The Hart Hawks couldn’t have started the 2026 season any better.
After the Hawks opened the 2025 season with a loss to the Birmingham Patriots of Lake Balboa, the team came out Friday night looking to start the year off on the right track.
After the Hawks defeated the Patriots 20-0 behind senior Matix Frithsmith’s three-touchdown performance, Hart football began the season 1-0 Friday night at home at College of the Canyons.
“This is my third year and for the first few years we were 0-1 to start the year,” Hart head coach Jake Goossen-Brown said. “We’re excited about it. We had some young guys come up with their first starts, had them come out and make big plays for us to help us win this game.”
Offensively, the Hawks started the game with a successful first drive in the opening quarter.
After the Hawks opened the game with a Frithsmith touchdown, the team looked poised to blow out the Patriots at home with the early in-game momentum.
But the Hawks failed to capitalize on the offensive drives that followed.
For Goossen-Brown, although his offense staggered during moments in the first half, he wasn’t worried and relied on his defense to keep the momentum overBirmingham. And the defense did its part as the Hawks held the Patriots to a shutout.
“We have some great players on the defensive side of the ball,” Goossen-Brown said. “I thought we played a complete game tonight. Offensive and special teams.Did we stall at times? Yes, but hey, it’s early in the season and the offense need to find their rhythm. But I’m proud of what we did tonight.”
In the first half, Hart’s defense recorded multiple sacks and forced a fumble that was recovered by senior linebacker Bailey Hill in the second quarter.
The fumble recovery led to Hart again scoring off Frithsmith’s second touchdown of the night late in the first half as the Hawks carried a 14-0 lead going into halftime.
In the second half, Frithsmith extended Hart’s lead once again with a 15-yard rushing touchdown and final score of the game.
Following the game, Frithsmith, who ended the day with three rushing touchdowns, spoke on performance, the win over Birmingham and the importance of needing to start the season 1-0 in Hart’s non-league portion of the schedule.
“Coach Goossen-Brown preached it all week, and in the offseason, we want to start out 1-0,” Frithsmith said. “It was a run-heavy game, and I couldn’t have done it without any of my offensive linemen. I would see the holes and hit them, but they were the ones who were making those touchdowns happen by opening those lanes.”
With the win, the Hawks began the season 1-0 and momentum in the non-league portion of the schedule.
As the Hawks look toward next week, Goossen-Brown is eager to hit the practice field and keep the same mindset that helped bring the Hawks the win on Friday night: Go 1-0.
“We’re just going to go out and have the same mindset,” Goossen-Brown said. “We want to be 1-0 next week and that’s what we’re going to do.”
The Hart Hawks will look to keep up their early-season momentum next week Friday on the road at Newbury Park High School in a matchup against the Panthers with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
