Iacenda Helps Hart Exorcise Demons at Dominguez, 42-12

COMPTON — Ted Iacenda returned to the scene of a bitter disappointment two years ago and replaced it with a performance he hopes will lead to an elusive Southern Section championship.

Iacenda, a senior fullback, scored four touchdowns in leading Hart High to a 42-12 rout of Dominguez in the second round of the section Division II football playoffs.

Two years ago, the Indians lost, 44-42, on this same field.

“We didn’t want to get upset here again,” said Iacenda, who had 197 yards from scrimmage. “We got a monkey off our backs.”

Iacenda rushed for 137 yards in 17 carries and caught four passes for 60. He scored on runs of two, one and four yards, one of them set up by a 50-yard run. He also caught a 27-yard scoring pass from Steve McKeon to put the game out of reach in the third quarter, 34-6.

McKeon completed 12 of 15 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns. He did most of his work in a brilliant first half, completing nine of 10 for 249 and two scores.

McKeon connected with J.B. Nelson on a post pattern for a 31-yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive and, after two scoring runs by Iacenda, found Nelson on a 38-yard bomb to make it 28-0 with 2:30 remaining in the first half.

Dominguez (4-8) scored with eight seconds left in the half when Jason Thomas ran 15 yards on a quarterback draw.

Hart (10-2) led, 28-6, at the half.

McKeon cooled off in the second half, throwing two interceptions in five passes, including one that Damon Relf returned 51 yards for a touchdown.

Nelson caught two passes for 69 yards, both for touchdowns. Cody Joyce had six catches for 98 yards.

Thomas completed three of 13 passes for 59 yards and rushed for 64.