Hart football beats Heritage Christian in last-minute matchup

VALENCIA — Two teams played a football game on Friday night, but not much else beyond the game itself could be considered “the usual.”

Hart and Heritage Christian played after a last-minute agreement between the two, following both teams’ previously scheduled matchups being forfeited by their opponents – Bishop Montgomery and Marshall, respectively.

Both teams came out firing early on, and it was Hart football leaving with a 49-34 win over Heritage Christian.

“We were always ready for a game to happen,” said Hart senior quarterback Jacob Paisano.

“I think it was Tuesday at lunch, we were having our lunch meeting watching some film and then their coach [Ben McEnroe] texted our coach [Jake Goossen-Brown] saying that they were trying to play us,” Paisano said about when the matchup came together.

“When we heard that, everyone was excited. We don’t wanna lose any games,” he said.

Hart’s offense showed up time and again throughout the night, led by Paisano, who had 5 total touchdowns on the night and a host of other weapons.

“It makes my job easy back there, knowing all four of my guys, five of my guys line up to catch the ball and all of them can win,” Paisano said about Hart’s receiving corps.

Hart led just 14-13 at the end of the first quarter before an unsuccessful fake punt attempt from Heritage Christian.

Hart took the ball at Heritage Christian’s 28-yard line early in the 2nd quarter, and they quickly capitalized on their good field position when Paisano found Josh Rogozik for an 11-yard touchdown to give the Hawks a 21-13 advantage with nine minutes left in the first half.

A few minutes later, Paisano threw a 22-yard score to receiver Michael Toner on a 3rd-and-11 to extend their lead to 28-13 with 5:30 remaining in the quarter.

Heritage Christian did score two touchdowns in quick succession to bring themselves to within one point after a passing touchdown from James Thompson on 4th-and-goal right before halftime. Josiah Allen returned the 2nd half kickoff for another.

Paisano and Toner connected for a 15-yard score with 10 minutes left in the third quarter. Matix Frithsmith found the endzone on a 25-yard run directly after an interception from Toner on defense.

It was Paisano who delivered a 51-yard touchdown run on a read option to put the Hawks up 49-27 late in the 3rd quarter. The quarterback faked a handoff to running back Josh Rogozik and ran up the right side of the field for the last Hart score of the night.

“Each time just reading it, just seeing if he gets a little lazy, then bite on it [the fake to Rogozik] then take my opportunity and make the most of it, said Paisano on his rushing score.”

Hart head coach Jake Goossen-Brown wasn’t phased about the short preparation time either.

“This is why it’s fun, getting a day or two to watch film. I spent all day Wednesday watching three games; to me, that’s the exciting part about being a coach, right? And you hope your kids are coachable … and we have really coachable kids, we have smart football players, so it makes it easy for us.”

Hart (2-2) begins Foothill League play next Friday when they play a home game against Saugus, while Heritage Christian (3-1) will return home to finish up non-league play against Valley View.