Neill Shows Way for Hart

VALENCIA —  Though David Neill wasn’t talking about it, his reaction at the final whistle said it all.

Neill, the Hart quarterback who has been the subject of much criticism, had his best game Friday night, leading Hart to a 38-28 victory over Canyon in a Foothill Leagur opener at College of the Canyons.

Neill, who raised both arms in the air and leaped into the arms of Ryan McMullen after kneeling down to end the game, completed 15 of 23 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns.

But the most important statistic: no interceptions.

“It feels good, but I can’t take too much credit for it,” said Neill, who had thrown at least one interception in each of Hart’s previous games. “When the offensive line plays like they did and I have that kind of time to throw it makes my job a lot easier.”

Jerry Owens also makes Neill’s job easier. A week after setting a school record with 275 receiving yards, Owens caught five passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns.

Hart, six-time defending Foothill League champion, has seven consecutive victories over Canyon in what was a fierce rivalry.

Canyon (3-3, 0-1) pulled to within 31-21 with 11:54 left in the game when quarterback Luke Petticord connected with Brian May on a 37-yard pass play.

But Hart (5-1, 1-0) controlled the rest of the game on both sides of the ball.

Defensive end John Harrison had two crucial sacks--one on third and 10 and another on second and 11, late in the game.

Neill and the Hart offense sealed the victory with a six-play, 70-yard drive capped by Billy Brecht’s 30-yard run with 1:03 left to play.

Canyon added a touchdown on a nine-yard pass play from Petticord to May with nine seconds left.

“Neill had one of his best games of the year,” Hart Coach Mike Herrington said. “This should have been a blowout. We gave them too many opportunities.”

Neill took away one of those opportunities, however. Trailing 24-13 early in the second half, the Cowboys drove to the Hart 37-yard line. Cowboy tight end Nick Longshore caught a pass good for a 13-yard gain, but Neill stripped the ball during Longshore’s run.

“That was the turning point in the game,” Canyon Coach Larry Mohr said.

Canyon pulled to within 14-13 midway through the second quarter when Drew Welch ran two yards up the middle for a touchdown. The Cowboys tried to pull ahead with a two-point conversion, but Matt Gregory was stopped just short of the goal line after catching a pass from Kevin Hammer.