Harvard Debuts as League Bully With 33-14 Win Over St. Genevieve
Harvard High made itself at home in its Santa Fe League debut Friday afternoon.
Members of the Pioneer League last season, the Saracens trounced perennial Santa Fe League power St. Genevieve, 33-14, at home.
St. Genevieve has won four consecutive league championships and was one of two teams expected to be Harvard’s toughest competition. Harvard, which apparently wasn’t intimidated, scored on three of its first four possessions.
“We’re improving every week and we’re getting more confident,” Harvard Coach Gary Thran said.
That’s not good news for Chaminade, the other team expected to challenge Harvard in league.
Saracen running back Andy Bell, who rushed for 266 yards and 4 touchdowns last week, played only 2 1/2 quarters but carried 17 times for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns. Quarterback Mike Patterson added 68 rushing yards and 2 scores, including a 37-yard touchdown run.
Harvard’s defense was equally effective, limiting St. Genevieve to 25 yards in offense during the first half. Nose guard Langston Holly sacked Valiant quarterback Dion Contreras twice.
The Saracens worked extra hard on defense after last week’s 50-34 win over Agoura, Thran said.
“That’s what we feel is the strength of our team and we let down last week giving up so many points,” Thran said.
The only dark spot for Harvard came in the second quarter, when 6-6, 250-pound center David Reiner strained the ligaments in his right knee.
Chris Jones played well in place of Reiner, but had trouble with field-goal and extra-point snaps. That hurt All-Southern Section kicker Dominic Sandifer, who missed an extra-point try and field-goal attempts of 55 and 65 yards. He had another PAT and a field goal blocked.
So the kicker put his feet to other use, lining up at running back and sprinting 15 yards for Harvard’s last score, which put the Saracens ahead 33-0.
The Valiants managed two touchdowns against Harvard’s second-string defense in the last nine minutes of the game. Substitute quarterback Leo Cortez completed 6 of 11 passes for 105 yards.
“Youth is one thing,” Valiant Coach Lindon Crow said of his inexperienced team, “but something’s not clicking with these guys.”
Harvard is 4-1, 1-0 in league. St. Genevieve is 2-3, 0-2.
