IT'S NO CONTEST: HART RIPS BANNING HART 34, BANNING 0.

VALENCIA - Eleven months and two knee operations later, Tim Gregory finally made his comeback, and he did so in style.

The Hart High running back scored three touchdowns on runs of 3, 2 and 3 yards to spark a 34-0 football victory over Banning of Wilmington in Friday's season opener at College of the Canyons.

Gregory finished with 60 yards on 16 carries and he also had three receptions.

He appears to be full strength after going down with a torn ACL in the second week last season, following by a second surgery for torn cartilage in the same right knee a month ago.

As a sophomore two years ago, he rushed for more than 1,300 yards, caught 43 passes and scored 24 touchdowns.

``It's great to be back and pretty awesome to score three touchdowns,'' Gregory said. ``But I'm not satisfied yet. I still have the rest of the season to do what I do.''

The game turned ugly in the final period when Banning (0-1) committed numerous personal fouls. Britton Hawkins, Fred Mutua and Chris Garrison were ejected, and the Pilots finished with 15 penalties for 140 yards.

Hart (1-0) got off to a shaky start but took advantage of three turnovers and two fourth-down stoppages to stake a 14-0 halftime lead.

Hart quarterback Matt Moore's only completion in his first six attempts was a 6-yard shovel pass to Gregory. With Hart up 14-0 with just over five minutes remaining before intermission, Moore was intercepted by Hawkins at the 1-yard line, ruining Hart's chance to put the game away by halftime.

Moore was 6 of 15 for 72 yards and was sacked three times during the first two quarters. He finished 8 of 20 for 96 yards and he added a 3-yard touchdown run.

Mickey Mercado's 84-yard kickoff return to the 14 set up Gregory's first touchdown.

Banning answered by driving 65 yards in 10 plays to the Hart 15. But the drive ended when Joseph Church was stopped on a 4th-and-seven reverse.

Three series later, Hart linebacker Dan LaChasse stepped in front of Jose Garcia and intercepted Damian Satete's pass at the Banning 31. Hart soon scored on Gregory's 2-yard run.

Banning running back A.J. Tuitele, expected to be the team's best player after rushing for more than 1,300 yards in eight games as a sophomore last year, didn't start on offense. He finally got his first carry with less than two minutes left in the first half, and he finished with 53 yards in 12 carries.

Sophomore Patrick Perry started in Tuitele's place and ran for 110 yards on 19 attempts.

Jimmy Neill scored Hart's last touchdown on a 53-yard run.

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Photo:

Hart quarterback Matt Moore scores on a 3-yard run friday night during the Indians' shutout victory over Banning.

Hans Gutkneckt/Staff Photographer