Coaches always hope their teams peak at the right time.
After a season filled with ups and downs, Heritage Academy coach Barrett Donahoe wasn’t sure how the Patriots were going to respond on the road facing a must-win situation against Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA, District 2 rival Leake Academy. Donahoe knew his players realized Heritage Academy had to win the game to have a chance of making the playoffs, so the message was clear: Let’s keep playing.
The Patriots responded with one of their most complete efforts of the season in a 25-13 victory. The win helped Heritage Academy (5-5) secure the No. 13 seed in the Class AAA playoffs and earn a date against No. 4 seed Silliman Institute (La.) at 7 p.m. Friday in the first round.
Coming off what essentially was a playoff game last week, the message isn’t going to change this week as the Patriots try to build off that performance and keep their season alive.
“The guys played with a lot of energy and focus,” Donahoe said. “Defensively, that was our best performance. Overall, I think that was the most solid performance we have had.”
Buoyed by two rushing touchdowns by senior quarterback Dylan Barker and a key interception by senior Caleb Gurley that helped set up the clinching score, Heritage Academy will travel more than 280 miles and four-plus hours to take on an opponent that is 8-1. Silliman Institute’s only loss was a 28-10 setback to Oak Forest Academy (La.), which beat Starkville Academy last season in the Class AAA, Division II title game last season.
Silliman Institute had won seven games in a row. It has allowed only six points in its last four games, and has shut out its last three opponents.
Heritage Academy battled back from a 2-4 hole to beat West Lowndes and Winston Academy. A loss to Indianola Academy set the stage for the game against Leake Academy.
Donahoe said he was pleased to see his players respond against a quality opponent. He said he sensed the seniors were setting the tone in practice leading up to the game.
“We saw that resolve from them on Friday night,” Donahoe said. “They wanted to continue to play. They wanted to beat Leake Academy. They wanted that position to get into the playoffs.”
Donahoe said players like Thomas Cooper, Barker, Michael Ledbetter, Gurley, Wills Hay — all seniors — wouldn’t allow the Patriots’ season to end. He said Hay, who is in his first year with the team, made two key tackles on kickoffs.
“That just shows you the overall team atmosphere we have. Everybody is contributing and playing well,” Donahoe said.
Donahoe believes Heritage Academy will need a similar performance Friday. He said the team will leave today and stay in Brookhaven. He said the cheerleading and dance teams will leave Columbus at lunchtime Friday. While he said it is good to be in the playoffs, Donahoe still holds the same sentiment he had last week. The task at hand is finding a way to keep the season alive another week.
Donahoe said the team had to fight through a number of battles to get back to .500 and to have a chance to advance to the playoffs. He said the Patriots showed signs they could play well in that stretch, but it was a matter of putting it all together and being more consistent. Now it is a matter of delivering that consistency for a second-straight week.
“They have a really good football team,” Donahoe said. “I told the guys the other night, when we play the way we’re capable of playing and we play like we did Friday night, we have a really good football team, so it should be fun.”
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 31 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 31 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
