Toughness. Resiliency. Perseverance.
Regardless which word you select, there are a number of ways to describe the way the Heritage Academy football team rallied in the second half to beat West Lowndes 30-20 last week. After committing a turnover that helped the Panthers take a 14-9 lead, the Patriots answered with two scores that helped them re-take the lead and take a step closer to evening their record at 4-4.
Heritage Academy will try to build on that strong finish at 7 tonight when it plays host to Winston Academy in a Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA, District 2 game in Columbus. A victory would help Heritage Academy reach the goal it set for itself following a loss to Starkville Academy that dropped it to 2-4.
“I hope they will take the importance of this game to heart the way they should,” Heritage Academy coach Barrett Donahoe said. “It will say a lot about our team if we do or we don’t. I feel they will be 100 percent confident they will be mentally and physically ready for (tonight).”
Donahoe said at the time that 2-4 wasn’t where his team wanted to be, but he said two wins would help give the team a fresh start and supply it with plenty of confidence as it prepared for pivotal MAIS games against Leake Academy and Indianola Academy.
On Wednesday, Donahoe said the Patriots responded well to their third-straight victory against the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s Panthers. He believes his players will have the right mind-set tonight against Winston Academy (1-6, 0-1 district).
“We had a really good week of practice last week,” Donahoe said. “Everybody was confident, and when you’re confident you play a little faster. I thought that showed the other night against West Lowndes. We never really lost composure. We continued to play. Our guys maintained their composure in difficult situations.”
Donahoe credited sophomore Toby Young for sparking the go-ahead scoring drive with a 25-yard kickoff return. He added a 10-yard touchdown run that helped pave the way for the Patriots to take the lead for good at 17-14.
Running backs Michael Ledbetter and Dontae Gray delivered a strong one-two punch in one of their best efforts of the season. Ledbetter had nine carries for 84 yards and two touchdowns. His 30-yard touchdown run sealed the deal. Gray had 15 carries for 130 yards.
Donahoe said the combined performances of Ledbetter and Gray was the best he has seen from them this season. He said their play with the steady play of senior quarterback Dylan Barker gives the Patriots the potential to be explosive on offense.
“Moving Michael out to the slot has given us not only a true receiving threat, but also that slot threat for our receiving game and our speed option game,” Donahoe said. “He is really good at that and comfortable at that. … Dontae can get downhill, and doesn’t mind getting downhill for a fast guy. We have put them in the position where we feel they are using their strengths.”
Defensively, Donahoe said junior Tyler Anderson continues to work back into the lineup following an injury. He said senior lineman Thomas Cooper (knee) will be a game-time decision.
Donahoe expects to see a power running game and an opponent that attempt to control the ball. He said the team that has the upper hand up front will have a big advantage in a game that likely will end one team’s playoff hopes.
“We get back to 4-4 and that is when it starts,” Donahoe said. “The Winston game is just like any other conference game you’re going to play. Both teams know the significance of the game. Both teams have injuries they need to overcome. There is going to be adversity in the game, and it is going to be about turnover margin, penalties, and who wins in the trenches.
“I feel Winston’s defensive front is solid. I think that is the strength of their team. Up front, our focus is on being better than we were last week so we can continue to do the same things we did last week.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam
Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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