Hart brought home a victory in a physical road clash against Hesperia Friday night, 44-21, in a game the Pirates had to win to maintain hopes of a playoff berth.
The Panthers were equal to the task early on, matching Hart score for score for most of the first half and even taking a 21-20 lead in the final minute of the first half when Tucker Bolles found Eli Edens for a 12-yard touchdown.
It appeared Hesperia would take that lead to the locker room, especially after Hart (5-4, 3-2 West Michigan Conference Rivers) was called for intentional grounding on the first play of the drive. However, Kolton Rockwell caught fire, throwing all three of the completions he had on the night in succession. The last of those throws connected with Halen Boos for a 26-yard score with only nine seconds to go in the half, and Hart led 28-21 at halftime.
The Pirates then came up with a big-time fourth-down stop at their own 16-yard line to open the third quarter and scored touchdowns on their next two possessions to put the game away.
The game featured more big plays and quick possessions than have been typical of either team this season. Though Hesperia (1-7, 0-5 WMC Rivers) puts the ball in the air far more often than does Hart, both teams generally are more methodical than the explosive offenses that were on display Friday.
“It was an interesting game with a lot of possessions, and we haven’t played in many games like that this fall,” Hart coach Joe Tanis said. “I thought our defense played really well. Halen Boos had a big pick-six to respond for our team two plays after we threw an interception.”
Senior running back Kyle Greiner had another huge night in a season full of them for the Pirates, racking up 184 yards rushing and three touchdowns as well as running in a pair of two-point conversions. Boos got in the end zone twice, with his clutch touchdown catch and pick-six - the latter of which opened the scoring - and Chase Lorenz added a 60-yard rushing score.
Greiner’s final two scores were the ones to tilt the scales in Hart’s favor in the second half. Tanis credited Rockwell’s blocking with contributing to Greiner’s success.
“He has become a dominant lead blocker for us and helped spring a bunch of explosive runs,” Tanis said. “Haegan Hansen also did a great job running the ball tonight. Kyle Greiner continued to do what he does and run the ball extremely hard with great vision and had some major highlight reel runs.”
Tanis was also impressed with his defense, which Keaghan Monroe led with 10 tackles. Abdel Lopez added nine takedowns, including a sack, and Boos had eight to go with his interception.
Edens was Hesperia’s lynchpin offensively, racking up 155 offensive yards - 119 on the ground - and scoring all three Panther touchdowns. Dominic Rivera and Ryan Fuentes had six tackles each, and Fuentes had an interception. Edens and Fuentes are two of just four Panther seniors.
“They all lead the team and play a big part in what we are doing,” Hesperia head coach Tyler Fehler of his seniors. “We have eight underclassmen starting and we have a freshman quarterback.”
Another of those seniors is Zach Loughridge, who didn’t post gaudy statistics but impressed Fehler with his work.
“Today he stepped up on both sides of the ball and just played an awesome game,” Fehler said.
Hart’s matchup at Central Montcalm next week is likely a de facto playoff game for the Pirates, who need to win to have a shot to get in. Hesperia will travel to St. Louis to cap off its season.
