L.A. WATTS SUMMER GAMES : Delmatoff, Hart Pass Early Test in Football Win Over Canyon

December is a long way off.

That was the prevailing sentiment after Hart High’s 25-6 victory over Canyon in a second-round seven-on-seven football game of the L. A. Watts Summer Games on Saturday at Compton College.

Hart Coach Mike Herrington was pleased with the way 6-foot senior quarterback Davis Delmatoff ran the offense against defending champion Canyon, but he expects the going to be more difficult when the teams meet in the final regular-season game in December.

“As far as where we’re at right now, we’re coming along fine,” Herrington said. “Davis did a good job today, but it’s going to be a lot tougher in December when there are four or five big guys in green and yellow on the other side of the line getting in his face whenever he throws.”

Canyon Coach Harry Welch said the Cowboys’ lack of experienced players was evident.

“We’re not real good right now,” Welch said. “But we will be a good team in September.”

Delmatoff, who had 25 receptions for 450 yards and eight touchdowns as a receiver in Hart’s wide-open passing attack last year, has made an impressive debut at quarterback, replacing graduated Ryan Connors, who passed for a Southern Section record 4,144 yards last season.

He completed 18 of 26 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns against Canyon, after completing nine of 23 for 164 yards and three touchdowns in an 18-7 victory over Pomona in a first-round game earlier in the day.

“I felt good in this game,” Delmatoff said of playing Canyon. “A lot better than I felt in the first game. I was a little too nervous when I started.”

Delmatoff completed eight of 12 for 112 yards and two touchdowns in the second half against Canyon as Hart blew the game open after being tied, 6-6, at halftime.

Delmatoff’s one-yard strike to Deriek Charles gave the Indians a 12-6 lead, and after Soren Halladay returned an interception for a touchdown and a 19-6 advantage, Delmatoff hit Doug Socha with a two-yard scoring pass over the middle on the game’s final play.