Barrett Donahoe hopes he sees a different Heritage Academy football team than the one he saw for his team’s first matchup against a ranked team.
On Sept. 13, Donahoe didn’t like anything he saw from his team in a 37-0 loss to Jackson Academy, which at the time was the state’s No. 1 team in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools.
Jackson Prep has since claimed that spot, as Jackson Academy slipped to No. 2 in part due to two games it had to forfeit. Behind those two in The Associated Press’ weekly rankings is Washington School, Heritage Academy’s opponent at 7 p.m. Friday at C.L. Mitchell Field.
The Generals will come to Columbus with a 4-0 record and victories against Leake Academy, Starkville Academy, River Oaks (La.), and Lee (Miss.) Academy.
Heritage Academy (5-1) was ranked in the same poll prior to its loss to JA. Since then, Donahoe’s squad has regained some momentum with victories against Hillcrest Christian and Oak Hill Academy. Last week, the Patriots’ 23-14 victory against the Raiders was the first time this season they have played in the fourth quarter when the game wasn’t decided. While he liked how his team responded, Donahoe knows the Patriots aren’t firing on all cylinders. That’s what he discussed Monday with his seniors when they sat down to watch the game against Oak Hill Academy again.
“The good thing about Friday night was we made plays when we had to,” Donahoe said. “The fear was that when the pressure was put on we wouldn’t respond. I think it was completely different. In the fourth quarter, we moved the ball extremely well offensively when we had to. Defensively, there wasn’t a positive play they had after the touchdown play.
“The thing we really talked about and focused on in the film room was a lack of consistency. That is the part that bothers me the most because that is what we preach every day all the time. It is not translating on the field.”
Donahoe talked with his players about how negative things seemed to follow every positive thing they did. He also lamented 11 penalties that hurt his team against the Raiders. He knows those self-inflicted wounds can’t keep happening if the Patriots are going to be able to take the best shots from teams looking to dethrone them.
“(The season) goes by so fast, and we tell them that and we talk about it and we tell them and we talk about it,” Donahoe said. “I hope that it is getting through, and I hope they understand that it is going to be over before they can blink an eye and they have to be prepared to give us everything they have all of the time.”
Donahoe expects Washington School to be physical and to use its speed at the skill positions. Even though his team earned a 28-12 victory against the Generals last season, Donahoe knows they will be gunning for his squad, the defending Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Division II champions. That victory was part of a five-game winning streak that catapulted Heritage Academy to the title. It also was part of a three-game losing streak that ended the Generals’ season.
Donahoe said the Patriots realized their backs were against the wall last season and they couldn’t afford another loss. At 1-1 in the conference, Heritage Academy isn’t at that point, but Donahoe knows his players can’t think that way. He said the Patriots have to take a similar approach as last season when they were focused and they refused to lose.
“Watching the film of last year’s gam against Washington, we had a lot of guys who had really developed to do what we were asking them to do,” Donahoe said. “The seniors were hungry. They were hungry to win, and it made all of the difference in the world.”
Donahoe feels the 2013 team is a good team, but not on a consistent basis. He hopes that will change Friday.
“If (that light bulb goes off over their heads), it is going to be fun,” Donahoe said. “It is that ‘it factor’ that gets you where you’re going, and we have to find it.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 24 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 24 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
