Following a league loss to West Ranch earlier in September that ended a seven-game win streak, Hart girls’ flag football responded by winning three in a row, including a shutout over Valencia.
The Hawks defeated the Vikings, 27-0, for their sixth Foothill League win of the season and 11th overall.
“It’s a long season, so we want to make sure we’re improving every single day and just trend at the right time,” head coach Josh Masmela said. “And I think we’re starting to hit that trend, going through the second half of the season, and then hopefully into playoffs.”
Hart (11-3, 6-1) began the game with its defense forcing Valencia (4-10, 1-4) to commit a turnover on downs, which handed the Hawks’ offense possession 25 yards away from the end zone.
Hart’s offense scored immediately when Hawks quarterback Hannah Cook threw a touchdown pass to Natalie Williams and took a 7-0 lead.
Before the Hawks offense could sit on the bench following their drive, linebacker Genesis Bray intercepted Valencia quarterback Camila Quintero.
In the closing minutes of the first quarter after the interception, Cook connected with Williams again for their second touchdown of the game and extended their lead over the Vikings, 13-0.
After another turnover on downs from Valencia’s offense gave Hart back possession, Cook threw her third touchdown pass of the game to Shelbie Ratzlaff in the second quarter.
Following the Hawks’ touchdown, Valencia was unable to drive the ball downfield as the Hawks defense prevented the Vikings from getting the first down.
With five minutes left to go until halftime, Brooklyn Frattali intercepted Quintero and ended any chance for the Vikings to score in the first half.
On the following drive, Hart scored again as Cook threw her fourth touchdown pass of the game to Jessica Gutierez.
Cook, who threw for 263 yards along with four touchdown passes, was praised by her head coach following the game for the improvement she has shown all season.
“She has such great work ethic. She’s such a competitor,” Masmela said. “Early on she kind of just had to sit back and kind of just learn the offense. But she’s done such a tremendous job, just competing every day at practice, learning the offense, and she’s really taking full grasp of it and going to be more proud of how she’s improved since the start of the season.”
Following halftime, Hart’s offense was unable to score, but its defense kept up the momentum from the first half, limiting Valencia’s offense.
In the fourth quarter, with Valencia driving down the field and yards away from its first scoring opportunity of the game, Hawks’ Iley Mitchell intercepted Quintero and sealed the win for Hart.
“The whole team loves her,” Masmela said. “So, for her to get her first pick of the season, it was really something the team really wanted to see.”
After the game, Masmela spoke on the performance of the defense and the potential he believes the team can achieve in the second half of the season.
“They are the strong unit of our team,” Masmela said. “I feel like our defense is really going to be the unit we lean on throughout the entire season. You know, they really humble our offense at practice, too. So, it’s just iron sharpens iron, that’s our mantra in practice.”
The Hawks pick up league action again on Monday on the road at Castaic.
As for the Vikings, Valencia will look to rebound Tuesday at home, hosting Canyon.
