By Ed Piper
"Hart" has a heart.
That sounds kind of cute, but actually it's pretty true. In an interview Mon., Jan. 23, after school, senior eight (that's his position this season) John Hartford talked about his rugby exploits, but more importantly about the La Jolla team as a whole.
He seemed so adept at taking part in the interview, with this reporter, that it almost seemed calculated. But his manner showed maturity, and more than that, he was unfailingly courteous.
"Do you have enough?" he asked me after several questions and after I got the gist of what I had come for. It was near the softball field wall near the side of the football field on campus.
Me: "I could talk to you forever. But I know you have other things to do."
Don't hold it against "Big Country", as he has been nicknamed by Coach Ethan Willis, but I have intentionally not written about Hartford at the start of this season because he was already getting the hoopla on Twitter for his commitment West Point and his play on the field.
Finally, having talked to him for the first time ever, and seeing what a level-headed guy he is--I've known his mother, Rebecca Hartford, who has two sons in LJHS sports--I give myself the go-ahead to give him some coverage.
"We're a pretty new team," the 6'3", 190-pound forward (another rugby term) said, deflecting attention to the whole team. "But our coaching staff has helped us prepare and get ready" for their games: a 35-7 season-opening win at home over Mission Vista Jan. 13, and a 26-12 victory over the Torrey Pines "B" squad Sat., Jan. 21.
How does he prepare for what is a pretty bruising sport, occupying the "eight" position in the third row of the three rows leading the team formation, with a lot of blocking, tackling, and running with the ball? (1-2-3 in the front row, 4-5 in the second row, 6-7-8 in the third--these are the eight who grasp one another shoulder-to-shoulder in the scrum)
"I try to lock in 10 minutes before the game. I try to stay loose. When the game starts, I try to enjoy it."
Asked about the productive offense so far, 61 points in two games, John replied, "We distribute the ball well. We pass well. Maybe we pass out to the backs (the other seven lined up behind and to the side of the front eight) to win."
What's remarkable so far is that Hartford hasn't scored so far, though he is an out-size influence on his teammates. The ball has gone to Marc Oriol, Nathan Plaskonos (two tries), and Sebastian Snodgrass, among others in the scoring column. Maybe that's why the Vikings don't make a big deal about who scores, truly showing a "one-for-all, all-for-one" ethos so far.
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