Connors Propels Hart Past Palmdale, 38-6

Hart High posted its first win of the football season Friday night and it did so in convincing style, coasting to a 38-6 win over host Palmdale.

“It’s great to win,” said Hart Coach Mike Herrington, whose team had lost its other two starts this season. “We had a lot of enthusiasm, which we have been lacking, and had a lot of fun.”

Hart quarterback Ryan Connors, for one, had a blast.

Connors, who injured his elbow in a 14-3 loss to Crespi last week, sparkled.

He completed only one pass for nine yards last week but connected on nine of 16 for 216 yards to six receivers Friday.

Four of the completions went for touchdowns before Connors exited in favor of backup Davis Delmatoff at the beginning of the fourth period.

“The elbow felt fine,” said Connors, who did no throwing in practice during the week. “There was no doubt that I was going to play.”

Connors, a junior, connected with Doug Distaso for a 38-yard scoring toss on the Indians’ second play to give Hart a 7-0 advantage 2 minutes 51 seconds into the contest.

Palmdale’s Anthony Ortega reeled in a five-yard pass from Jay Mapson for the Falcons’ only score of the contest with slightly more than four minutes left in the first quarter.

Still leading, 7-6, after a quarter, Hart put the game out of reach with 24 second-quarter points.

Connors hooked up with Jami Wolocko to start the onslaught. The 47-yard scoring play increased the advantage to 14-6, then Connors hit Brian Bernier and Scott Blanchard on scoring tosses of 33 and 26 yards.

Brady Vilensky, who kicked five point-afters in the game, booted a 21-yard field goal as time expired at the half to give Hart a 31-6 lead.

Hart’s Tucker Setterberg intercepted a Mapson pass and rambled 26 yards into the end zone with 8:05 left in the third quarter to give Hart a 38-6 lead.

Palmdale Coach Kent Bothwell benched Mapson, who completed only three of eight passes for 20 yards, after Setterberg’s interception.

Mapson’s replacement, Rodney Williams, was equally unimpressive, completing three of 10 for 21 yards and rushing for minus-13 yards.

The start of the game was delayed for more than a half-hour because of a possible spinal injury suffered by Hart’s Ryan Hourigan during the junior varsity game, which preceded the varsity contest.