ALEMANY CONTAINS BOLLER BUT CAN'T ADVANCE.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

This wasn't the confident gunslinger who has tormented opponents in a memorable, record-breaking senior year.

This wasn't the quarterback with the arm of John Elway and the accuracy of Troy Aikman. The quarterback who has received a scholarship offer from every college in the country.

This was the Kyle Boller rarely seen. Slightly confused, continually harassed and very much frustrated.

This was the Kyle Boller Alemany hoped and schemed for, the Kyle Boller Alemany had to see if it had any chance to beat Hart on Saturday in a Southern Section Division III semifinal.

Yet it still wasn't enough in a 21-13 Hart win.

``It wasn't pretty, but we did a good job,'' said Hart coach Mike Herrington. ``We have to do better next week.''

This was a Kyle Boller who was handing the ball off in the fourth quarter rather than setting up to pass - even though his team was clinging to a very-suspect eight-point lead.

This was a Kyle Boller that Alemany created with a fierce pass rush and confusing coverage packages. A Kyle Boller who completed just 11 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns, by far his shakiest performance of the year.

Alemany got what it wanted but still couldn't take advantage.

The Indians did what 12 other teams couldn't: They contained perhaps the best high school quarterback in the country.

Nonetheless, it is Hart (11-2) that will advance to the Southern Section Division III final next Saturday against St. Paul. The Indians will make their fifth appearance in the championship game. They won titles in 1995, 1986 and 1983.

``Every linebacker and defensive end got shots at (Boller) and hit him hard,'' said Alemany linebacker Mike Arguello. ``We thought we did a pretty good of stopping the pass.''

What did Alemany (9-4) do to control Boller? What didn't it do?

Alemany confused and pressured Boller with creative, sometimes risky blitzes. But the Indians also dropped seven defenders in pass coverage, denying Boller open passing lanes. They were especially effective in the second half, when Boller passed for only 7 yards.

Boller credited Alemany's great athletes, and there were many. Arguello, fellow linebacker Nick Knolls and safety Deon Scott were effective in the pass rush, corners Derek Goodman and Joe Fama locked up Hart's outside receivers.

``They we're blitzing a lot,' said Boller, whose previous low was 265 yards against Valencia.``They were a pretty good team and they were physical.''

Boller said the scheme was nothing Hart hasn't seen this year. It was just that Alemany executed better than others.

``I know it must be tough on them because this is a semifinal game,'' Boller said. ``They played great.''

Yet it still wasn't enough.