STARKVILLE — Heritage Academy senior football player Taylor Fields remembers not too fondly his junior year game against arch-rival Starkville Academy.
“It was the first time I lost to Starkville in any of the sports I played,” Fields said. “It hurt really bad, because they totally embarrassed us.
“That is what makes (Friday night) so special.”
For the Patriots, it was mighty special indeed.
After a haphazard season-opening loss to Lamar School, it looked like a totally new set of athletes at J.E. Logan Field Friday night.
The Patriots opened the contest with a defensive score and never looked back, racing to a rather improbable 19-6 victory over Starkville Academy.
Improbable to some who might analyze in the pregame. Not imporbale to those wearing white uniforms.
“We really grew up a lot in the past week,” Heritage Academy first-year coach Barrett Donahoe said. “I really stressed to our coaches that we were not going to go negative this week (in practice). We had a too good of a team to be critical after the game.
“You can work hard and be supportive and correct things, while doing it in a positive manner. You saw the reward of that effort here (Friday night).”
In its season-opener, Heritage dropped a 36-23 decision to Lamar. The Patriots allowed five touchdowns and turned the ball over four times.
Friday night, the Patriots allowed no touchdowns and only made one turnover.
“We executed the defensive plan to total perfection,” Heritage Academy senior defensive back Hudson Bean said. “I can’t say enough about my teammates. We were ready for absolutely everything.
“Starkville Academy has such a great team. They run the option and run it well. It was our job to stay on assignments and make plays.”
The contest turned out much differently than a year ago. Starkville Academy ran for 257 yards in a 33-7 victory in Columbus.
“We got down and things got away from us,” Heritage Academy senior defensive back Parker Dunaway said. “We really didn’t have any answers.
“That is why this victory is so sweet. It is a big rivalry game. We have a lot of seniors on this team. This is how you want to go out in your last game against Starkville Academy. It’s a great rivalry and we have a lot of respect for them. That is why this is a really big win.”
Heritage Academy had all of the answers.
The Volunteers marched to the Heritage 30-yard line on its first possession before the interception. Possession two went all the way to the 13-yard line before Heritage got the stop on downs.
“That was really a big play,” Dunaway said. “Last week, we scored first and gave it right back. It was really important that we found a way to keep the momentum.”
Starkville Academy marched back to the red zone in the second quarterback but only tallied the first of two field goals from Johnathon Burton.
“We just played with an attitude,” Donahoe said. “There was a consistency. There was a determination.
“That was what bothered you about last week. We are going to be a team that plays hard for four quarters.”
In the postgame, Donahoe told his players that “the sky was the limit” for this team.
“If the players don’t believe now, they are crazy,” Fields said. “This was a whole lot better than a year ago.”
Or a week ago, too.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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