On a night when offensive yards were tough to come by, the Heritage Academy football team notched a hard-earned 14-7 comeback victory against previously unbeaten Washington School.
In a game that took on the characteristics of an old-fashioned heavyweight slugfest between defending Class AAA, Division II state champion Heritage and Washington School, Patriot quarterback Austin Fitch led his team to two second-half touchdowns. Senior linebacker Jace Caldwell sealed the victory with a last-minute interception at midfield.
“Any time we can beat a bigger school like Washington, it sets us apart,” said Heritage Academy second-year coach Barrett Donahoe, who led the Patriots to their first state title since 1986 last season. “But it doesn’t set us apart if we don’t go to Pillow Academy this week and win.”
Trailing by seven points late in the third quarter, Mark Thatcher had a 33-yard punt return to give his offensive mates a first down at the Generals’ 32-yard line. Facing a third-and-14 from the 36, Fitch connected with junior wide receiver Walker Brown for a 24-yard gain to the 8. Parker Short scored with 2 minutes, 13 seconds left in the period. Graham McCain’s kick tied it at 7 and gave the Patriots a boost.
On Heritage Academy’s second series of the fourth quarter, it marched to the Washington School 5, where Fitch hit Caldwell with what would have been the go-ahead touchdown. But an illegal procedure penalty wiped out the score, so Donahoe fell back on what he calls his “inside-the-20 play” and it worked to perfection. Fitch handed off to Short, who threw to Thatcher, who made a leaping catch over a defender for the winning touchdown. McCain’s kick gave the Patriots a 14-7 lead with 4:16 to play.
“We like to use the halfback pass in that type situation,” Donahoe said.
Heritage (6-1), which has victories against public schools Caledonia and West Lowndes and rival Oak Hill, fumbled the opening kickoff, which was recovered at the Patriots’ 31. Seven plays later, the Generals were at the Patriots’ 8, but Patriot linebacker Hunter Anderson recovered a fumble at the 5 to help his team dodge the first of several close situations.
Heritage Academy returned the favor on its first offensive series by turning the ball over at its 44, but the Patriots forced a punt.
On their second series, the Patriots reached the Generals’ 30, but a fourth-down middle screen lost 5 yards. The Generals responded with a 10-play, 65-yard march. Landon Zepponi capped the drive with a 25-yard touchdown run. Ross Jernigan’s kick with 8:21 left in the second period made it 7-0.
Minutes later, a short punt set the Generals up at the Patriots’ 42, but the 12-play drive fizzled at the 12 when Jernigan missed a 29-yard field goal with 2:03 left in the half.
“We made more mistakes than we had all season, and we gave the ball away way too many times,” Washington School coach Phillip Wasson said. “Tonight’s loss isn’t any one person’s fault. It’s on all of us as a team — me included.
“We played poorly and we didn’t execute. When given the opportunity, you’ve got to make the plays and we didn’t, but give Heritage all the credit because they came ready to play and played hard the whole game.”
Donahoe was impressed with his team’s overall effort.
“Despite being down 7-0 and not having a run game, the kids kept battling and continued to play hard the whole game,” Donahoe said. “Austin Finch did a good job at quarterback, and the whole defensive unit played great, especially the defensive front and the linebackers.”
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