WEST POINT — The Heritage Academy football team still hasn’t played the perfect game.
The Patriots came mighty close Friday night at Raider Field.
Heritage Academy rushed for 403 yards and scored on seven of its first eight possessions to ruin Homecoming for Oak Hill Academy in a 49-0 non-district victory.
“We came out executed our offense, didn’t make any turnovers and found a way to keep the momentum going,” Heritage Academy coach Brad Butler said. “We have been a roller coaster team all year, so winning two straight games is a big thing.”
The Patriots improved to 4-4, while the Raiders fell to 0-8. While this contest doesn’t count in the playoff chase, it gives Heritage Academy a much-needed momentum boost headed into its final two games.
“We have two big games left and we have to win both of them to make the playoffs,” Heritage Academy senior running back Brandon Bell said. “Thanks to these last two wins, I think our confidence will be real high going into those final two games.”
The Patriots took control at the opening kickoff. Heritage Academy scored on all six first-half possessions, including four opening-quarter touchdowns.
Heritage Academy moved the opening kickoff 78 yards on eight plays. Quarterback Cade Lott hit Parker Turner for a 36-yard touchdown pass. With that score, the tone was set less than four minutes into the contest.
“Having a good start was real important to us,” said Lott, a junior. “We did what we wanted to do and didn’t make any mistakes. I thought we played with some really good intensity and that helped us get off to a fast start.”
Oak Hill Academy’s first possession ended in a punt. A 62-yard return for score by Thomas DeGrange was brought back by a block in the back penalty.
After the penalty, the Patriots started on their 31-yard line. Heritage Academy moved those 69 yards on two plays. On a quarterback keeper, Lott kept right up the middle for a 66-yard touchdown rush.
One possession later, the Patriots needed only one play to score. Bell did the honors on an option pitch with a 72-yard dash around right end. Heritage Academy ran the same play on its next possession, and Bell made it back-to-back scoring plays on a 61-yard touchdown run.
“After we lost 42-0 to Jackson Academy, we came back and made some changes to the offense,” Lott said. “We decided to run some more option. Those changes have really worked. Our offense has a new energy and a new identity.”
The new-look Heritage Academy offense debuted last week in a 56-21 win against Magnolia Heights. While the tweaks to the offense have been minor, Butler said they have been effective.
“We found some things we could do differently on film,” Butler said. “It looked like we would get some people out on the flanks a little more. We have a good bit of success the last two weeks. Brandon had two big toss sweeps. We have started being able to execute more outside the tackles.
“When we spread it around, our offense is at its best.”
In the second quarter, the Patriots scored on both of their possessions. Heritage Academy moved first 55 yards on four plays. On a fourth-and-3, Lott raced 48 yards around right end for a touchdown. The Patriots’ next possession was the game’s longest. Heritage Academy needed 6 minutes, 33 seconds to move 70 yards on 11 plays. Parker Short did the scoring honors with a 13-yard touchdown rush with 13 seconds left before halftime.
At the intermission, the Patriots had 424 total yards and a 42-0 lead.
“This team was really prepared to play tonight,” Bell said. “We went into the game thinking we had some things that could work. The way we played tonight can’t do anything but help us going into our last couple of games.”
With a running clock and liberal substitutions, the teams combined to run only 33 plays in the second half.
Heritage Academy punted for the only time in the contest on the first possession of the second half. After the change of possession, a fumble recovery by Heritage Academy’s Bryant Bonner — the only turnover by either team in the contest — set the Patriots up on the Oak Hill Academy 16-yard line.
Quarterback Mark Thatcher led the team on the 16-yard march, calling his number on a 5-yard touchdown rush. Graham McCain kicked the final of his seven PATs to close out the scoring with 1:04 left in the third quarter.
“We have been a roller coaster team all year,” Butler said. “This was a big win to help us keep things climbing. Our goal was to the make the postseason and that is still in reach. But to do that, we have to keep playing well.
“Being up and down has plagued us all year. Hopefully, we can finish strong.”
Heritage Academy finished with 13 first downs and 462 yards. The Patriots ran 39 times for 403 yards, while Lott hit both pass attempts for 59 yards.
Oak Hill Academy finished with four first downs and 83 yards. The Raiders ran 26 times for 71 yards. Oak Hill didn’t snap the football in Heritage Academy territory in the contest.
Bell ran three times for 135 yards, while Lott ran four times for 126 yards. Blake Sharp had a pair of sacks on defense, while Taylor Fields added three tackles for loss.
Both teams have an open date next week. On Oct. 21, Heritage Academy will visit Washington, while Oak Hill will visit Kirk. The following week Heritage Academy will play host to Pillow Academy to close the regular season, while Oak Hill Academy will close out with Immanuel Christian at home.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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