GREENVILLE — The Heritage Academy football team entered Friday’s game against Washington School looking to build on its shutout at Oak Hill Academy.
But a Washington School defense that forced three turnovers helped the team build a 22-0 halftime lead that it held on to in a 22-13 victory in a Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA, District 1 game.
After missing practice for most of the week with a hurt back, Roman Fratesi rushed for 137 yards — his third 100-yard game in the last four weeks — to help the Division I Generals improve to 5-1 and 1-1
“We made so many mistakes in the first half,” Heritage Academy coach Barrett Donahue said. “We weren’t moving the ball well and topped it off with two turnovers and the safety. You can’t do those things against a good team and expect to win.”
The Patriots (4-3, 1-2 Division II) didn’t have a snap in the Generals’ territory in the first half. Meanwhile, Washington School (5-1, 1-1) used big plays to take an early lead.
A Gore Pulliam 46-yard pass to Anderson Shelley set up the team’s first score, a Fratesi 4-yard run. A Bailey Black interception led to Landon Zepponi’s 36-yard rushing touchdown that gave the Generals a 13-0 lead after the first quarter.
Heritage Academy had a snap over its punter’s head result in a safety. Fratesi’s second touchdown, an 18-yard run, made it 22-0 at halftime.
“We couldn’t even get the ball past the 50 the entire first half. It was bad,” Donahoe said. “It was the first time we’ve been held scoreless in a half, and the second time since we played Jackson Academy that we’ve been down in the first half, so it was something we weren’t used to.”
The Patriots used some trickery in the second half to get back into the game. A Michael Ledbetter 42-yard halfback pass got some momentum going in the Patriots’ favor. The play set up a 20-yard touchdown scramble from Tyler Anderson that made it 22-7 with 6 minutes, 12 seconds left in the third quarter. The Generals missed six tackles on the play.
It appeared William Smith was going to come down with an interception for the Generals in the fourth quarter, but Ledbetter muscled it away for a 30-yard completion from Dylan Barker. Anderson scored on a 1-yard keeper to pull the Patriots closer, but Smith intercepted Ledbetter’s second halfback pass to seal the deal.
The Generals finished with a 326-286 edge in yards.
Barker was 8 of 18 for 89 yards with an interception. Anderson was 3 of 4 for 43 yards. Walker Brown had five catches for 92 yards.
Pulliam was 6 of 12 for 114 yards, and Zepponi had 68 yards rushing. The Generals rushed for 212 yards, and coach Philip Wasson said Fratesi sparked the offense.
“Our running game has been going well,” Wasson said. “Roman’s a soldier. He’s had a lot of big games for us this year. He had a back problem and couldn’t practice all week, but he’s a senior, and we knew he would come out and play well.”
Heritage Academy will play host to Pillow Academy next week. Pillow Academy lost to Magnolia Heights 34-31 on Friday.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.