From Staff Reports
SENATOBIA — Heritage Academy made it back-to-back road wins in Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) football action Friday night with a 31-18 win at Magnolia Heights School.
Heritage Academy coach Sean Harrison was pleased with his squad, considering the team played without four starters.
“We really played a lot of new guys,” Harrison said. “We were counting on some guys at some spots and they just hadn’t had very many varsity plays. Magnolia Heights is big, physical, well-coached. To be able to go on the road and play short-handed and win is good.
“This victory is extremely important because it’s a 3A school beating a 4A school and that will help us with more power points for the playoffs.”
Magnolia Heights (2-4) drove its first possession inside the Heritage Academy red zone. Parker Ray then came up with a fumble recovery for the Patriots.
Heritage Academy then went the other way on a 90-yard drive with senior Dontae Gray scoring the first of three touchdowns. Gray scored on a 2-yard run, 14-yard catch from Carter Putt and 80-yard kickoff return. Gray helped the defense out too with an interception.
The other Heritage Academy score was a 30-yard pass from Putt to Jarrod Long. Lex Rogers kicked two field goals.
“Really proud of how hard we played,” Harrison said. “We weren’t as efficient as you would like to be but we had some really big defensive stops in the game.”
Heritage Academy (5-1) led 28-11 at halftime.
On defense, Harrison said the squad got strong play from Weston Lowery and Judd Murphy. Noel Fisher played well in his first varsity start. Senior lineman Wade Lawrie had two sacks.
“Wade had not played since junior high,” Harrison said. “We knew he was going to come along during the season and really help us out a lot.”
Heritage Academy will play host to Leake Academy in its district opener Friday night.
n Oak Hill Academy 20, Wayne Academy 8: At Waynesboro, the Raiders won their fourth straight with a MAIS non-district road win.
Coach Chris Craven was proud of his team’s defensive effort.
“Really played well on defense,” Craven said. “Limited what they wanted to do on offense. Forced some turnovers. It was a good road win, with a lot of guys contributing.”
John Carver Middleton hit a 40-yard touchdown pass, while Ethan Bryan scored on a 15-yard run. Grayson Easterling kicked field goals of 28 and 30 yards, as well as hitting five kickoffs for touchbacks.
Oak Hill Academy will play host to Columbus Christian Academy in a non-district game Friday night.
n Tunica Academy 36, Columbus Christian 0: At Steens, the Rams remained winless with a home loss in MAIS non-district play.
Columbus Christian (0-4) will play at Oak Hill Academy Friday night in another non-district game.
n New Life Christian Academy 34, Victory Christian Academy 33: At Columbus, the Eagles from Millbrook, Alabama, scored on a 42-yard pass with less than four minutes remaining to win their Christian Football Association (CFA) matchup.
The loss dropped Victory Christian to 3-3 and 2-3 in the CFA. The Eagles will need to beat Gunn Christian Academy and Tuscaloosa Christian in their final two CFA games to qualify for the playoffs.
New Life improved to 5-0 and 4-0 in the CFA.
Victory Christian moved the ball to the New Life 30-yard line on its final possession, but two offsides penalties backed the team up and stalled the drive.
Jay Elmore had seven tackles, including three for loss, and Brian Webster had six tackles, including two for loss.
Dallas Colom had eight carries for 50 yards. He also had an 11-yard touchdown reception from Gavin Forrester (8-for-17 for 144 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions). Forrester also scored on a 1-yard run.
Elmore had four catches for 101 yards. Kenny Collier had four catches for 76 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown pass from Forrester.
Collier also had an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Brandon Moore was 2-for-3 for 48 yards. He had a 48-yard touchdown pass to Elmore.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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