Where do I start? The defense was dominant. The offensive line was terrific. Tyler Lyon played with an absolute will to win. The Hart running back corps – Howell, then Casselberry and then Wheeler – got the yards. James Wheeler was everywhere – offense, defense and special teams, wreaking havoc all over the Valencia-house, the Hart version of the energizer bunny. And Weinstein had a big time leg when it counted most.

Some preliminary comments. First, this was the lowest attendance at any Hart-Valencia High game since the inception of the series in 1996 but I guess the Hart kids have to like the Valencia-house as they now are undefeated there. Second, Valencia has a really terrific game program – made to order for Hart Dad with lots of stats and history. Third, despite the predictions of all the writers for the Signal, all but one writer for the Daily News, CalPreps and, course, ever non-Hart poster on this and every other board, Hart won.

Now to the play-by-play.

Wheeler returned the opening kickoff about 20 yards to the 22. On the first play from scrimmage, Lyon took the snap looked right and throw it, seemingly not noticing the Valencia High lineman right there. It was knocked down. Second play: 11-yard quick strike to a diving Robbie Casselberry across the middle for a first down. Third play: 1-yard run by Howell. Fourth play: another pass right at the left defensive end and another knock down and a punt. Once again, Hart started out VERY slowly.

Like the Hart offense, the defense too tends to start slowly. Valencia High took the punt at the Valencia 36 and, as seems to be their MO, started out very quickly: Vereen run for 6, Vereen run for 35, Vereen run for 21 down to the Hart 4, Herrick run for 2 then a half-the-distance penalty on Hart for 12 players on the field. On the next play Hart completely jammed up Vereen and but for a very fortuitous, very quick whistle, Hart would have had the ball right there on a fumble. Vereen was jammed again on third down at the 2. Valencia High called time out, went for it on fourth down with Vereen taking it in around the right side. Valencia High 7-0 at 7:00 in the first.

Hart to a 28-yard return by Wheeler and started the next series at the 32: pass to Davis for 21, run by Lyon for 9, run by Lyon for 3, incomplete and then run by Lyon (he was flushed) for no gain. Here was the first of three strange turnovers for Hart. The whistle blew and everything seemed normal then all of a sudden the Valencia High kids get very excited signaling that it was their ball. No fumble was visible from our vantage point but, nevertheless, it was Valencia High ball.

Valencia High: run by Herrick for 3 (flushed); run by Vereen for -2, run by Herrick for 3 and punt.

Hart, after a fair catch, started at the 28: run by Wheeler on a slot counter for 13, incomplete, pass to Wheeler for 16 and then another strange turnover. Lyon appeared to hit Wheeler for about a 20 -yard gain but the ball bounced off Wheeler and into Vereen’s arms who returned it to the Valencia High 45.

Valencia High: penalty for illegal procedure, incomplete (Herrick was flushed out and chucked it to avoid a sack), pass to Vereen for 3, pass to Engelberg for 13, run by Vereen for 2 [END OF QUARTER], pass to Hale(?) for 4 then, incomplete and punt.

Hart at the 4-yard line: run by Howell for 0, run by Lyon for -1 (Sack?), pass to Wheeler for 7 and then punt. Here was the first break for Hart. A player on the return team was hit by the punt as it bounced back toward Hart and Hart recovered at the 32; run by Howell for 14, incomplete, pass to Casselberry for 4 (with a terrific bit of fancy running by Lyon to escape the blitz), incomplete and punt.

Valencia High at the 20: pass to Selnow for 14, run by Vereen for 4, incomplete, pass to Vereen for 17, penalty for illegal procedure, run by Vereen for 0, run by Herrick (flushed) for 13, pass (don’t get the receiver) for 8, penalty for holding after Vereen run which moved the ball back to the 31, then, on another controversial call, pass interference on Hart which gave Valencia High at first down at the Hart 16: run by Herrick for 6, incomplete, incomplete and then a really flat kick which missed on a 26-yard field goal attempt.

Hart starting at the 20 decided to let the offensive line strut it’s stuff: run by Lyon for 12, run by Howell for 24, incomplete, pass to Howell for 6, run by Howell for 7, run by Lyon for 11, run by Howell for 15 and run by Howell for 5 and the touchdown. 7-7 with :50 seconds left.

Valencia High (kick to the endzone, no return): incomplete, run by Vereen for 10, run by Herrick (flushed) for 1, run by Vereen for 15, pass (didn’t get the receiver) for 15 to the Hart 39, spike, pass for 13 (didn’t get the receiver) to the Hart 26 with one second left. A 43-yard field goal attempt was wide left and it was 7-7 at the half.

Tyler Lyon was 6 of 15 for 65 yards and one interception in the first half. Not stellar through the air but his running numbers were very nice, 34 yards on 6 carries. Howell had 72 yards on 8 carries and a TD. Wheeler had 13 yards on one carry. Hart 184 yards from scrimmage.

Herrick was 8 of 14 for 87 yards. He rushed for 28 yards on 6 carries. Vereen had 93 yards on 12 carries. Valencia High had 204 yards from scrimmage.

The second half kickoff by Weinstein was into the end zone. Valencia High at the 20: pass to Engelberg for 3, run by Vereen for 2, incomplete and punt.

Hart after a fair catch at the 36: Howell run for 3, Howell run for 3, incomplete (Howell really got leveled on the swing pass) and punt.

Valencia High at the19: pass to Selnow for 6, run by Hale on a counter for 7, run by Herrick for 4, pass to Selnow for 3 and then run by Vereen for about 6 but with a FUMBLE at the end.

Hart at the 50: run by Howell for 7 (he was injured on this play; it appeared to be his ankle); dangerous option to Casselberry for 5 (this play has not been good to Lyon, seems like he gets leveled every time Hart runs it); run by Lyon for 13, run by Casselberry for 4, run by Lyon for 0 (flush), run by Lyon for 2 and then a 37-yard field goal attempt was wide right.

Valencia High at the 20: run by Vereen for 4, SACK for -5, pass to Hale for 13 and then the big “we were asleep at the switch play – a 51-pass to Engelberg over and past 3 defenders (Coach 2 was not discrete in expressing his displeasure to a defender following that play); run by Herrick for 10 [END OF QUARTER], run by Herrick for 2 and the TD (was that Vereen, a la a Reggie Bush pushing Herrick into the end zone?). Valelncia High 14-7 at 11:59.

On the ensuing kickoff, Hart was assessed with a personal foul so the kick was easily into the end zone: pass to Casselberry for 13, run by Lyon for 2, run by Wheeler for 35, penalty for illegal procedure -5, SACK for -8, run by Wheeler for 8, and here was the critical play of the game in my view – on third and 15, Lyon rifled the ball from the left has across the field and 25 yards down field to Embree along the right side line for 25 yards and the first down. From there: Wheeler for 0, incomplete, pass to Embree for 11 (and a first down at the 1), run by Lyon for 1 and the TD. 14-14 at 7:38.

Valencia High: run by Vereen for 4, run by Vereen for 2, incomplete on 3rd down on a halfback pass by Vereen way down the field which was perfectly defended and knocked down by Wheeler then punt.

Hart started at the 48 after a short punt: run by Wheeler for 17, run by Casselberry for 2, run by Wheeler for 5, incomplete and then a 45-yard field goal by Weinstein to make it 17-14 for Hart at 4:10.

There’s a lot left in this one. The kick was a little short (the only one by Weinstein not in the end zone) but Vereen was quickly bottled up at the 16: pass to Hill (?) for 9, pass to Hill (?) for 10 and then INTERCEPTION by Yudin on a long by pass down the middle of the field. This occurred with 3:07 to play.

Hart at the 24: run by Casselberry for 15, run by Casselberry for 15 more and then a fumble at the end of the play when, I think, a defender put a hat on the ball from behind.

Valencia High at the Hart 44 with 2:31 to play: run by Vereen for 3, pass to Selnow for 2, illegal procedure for -5, run by Herrick for 4 and then – Incomplete.

Hart took over at the Hart 40 with 1:14 to play: (timeout Hart) Wheeler run for 3 ( time out Valencia), Wheeler run for 3 (timeout Valencia, timeout Hart), Wheeler run for 8 and a first down. Two knees later and it was over.

Second half stats: Lyon was 3 of 6 for 49 yards. He rushed for 8 yards on 5 carries and a TD. Howell had 13 yards on 3 carries before he left the game. Casselberry had 41 yards on 5 carries and a fumble before he left the game. Wheeler had 79 yards on 8 carries for a total of 127 yards.

Valencia: Herrick was 8 of 12 for 97 yards and 1 INT. He had 15 yards on 5 carries and was sacked once. Vereen had 21 yards on 6 carries. Hale had 7 yards on 1 carry for a total of 140 yards.

Comments: As I noted in my pre-game analysis, Hart’s otherwise superb defense has two flaws: a tendency to start slow and a propensity to fall asleep at the switch. The Hart defense generally dominated the game except for the first Valencia High drive for a TD (slow start) and the single 51-yard pass (asleep at the switch).

The Hart offense: Lyon’s numbers were not huge but his contribution was gigantic. He played with an obvious will to win. He ran well when needed. He danced out of a couple of potential sacks; he made a spectacular throw to set up the Hart second half TD. Wheeler certainly did everything he could. He returned kicks (and has now gotten very smart on deciding whether to return or fair catch), he covered well on defense and had a great knock down. On offense not only did he have some great receptions but he also ran for 92 yards on 9 carries from both the slot and running back spot as a substitute.

The offensive line was superb, clearly wearing down the Valencia High defenders. The holes for Howell early and Casselberry and Wheeler in the fourth quarter were sometimes gigantic. But for the unfortunate fumble in the fourth quarter it looked like Hart was ready to score again.

Valencia High remains a very dangerous and explosive team but there is no question that Hart contained almost every threat.

Next week Burbank. I certainly hope Howell, Casselberry and Yudin are all okay.