Sean Harrison knows what is in store for the Heritage Academy football team.
The Patriots’ first-year head coach hasn’t had to wear out the buttons on his laptop to go back and forward watching film of Indianola Academy games from this season.
As much as Harrison would love to discover a secret to the Colonels’ success, he knows there is a simple recipe for his team when it meets Indianola Academy at 7 p.m. Friday in the third round of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AAA playoffs.
“The film is no different. They are still doing the same stuff,” Harrison said. “Much like the first one, it is very simple. The game is going to come down to who is more physical. They were more physical than us the first time. They are a big, strong, talented team, and so are we. We just have to withstand the physical test that we’re going to have.”
Harrison said turnovers and field position combined to work against the Patriots in the first meeting between the teams, a 35-13 victory by Indianola Academy on Oct. 14. He said the Colonels’ success has been built on capitalizing on a strong defense that helps it dictate field position. Harrison said Heritage Academy won’t have to hang 50 points on Indianola Academy, but he stressed the importance of taking care of the football and trying to win the battle of field position.
Top-seeded Indianola Academy (12-0) won the District 1 title. It enters the rematch against Heritage Academy having scored 436 points and allowed 171. It is coming off a 41-19 victory against Columbia Academy.
The most points Indianola Academy has allowed in a game this season is 20.
Fourth-seeded Heritage Academy (10-2) is coming off a 44-14 victory against Manchester Academy. Coming off a 77-47 victory against St. Aloysius, Heritage Academy gained 385 yards. Tyler Anderson rushed for a touchdown and hit Brady Jones for two long touchdown passes. Toby Young added a touchdown to give the Patriots a 30-7 halftime lead.
In the second half, Anderson hit Eli Acker for a touchdown and rushed for another one to put the game away.
The Patriots have scored 472 points, which is believed to be a single-season record.
Heritage Academy has scored 159 points in its last three games since the loss to Indianola Academy.
“I think we have definitely changed,” Harrison said. “I think after that game you have seen us get a lot more physical.”
Harrison felt his team grew complacent after suffering a 26-6 loss to Lamar School in the second week of the season and building a six-game winning streak. He believes the Patriots have been a different team the past three weeks when it comes to physicality and effort. He hopes that continues the rest of this week and Friday night.
A three-hour bus trip, which will include a stop in Greenwood, will be a challenge, but Harrison said the players are excited to get another shot against one of the best teams in the classification.
“We have to play our best game to beat them,” Harrison said. “I told the kids it is only right. You shouldn’t get to win a state championship if you aren’t playing your best football, so I think they have embraced that opportunity.”
Heritage Academy appears to be coming together at the right time. Harrison said the team is coming off what he thinks was its best game of the season. He said the Patriots have learned not to take anything for granted and have shown greater focus down the stretch. Harrison hopes Heritage Academy can play with that same resolve Friday night to extend what has been a great season.
“We have to finish the job,” Harrison said. “I don’t think they’re happy with 10-2. I think they want to see it though. That is encouraging and exciting to see.”
The winner of this game will play the winner of the game between second-seeded Adams County Christian School and sixth-seeded Greenville St. Joseph’s Catholic. The Class AAA title game will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at Jackson Academy.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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