NEWBURY PARK — With Newbury Park’s star senior quarterback Aiden Tasci out with an injury, the Panthers (0-2) needed to play a clean game to have a chance Friday in a nonconference game against the Hart Hawks (2-0). However, their start to the game was anything but.
After the Panthers forced a Hart punt on the opening drive, they committed a roughing-the-kicker penalty, which opened the door for a Hawks touchdown. On Newbury Park’s first offensive play, an errant snap flew over freshman quarterback Daniel Tromello’s head to set up a three-and-out.
Though Tromello put up a valiant effort in his first-ever high school start and the Panthers defense forced three turnovers, Hart’s star running back Matix Frithsmith and stellar defense were too much to overcome as the Hawks left Newbury Park with a 21-10 win.
“Pretty embarrassing loss,” fifth-year Newbury Park head coach Joe Smigiel said. “We didn’t play with any sense of urgency. We lost all three aspects of the game. We’re lucky it was that close.”
Smigiel said Tasci, who wore a cast on his hand during the game, got an MRI earlier in the day and would be out “for a while,” though he did not offer any specifics. Despite his injury, Tasci continued to be an active participant on the sideline and in team huddles throughout the game.
In his stead, Tromello made a few big plays in the first half, including a 44-yard pass to wide receiver Darrien Johnson, though he cooled off in the second half, nearly throwing multiple interceptions as six consecutive Panthers possessions ended in a turnover on downs.
“He was in a tough situation,” Smigiel said. “It wasn’t just one player. It was our entire team.”
Hart’s defense surrendered no points in the second half, after holding Birmingham scoreless in a 20-0 win last week. Notably, the defensive line put pressure on the opposing freshman quarterback, with defensive tackle Gabriel Degl’innocenti earning two sacks.
“Our defense is playing great. Lights out,” third-year Hart head coach Jake Goossen-Brown said. “It’s exciting to see these guys get up and get all toughness and physicality.”
Hart quarterback Camren Ketner produced both through the air and on the ground. He threw some strong deep passes and ran for multiple first downs.
Frithsmith, who scored three touchdowns last week, scored another one on a goal-line run against Newbury Park after breaking off a run of more than 20 yards and grabbing a 16-yard first-down reception.
“He’s a really good football player,” Goossen-Brown said of Frithsmith. “He makes good plays. He’s hard to stop and tackle, and he brings a different dynamic and facet to what we can do offensively. So, I’m lucky to have him.”
While Frithsmith was on full display Friday, it was Josh Rogozik who scored twice, once on a goal-line run and the other on a 39-yard touchdown reception that involved a lot of run-after-the-catch.
On top of his offensive heroics, Rogozik also contributed on defense, including making one of the key fourth-down stops in the fourth quarter.
“He didn’t come off the field tonight on both sides of the ball,” Goossen-Brown said. “He does a great job, and he’s been putting his head down, just works.”
But Hart’s performance wasn’t without its blemishes.
Ketner was picked off by Newbury Park’s Simon Mekari in the end zone, Frithsmith fumbled in the fourth quarter, and Panthers linebacker Charlie Ward recovered a second fumble and got into the pocket for a key sack early on.
Hart hosts Pacifica next week, while the Panthers will hope to earn their first win of the season during a road trip to Arroyo Grande.
“It’s hard to be at this point in the season and being in a situation where our backs are already against the wall,” Smigiel said. “It’s up to these young men, what they want to do at this point because if they have any backbone, they’re gonna get pissed and want it.”