VAN NUYS - Leading up to the first start of his varsity career, Hart High junior Cory Mayes received a call from C.J. Reyes, the Indians' starting quarterback last year.

Whatever Reyes said worked.

Mayes completed 14-of-25 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns, while senior defensive lineman Justyn Eddins had two sacks to lead Hart's defense in a 21-7 victory over El Camino Real of Woodland Hills on Friday at Birmingham Charter Community High School.

"(Reyes) called me up and calmed the nerves down. He knows what it is like," Mayes said. "We are a program with a great tradition."

Down 7-0 early in the first quarter after Conquistador running back Kawan Rally scored on a 50-yard sprint through the defense and up the sideline, Mayes and the Indians took over.

The 6-foot-2-inch signal caller threw 14-yard touchdown strikes to Matt Ritz and Anthony Arriaran in the second quarter to give Hart (1-0) a 14-7 lead going into halftime.

Hart's defense was able to key in on El Camino's running game after the opening drive and limited the Conquistadors on the ground.

El Camino (0-1), which was a CIF-City Section Division II finalist a year ago, only attempted two passes the entire game, both of them falling incomplete.

"I'd have liked to throw more, but we just aren't very good at it," said Conquistadors head coach Kevin Williams.

As a result, the Indians could stack the defensive line and apply heavy pressure, while El Camino's seven total rushers attacked inside and out.

"I just tried to close the gap down and allow the linebackers to make the tackles," Eddins said. "I'm not that slow, so I didn't think they would run outside of me. (So when they did), I was shocked."

The result was a pair of sacks from Eddins, both for 8-yard losses, and another sack from Ritz.

In the second half, Mayes and running back Dylan Edwards moved the ball efficiently and kept the Conquistadors' defense on the field.

Mayes added the Indians' final tally with 8:49 left, hitting Tim White in the front of the end zone from 7 yards out.

Six Hart receivers hauled in at least two passes each, led by Edwards with two receptions for 65 yards. Kevin King had five catches for 49 yards.

Edwards also carried the ball 14 times for 94 yards, while Mayes added 48 yards on the ground off scrambles and quarterback keepers.

Rally led the Conquistadors with 17 carries for 137 yards.

With strong play under center and a solid defensive effort, the win was in many ways quintessential Hart football.

"That's the way it happened to pan out," said Hart head coach Mike Herrington. "We could have put a few more points up on the boards, but (El Camino) is a strong team."