It is finally here.
Earlier in the season, Heritage Academy football coach Sean Harrison looked ahead to week seven and hoped to have everything in place for his team to hit its stride.
Coming off its second victory of the season against a Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AAAA opponent, Heritage Academy appears to be well positioned to play host to Leake Academy at 7 p.m. Friday in its Class AAA, District 2 opener.
“We’re going to find out if we have it together,” Harrison said. “I feel that we have. … It has all fallen into line with where I thought it would.”
Last week, Heritage Academy played without sophomore wide receiver Moak Griffin and sophomore running back/linebacker Austin Dotson in a 31-18 victory against Magnolia Heights in Senatobia. Wills Wiygul and Joseph Riley also didn’t play. Still, Heritage Academy was able to overcome a Class AAAA opponent to gain valuable power points that will enhance its resume for the playoffs.
“I am proud of the kids. They played hard,” Harrison said. “Usually you don’t say everybody played in a game you only won by 13, but everybody played and everybody had to contribute. We didn’t have a choice. Everybody contributed well, including some ninth-graders.”
But Heritage Academy, which won a district championship last season, can control its destiny and create an even better road for itself by running the table in District 2. The five district champions in Class AAA automatically get the top playoff seeds and a chance to stay at home for as long as they are the higher seed.
Last season, Heritage Academy won two home playoffs game before it lost to eventual state champion Indianola Academy in the third round in Indianola.
Harrison hopes victories against Class AAAA Pillow Academy and Magnolia Heights will give his team confidence as it enters the final stretch of the season.
“We have done what we needed to do in the non-district games to give ourselves a chance for a high seed in the playoffs,” Harrison said. “I told them Friday night that now we are playing for the trophy and the district crown. I think they have bought into that and are excited about it.”
Last week, Harrison said the Patriots’ passing game helped them on a night when it was tough to run the football. He said senior running back Dontae Gray played in the slot and proved to be an effective weapon. Harrison also credited sophomore running back Rocky Wright and H-back/linebacker Judd Murphy for playing key roles in the victory.
“Jared (long), Dontae, and Lex (Rogers) were able to have some big catches for us,” Harrison said. “We still didn’t have much of a running game, which we kind of knew going in. But we are having a lot of success catching people in man coverage and making the throws. Carter (Putt) is throwing those 50-50 balls and he is trusting his receivers to go and get it, and that is what they are doing.”
Harrison said the absence of Dotson enabled Josh Neal to step in and have a strong game.
“Josh didn’t miss a beat,” Harrison said. “I am proud of the depth we have been able to get. It has been a next-man-up mentality.
“Rocky had some big carries for us. He is sort of the unsung hero of the game because he blocked in the passing game really, really well, and Judd did, too. Judd had a big catch, too. We got backed up in a third-and-15 and we ran a little screen for him and he took it about 40 yards. I was really proud of Judd there. It was his first career catch, and he knew what to do with it.”
Murphy, who hadn’t played football in a few years, moved to H-back after sophomore Eli Acker, who played the position at the start of the season, moved to right tackle.
“He has turned into a really good inside backer,” Harrison said. “With the H-back, it is the same deal. We have put it on him and he doesn’t complain. He doesn’t get discouraged and he takes coaching. He has been a really enjoyable kid to coach.”
Leake Academy (4-2, 1-0 district) is coming off a 26-9 victory against Canton Academy. Those teams join Heritage Academy, Starkville Academy, and Winston Academy in the district.
Harrison hopes the Patriots’ success this season has proven to the players they can line up with anybody.
“I am more optimistic about this week than I have been over the last couple as far as them being prepared and ready to play, so I am excited about it,” Harrison said.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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