Boller Is the Hero as Hart Wins

Kyle Boller didn’t throw for 500 yards or six touchdowns.

Nor did he lead a last-minute charge down the field for Hart High.

Instead, the Hart quarterback found a new way to win a game.

Boller intercepted a pass on the Hart five-yard line with 21 seconds left to preserve a 17-14 Hart victory against St. Paul in the Southern Section Division III championship Saturday night at Valencia.

“It was coming down and I just wanted to make sure I was going to catch it,” said Boller, who played about half of the game at free safety.

There was little question Boller would be on the field during the last drive, which started with 1:05 left and the ball at the St. Paul 43.

The Swordsmen (11-3) connected on a couple short passes, but faced a third-and-three from the Hart 37 when Jon Montes threw in Boller’s direction.

The result drew adulation from Hart Coach Mike Herrington.

“You think of the movie ‘Brian’s Song,’ when Gale Sayers gets up and says, ‘I love Brian Piccolo,’ ” Herrington said. “I love Kyle Boller.”

“What can you say? He’s one of the best we’ve ever had.”

St. Paul’s Jack Thomas missed a 34-yard field goal with 1:46 left, hooking the ball left of the upright.

“That was the difference,” St. Paul Coach Marijon Ancich said. “He’s usually a 100-percenter.”

The score was tied at halftime, 7-7, but Hart (12-2) scored on its first two second-half possessions.

Kirk Bardin gave the Indians a 17-7 cushion with 4:28 left in the third quarter with a 35-yard field goal.

Defensively, St. Paul (11-3) did what Alemany did the week before, only better: They blitzed. First down, second down, third down.

For the second week in a row, Boller did not pass for more than 200 yards. He also failed to become the first player in the state to surpass 5,000 yards in a season, finishing with 4,848 yards.

Hart won its fourth sectional championship and its first since 1995.

Boller completed 11 of 21 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown.

He finished the season with 59 touchdown passes and only three interceptions.

St. Paul helped Hart to its first touchdown. The Indians, on their first possession, moved as far as the St. Paul 16 yard-line, where they stalled and appeared to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Kirk Bardin.

But Marcell Allmond was called for roughing as he dove into holder Shane Lavoie.

First down Hart at the St. Paul eight.

Two plays later, Boller was intercepted by Allmond in the end zone, but the Swordsmen were called for roughing the passer.

First down Hart--again--at the two. This time, they converted, Patrick Norton running in from the one for a 7-0 lead with 4:23 left in the first quarter.