pass to Wolfe for 22 and the TD. Hart 10-7 with 6:10
in the second.
Canyon at the 37 following a squib kick: run for 9, inc., run for 5, run for 0, sack by Burton for -2, inc and punt.
Hart at the 13: 52 yard pass to Surratt, run by Lyon for 1, inc., pass to Wolfe for 14, run by RC for 1, pass to RC for
19 and the TD. Hart 17-7 at 1:25.
Canyon at the 32: pass to Negron for 17, run for 2, pass to the RB for 10 and then an INT by Wolfe at the 5.
Hart: penalty for illegal procedure; knee by Lyon and halftime.
First half stats: Lyon was 9 of 16 for 137 yards and 2 TDs. He had 36 yards on 6 carries including one sack. Bright had
30 yards on 4 carries and Casselbury had 6 yards on 3 carries.
The Canyon QB, Brogan was 6 of 13 for 106 yards and one INT. The RB had 53 yards on 12 carries and Brogan had -8 on 2
carries, both sacks.
Hart kicked off to start the second half and Canyon got the ball on the 25. Note of course, that this drive started with
12 minutes on the clock: inc., sack for -6 [guess what folks that makes it third and long!] pass for 17 to Shirley. run for
6, run for 2, run for 2, pass to Shirley for 11, run for 3, run for 5, run for 8, run for 3, pass to Shirely for 16, run for
4, run for 1, inc. and on fourth down at the 3 yard line: incomplete and Hart took over with 3:59 left in the quarter -- an
8 minute non-scoring drive.
Hart: run for Wolfe for 0, inc., pass to Surratt for -2 and punt (this took 1:44 seconds).
Canyon returned the punt to the Hart 24: run for 3, inc., pass for 4 to the RB and, on 4th down and 2 at the 17, run for
1 and Hart takes over. Another drive deep in Hart territory for no points.
Hart at the 16: a long completion is nullified by holding moving Hart back half the distance. Run by RB for 11, inc.,
pass to Wolfe for 4 [QUARTER] and punt.
Canyon at the Canyon 42: run for 0, pass to Shirley for 2, inc. and punt.
Hart at the 10: pass to Wolfe for 8, run by by RC for 5, run by Bright for 6, pass to Yudin for 6, run by Lyon for 6,
pass to RC for 2, run by Lyon for 1 -- and here is the critical play -- on fourth down and 1 at the Hart 44, Hart went for
it. Lyon as undercenter and tried to pass to his left with no drop and a DL deflected it.
Canyon ball at the Hart 44 with 6:52 left: pass to Shirley for 27, run by Negron on a reverse for 16, run for 0 and then
run for 1 by the QB and it was 17-14 Canyon with 5:44.
Hart started at he 17: run by RC on a draw for 3, run by Lyon for 0, inc. (flushed) and punt.
Canyon at the Canyon 40 with 4:09 to play: run for 11, run for 4, pass for 5 to Shalom (?), run by the QB for 3, inc.,
pass to Jimenez for 21, run by Negron on a reverse for -1, inc and then a 17-yard fade to Shirley for the TD and it was 21-17
at 1:35.
Hart got the ball at the 31 with 1:29: Sack for -9 and then on a long pass down the middle that was a little high and
behind Wolfe, off of Wolfe hands and into Negron's for an INT.
Canyon got the ball at the 32 and ran out the clock on 3 knees by the QB.
Lyon was 5 for 10 for 22 yards and an INT in the second half. Hart had net 23 yards rushing for a total of 45 yards from
scrimmage in the second half.
Brogan was 9 of 16 for 109 yards and a TD in the second half. The Canyon runners (all but three plays by the RB) had 66
yards on 23 carries. Canyon had 39 second half plays to Hart's 19.
Hart's offense which clicked nicely in the second quarter went completely off the tracks in the third quarter. Meanwhile
Canyon completely chewed up the clock. Canyon had the ball for almost 10 minutes in the third quarter but did not score. The
Cowboys had the ball for about 8 minutes in the fourth quarter.
Canyon's defense held on that critical fourth and short and then scored, relatively easily 2 times in the fourth quarter
to win.
Offensively, I have three observations about Hart. My son and I were basically calling the plays before the snap and were
right about 80% +. Hart has been very very predictable the last few games.
Second, I think Lyon is simply more comfortable in the under center position. While there were no snaps over his head
there were once again several high snaps which completely destroy most timing. When Lyon has to retrieve the ball from overhead,
by the time he brings it down it is completely obvious what the play is and too often he's no longer in a position to get
the ball off quickly.
Third, while I don't know if its the play calling, the routes or just an inability to pick up the receiver quickly, Hart's
offense seems to be increasingly slow to develop. The line was giving Lyon a lot of time but nothing seemed to happen to quickly.
Defensively: for the life of my I can't figure out the third and long breakdowns. Every time I see the third and long,
I cringe.
As I noted at the top. Hart has as much physical talent as ever but between uninspired play-calling, insipid execution
on offense and dunderhead plays on defense, the Indians have worked themselves into a very disappointing season.
Congrats to Canyon and a great second half and a stellar fourth quarter. Unfortunately, you may have just worked yourself
into another semifinal with Mission Viejo. I hope the third time is the charm for you!
Well, it all starts anew for Hart next week. Go Hart.
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