Heritage Academy running back Jay Stevenson found the going tough early in Friday night’s home game against Magnolia Heights.
Handed the ball every play, the Patriots’ star back managed just one first down on his team’s first drive before Heritage punted the ball away. On the home team’s next drive, things started out the same: three consecutive short runs for the Eupora High School transfer.
But when Stevenson broke to the right sideline for a 67-yard gain down to the Chiefs’ 11-yard line, the spell was broken.
“That changed all the momentum of the game, and I knew I was going to continue pounding it down their throat and not stop,” Stevenson said.
He backed it up Friday, scoring all four of Heritage Academy’s touchdowns as the Patriots (7-1) held off Magnolia Heights (6-2) by a 24-20 score.
Stevenson played both offense and defense the entire game, adding some big plays on the other side of the ball as Heritage Academy’s defense tightened up late.
“Jay Stevenson’s a heck of a football player, and he showed it tonight,” Patriots coach Lance Pogue said.
Stevenson had two touchdown runs of exactly 54 yards — one in the second quarter and another in the third — plus a 4-yard touchdown to open the scoring in the first quarter and a 6-yard run in the third.
On just three plays, the two long touchdowns and his 67-yard carry early on, Stevenson accounted for 175 yards.
“It was critical because you’ve got to have some big plays,” Pogue said. “You can’t nickel and dime everything. There’s got to be some explosive plays. That gives us a big punch, and he was a big part of that.”
Stevenson wasn’t alone. Linebacker Luke Fisher was a big factor for Heritage Academy, getting into the Magnolia Heights backfield and coming up with a massive interception off a tipped ball in the third quarter.
The pick was followed by Stevenson’s third score of the game, from 6 yards out. After a quick defensive stop, the running back promptly ripped off his second touchdown from the Patriots’ 46.
“Keep going,” Pogue told Stevenson on the sideline. “That’s it.”
The talented back had a few more plays left in him.
On what turned out to be Magnolia Heights’ final drive, Stevenson sacked quarterback Keondre Fields on second down. After back-to-back delay of game calls against the Chiefs, Stevenson sniffed out a screen pass and made the tackle to force a punt.
Jack Ketchum converted a fourth-and-1 at the Chiefs’ 45 on a quarterback sneak, and Stevenson all but sealed the game with a first-down run to the 26.
The strong second half papered over some early mistakes from the Patriots. Ketchum and top receiver Trey Naugher were out of sync for most of the game, and the Chiefs hit on some big plays.
Jordan Johnson ran for a 24-yard touchdown on a reverse in the second quarter and later caught a pass from Fields for a 61-yard score in the third.
Magnolia Heights’ final score came on a 16-yard pass from Fields to Jackson Price less than a minute into the fourth quarter.
From there, Heritage Academy maintained its four-point lead.
“We didn’t play really good, but we came out in the second half and we executed really hard,” Stevenson said. “We finished the game really hard.”
Heritage Academy has won six straight games since a 55-7 drubbing at the hands of Jackson Prep in a game Fisher said the Patriots would badly like to have back.
There were lessons to be learned from the contest, though.
“Obviously, they’re a great team, and we learned a lot from that,” Fisher said. “We’re happy to be where we are.”
Where the Patriots are is in an excellent spot: 7-1 overall and 4-0 in MAIS Class 5A, District 1.
Despite being in the driver’s seat for another first-round bye, Heritage Academy has consecutive road games at Leake Academy and Pillow Academy to close the regular season.
After that, the Patriots will vie for a second straight state title, and they feel confident they can compete for the crown.
“It always feels like when we get to this time of year when the weather cools off and our guys can stay a little fresher, hopefully we get it where we’re playing at our best,” Pogue said. “We iron out a few things that are just mentally bogging us down, we’ll be in the hunt.”
Heritage Academy 24, Magnolia Heights 20
Magnolia Heights (6-2) 0 7 7 6 — 20
Heritage Academy (7-1) 6 6 12 0 — 24
First quarter
HA — Jay Stevenson 4 run (kick failed), clock 2:22
Second quarter
MH — Jordan Johnson 24 run (Parker Bright kick), clock 10:05
HA — Stevenson 54 run (pass failed), clock 5:27
Third quarter
MH — Jordan Johnson 61 pass from Keondre Fields (Bright kick), clock 9:37
HA — Stevenson 6 run (pass failed), clock 4:35
HA — Stevenson 54 run (kick failed), clock 1:57
Fourth quarter
MH — Jackson Price 16 pass from Fields (kick failed), clock 11:01
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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