TUPELO — The Heritage Academy football improved to 2-0 with a 54-20 victory against Tupelo Christian Prep on Friday night in crossover game between Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) and Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) opponents.
“Struggled with a slow start last week (in a win over Kirk Academy),” Heritage Academy coach Sean Harrison said. “This game, came out and had a 10-play drive to start. It was good to see the composure, the focus and being able to finish off that drive. Went up 14-0 immediately and that’s really how we wanted to start on the road.”
Harrison said he was pleased with his offensive line play for a second-straight week. Kelvin “K.J.” Smith had 21 carries for 194 yards and three touchdowns. The Patriots had 35 carries for 210 yards.
Carter Putt (13-for-18, 180 yards) threw two touchdowns and rushed for another. Putt hit Lex Rogers for one score and Moak Griffin for the other.
Jared Long sparked the defense with a 60-yard interception return.
“Jared was beaten a couple of plays earlier for a long gain,” Harrison said. “That’s what you love to see in a player. He didn’t get down. He made up for it and got the ball back for his team. I loved that interception because it showed the maturity he was out there playing with.”
Mac Howard threw a touchdown pass to Trey Naugher for the Patriots. Heritage Academy quarterback were 15-for-20 for 239 yards.
“Tupelo Christian had some long drives,” Harrison said. “Kirk had several three-and-outs. It was good to see our defense respond when challenged like that. When the other team is driving, can you step up and make a play?”
n Elsewhere in other MAIS action, Oak Hill Academy moved to 2-0 with a 9-7 win at Newton County Academy, while Hebron Christian School fell to 0-2 with a 34-0 loss at Delta Academy.
n West Lauderdale 29, New Hope 0: At Collinsville, the homestanding Knights scored on their first two possessions before building a 22-0 halftime lead in MHSAA action.
The first-quarter touchdowns were a 3-yard run by Eli Bryan and a 21-yard run by Austin Davidson. Bryan added a 2-yard score in the second quarter.
The final touchdown was a 30-yard touchdown from Davidson to Braden Luke.
Despite being down two starters at linebacker, Wet Lauderdale (2-0) handed New Hope (0-2) its second-straight shutout defeat.
n Nettleton 34, Hamilton 0: At Nettleton, the Tigers scored two touchdowns in 91 seconds in the third quarter to pull away from a 7-0 halftime lead.
Hamilton (1-1) gained 114 yards and had four first downs.
Cortez Doss ran for 169 yards and two touchdowns to lead Nettleton (2-0).
n Elsewhere in the area, West Lowndes dropped a 50-2 decision to three-time reigning MHSAA Class 1A state champion Hollandale Simmons.
n Coosa Valley 22, Pickens Academy 17: At Harpersville, Alabama, the Pirates slipped to 0-2 with their Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) loss.
Pickens Academy scored on Seth Peeks’ 2-yard run in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead. Jon Wesley Rye kicked the extra point.
Coosa Valley answered with back-to-back scores and two two-point conversions.
Pickens Academy started the second half with a 60-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass from William Parker to Austin Goodman. Jon Wesley Rye scored on a run for two points.
Coosa Valley answered with a long drive to go up 22-15. Pickens Academy picked up a safety in the fourth quarter to account for the final margin. The game ended when Pickens failed to score from the 1-yard line.
Jon Rye had 25 carries for 101 yards for the Pirates, who will take on Success Unlimited on Thursday night in Montgomery, Alabama.
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