PASSING IT ON HART HAS A TRADITION OF STELLAR QUARTERBACK PLAY, AND SENIOR B.R. HOLBROOK APPEARS TO BE FOLLOWING IN THOSE FOOTSTEPS.

Byline: JAHMAL CORNER

Special to the Daily News

NEWHALL - Hart High School isn't filled with commemorative plaques, recognizing the past glories of its long line of successful quarterbacks. There is little memorabilia to boast of or remind current players of the rich history they're succeeding.

There are only memories, and steep expectations. And those factor more than any trophy case ever could.

"Every time I walk into that locker room I know there were a whole line of great quarterbacks that came before me," senior B.R. Holbrook said. "It's an honor to be a part of this program ... but yeah, there's definitely a little pressure."

Holbrook represents the latest in a Hart family tree of quarterbacking excellence. From the Baltimore Ravens' Kyle Boller to the Carolina Panthers' Matt Moore all the way to the Bonds brothers, Tom and Jim, Hart routinely develops prospects for the next level and beyond.

Not only is Holbrook expected to perform on par with the program's greats and guide Hart to championships, he also has been entrusted with restoring a long-standing tradition at the Santa Clarita Valley school. Prior to last season, Hart had produced 14consecutive All-Southern Section quarterbacks, the past six of whom earned NCAA Div. I college scholarships.

It had become a rite of passage for Hart players under center to be honored as the Southern Section's best. That streak ended lastyear, and now Holbrook is being asked to restart it.

"That would be cool, but that's not my main focus," Holbrook said.

Holbrook's numbers suggest a quarterback on a mission. In leading the Indians to a 3-0 mark, Holbrook has passed for 540 yards and six touchdowns, with no interceptions, while also rushing for 241 yards.

Equally as impressive has been his leadership. Teammates have praised Holbrook's poise in the huddle and command of the offense despite this being his first year as the starter.

The recruiting experts are taking notice.

"He's definitely a D-I type kid," Greg Biggins of Rivals.com said of Holbrook. "He's been compared to Matt Moore. I saw him during 7-on-7's during the summer, and the team obviously had a lot of confidence in him."

The confidence comes from the top. Coach Mike Herrington places a lot of responsibility on the quarterback and leaves little room for error. The result is Hart has made 26 consecutive playoff appearances.

Herrington deflects much of the credit for developing top quarterbacks from himself, instead praising the work of his brother, Dean, who introduced the run-and-shoot offense at Hart and changed the landscape of the program.

Dean worked alongside another brother, Rick, and was the team's offensive coordinator from 1989-2000. The catalyst for change occurred during Dean's days as an All-Southern Section quarterback for Hart in 1980-81. More importantly, it was the time Dean spent watching Jim Kelly and the Houston Gamblers in the old United States Football League.

The Gamblers' run-and-shoot offense was nearly impossible to stop. The way Dean Herrington figured, if it could work on the professional level, why not in high school?

"You watched Jim Kelly running it in the USFL, and it looked like a lot of fun," Dean Herrington said. "It's a lot (for a QB). We do some changing at the line of scrimmage; receivers don't have set patterns, they're adjusting to the defense."

Fellow coaches were skeptical.

"A lot of (them) told me it wouldn't work," Den Herrington said.

It didn't just work -- it flourished. Hart didn't just produce top quarterbacks, it dominated the competition. In 18 seasons under the Herringtons, Hart has won six Southern Section titles and 14 league championships, including 13 straight between 1991-2003.

Ryan Connors got things rolling in 1990-91, and Davis Delmatoff took it to the next level in 1992. There was strong-armed Mike Kocicka in '93, followed by Steve McKeon. Boller, who was a first-round pick of the Ravens, had the biggest season, throwing for 4,851 yards and 59touchdowns in 1998.

Last year's quarterback, Alex Pettee, is playing well at Pierce College and is expected to move on to a four-year college.

"It was what was expected of you," said McKeon, who played in 1994. "If you didn't complete the pass to the right person at the right time you failed. Bottom line. But that's why the teams were so good, and you tried to be a little better than the guy that came before you."

Local fans can recall highlights from past stars as if they occurred yesterday. And they've grown to expect the same level from players of today.

"I would say (for fans) there's that expectation, because there's been a lot of great QBs," said Dave Hamilton, whose sons played for Hart and who has been watching the Indians since the early '90s. "I grew up one street over from Boller, and I can remember he was one of the first quarterbacks who, when he would throw the ball, you could actually hear the ball coming from a distance."

Junior wide receiver Spenser Souza has fond memories of his own.

"When I was 11, I can remember watching Sean Norton throw a last-second touchdown pass to win a game," Souza said. "The quarterbacks have definitely left their mark here, and everyone knows it."

No one knows more than Holbrook. After three games, some believe it's only a matter of time before he begins creating memorable moments of his own.

"He's going to be special," Dean Herrington said. "You watch him, and he doesn't worry about the rush. Not to put pressure on him, but I wouldn't be surprised if he made some money playing this game."

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CAPTION(S):

4 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Kyle Boller

(2) Matt Moore, who passed for 3,334 yards and 33 touchdowns for Hart in 2001, is now a backup with the Carolina Panthers.

Daily News file photo

(3) Hart's B.R. Holbrook has passed for 540 yards and six touchdowns, with no interceptions, while also rushing for 241 yards.

(4 -- color) Hart High senior quarterback B.R. Holbrook's play has recruiters taking notice. "He's definitely a D-I type kid," said Greg Biggins of Rivals.com.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box:

HART PASSING LEADERS: 1990-2007