For the second straight week, the Hart Hawks football team was able stave off a second-half collapse, moving to 2-0 in the Foothill League.
After narrowly escaping from Saugus last week to kick off the league campaign, the Hawks nearly gave up a three-possession lead over the visiting Golden Valley Grizzlies on Friday at College of the Canyons’ Cougar Stadium, but came away with a 40-28 win.
Hart (4-2, 2-0) led 33-14 late in the third quarter, only to see the Grizzlies (2-4, 1-1) rattle off back-to-back touchdowns to cut the Hawks’ lead to five. The Grizzlies were in scoring position trailing by 12 with about four minutes to play, but the Hart defense held strong on fourth down.
“The defense stepped up when we needed it at the end there, they made plays,” said Hart head coach Jake Goossen-Brown. “You know, it felt like we had defense on the field the entire second half, you know. So, we gotta get back to the drawing board and I gotta find a way to make sure that we can play the way we do in the first half in the second half.”
Hart junior Matix Frithsmith showed off his speed as a runner throughout the ballgame on Friday, running for over 120 yards and three scores while also displaying his versatility, catching three passes for 51 yards.
“We ran the ball really well,” Frithsmith said. “Josh Rogozik, great kick-out blocks. He’s a dog, really unselfish player right there. Offensive line, they’re the ones that give me all the glory.”
Two of those Frithsmith touchdowns came in an efficient first half for the Hawks, scoring on three of their four drives. The Hawks needed just four plays to go 70 yards on their second touchdown drive, ending with a 16-yard run from their speedy halfback. Their next drive saw them go 47 yards in just about a minute and a half, with Frithsmith taking a handoff 13 yards to the house to put Hart up 20-7 going into the break.
“We practice really hard about just getting the ball out quick and just playing power-mouth football, just driving down every play, getting big chunks or little chunks just to keep us moving and just get in the end zone every drive,” Frithsmith said.
It was a different story for Hart in the second half, as for the second straight week, the Hawks found themselves needing to buckle down late after leading big early on. After senior quarterback Jacob Paisano tossed his second touchdown of the game early in the third quarter, Golden Valley quarterback Jayce Johnson responded with the first of his two rushing touchdowns on the night. Frithsmith then got his hat trick, only for Johnson to answer right back with a touchdown pass to senior receiver Ace Frias.
The Grizzlies stunned the Hawks on the ensuing onside kick with a recovery. Johnson then ran in for a touchdown to cut the Hart lead to 33-28. The Grizzlies tried the onside kick again, but junior Bailey Hill was able to latch onto the ball and take it to the house to make it a two-possession game once more.
“Bailey Hill made a hell of a play,” Goossen-Brown said. “That’s two weeks in a row he’s come up with a big clutch play in the fourth quarter.”
Paisano continued his strong start under center for Hart. He threw for 170 yards and two touchdowns while throwing one interception. He also ran for 29 yards.
Senior Dereck Guevara ran in a score from 14 yards out for Golden Valley in the first half.
Senior Josh Whitson picked up two sacks for Hart to bring his total to nine on the season. Goossen-Brown said the second one, coming late in the fourth quarter, was huge for momentum.
“That one was a big one back there, a long one,” Goossen-Brown said. “(Johnson) is a great athlete, you know, he’s a heck of an athlete. And for Josh Whitson to be able to stay neck-and-neck with him and cover him up is awesome to see.”
Johnson finished with 90 rushing yards and 157 passing yards.
Sophomore Silas Tucker had three catches for 49 yards while junior Michael Toner had two catches for 33 yards. Each receiver caught one touchdown pass.
Hart is slated to travel to West Ranch next week.
Golden Valley is scheduled to host Castaic on Thursday.