Hart sees red
Prep football: Indians end season with home loss to Rancho Verde
Hart football’s playoff journey ended at home against Rancho Verde of Moreno Valley on Friday 55-27, but the post-game atmosphere wasn’t entirely dismal.
Mustangs nose guard D’lawrence Green approached Indians center Nathan Bradder and told him how great of a game he played.
The moment occurred in between Bradder posing for photos between myriad teammates.
The CIF-Southern Section Division 3 second-round
loss stung, but the aftermath wasn’t bitter.
Rancho Verde (10-2) scored first when Xavier Ugorji danced 74 yards into the end zone. Mustangs quarterback Brock White connected with Jasiah Richard-Lewis, then Jordan Jefferson rushed nine yards to pull Rancho Verde to a 20-0 lead by the 7:38 mark in the second quarter.
Hart (8-4) dented the scoreboard for itself when Julian Salazar blocked a punt and Tom Bambrick scooped it up for a touchdown. It was Bambrick’s first varsity score.
The Indians offense sputtered, though, and the defense gradually slowed as well. Shrout ended the game with four interceptions as the Indians let up the most points in any game this season.
The Mustangs would score two more touchdowns before Hart was able to counter with a 25-yard pass from JT Shrout to DJ Palmer.
Midway through the third quarter, Shrout threw a 30-yard pass to Da’Von Jones to bring the Indians within striking distance at 34-20.
Rancho Verde quickly silenced them on its next possession with a 15-yard touchdown pass from White to Richard-Lewis.
White then threw to Kamryn Woodson to give the Mustangs some breathing room at 55-20.
On the last score of the game, Shrout hit Ryan Schuman with a 24-yard pass.