It’s hard not to get frustrated when your team doesn’t see any results from your hard work.
The ability to manage that frustration usually comes with time as players learn to channel their emotions and go on to the next play.
Sean Harrison has said all season Carter Putt isn’t like other players. On Friday, the sophomore quarterback proved his coach is right by sticking with his receivers and making big throws.
Putt threw two touchdowns to Jared Long and another to Moak Griffin to lead sixth-seeded Heritage Academy to a 29-12 victory against 11th-seeded Central Private School in a Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) first-round playoff game at C.L. Mitchell Field.
“It was a little frustrating, but I know they’ll make the plays for me,” Putt said. “They might not make every one, but they’re going to come up when it is big and make the big ones for us.”
Putt was 8-for-17 for 157 yards to help Heritage Academy (9-2) secure a second-round playoff matchup against third-seeded Adams County Christian Academy (10-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in Natchez.
Putt’s completion percentage wasn’t one of his best this season, but his receivers dropped at least four balls that would have went for big gains or touchdowns. As a result, Heritage Academy led only 7-6 at halftime. The missed opportunities and nine penalties in the first 24 minutes forced Harrison to tell his players to “calm down” in the locker room at halftime. After all, many of the Patriots, including Putt, were in their first playoff game, so it was natural to expect a few nerves. The windy and rainy conditions added an extra degree of difficulty.
Long had one of the evening’s signature catches to get the Patriots on the scoreboard. That first drive had a little of everything, as Putt completed a 19-yard pass to Moak Griffin and a 34-yard pass to JR Lott. A holding penalty brought back one big pass play. Two dropped passes extended the drive. Another holding call erased a touchdown.
Still, Putt stayed focused and hit Long on a fade pattern to the left corner of the end zone on third-and-14. Long, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, had one of the dropped passes earlier in the drive. The touchdown catch was a little tougher, as he had to use his size to go over the cornerback and snare a touch pass that lofted over the first defender and was in perfect position to avoid the safety coming to help.
“My boy Carter, sophomore quarterback, superstar, threw a perfect ball,” Long said. “I had to come through for him with a touchdown.”
Putt and Long hooked up again on a 7-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal in the third quarter to give the Patriots the lead. Griffin’s conversion run made it 15-12.
Griffin finished with 78 rushing yards. He had four runs of 12 or more yards and saw more time at quarterback in a Wildcat formation. In those sets, he most likely will be in the backfield with senior running back Dontae Gray in an attempt to keep the defense guessing.
“We’re putting him in there to give us a threat with him and Dontae,” Putt said. “When I am in there, I am not as much of a threat, so they have to respect both of them to run the balls. Moak is reading it and going back where he wants to and get yards.”
Harrison expected his defense to see a lot of different things against Central Private. On offense, he wanted to return the favor, which is why he said the Patriots added a few new wrinkles designed to put their playmakers in situations to make things happen.
Long had another highlight reel catch in the fourth quarter when he fought off a defender on a slant-and-go to make a 28-yard catch.
“You just have to stay with it and go up and make a play,” Long said. “If you want to be a big-time player at the next level, there are going to be even more people watching and the level of difficulty is going to be even higher. You just have to go up, stay focused, concentrate, and make the catch.”
Long said earlier in the season he had been working on his concentration so he would be prepared when his number was called. Harrison said Long also has worked on his route running. The maturation has helped make Long a dangerous weapon in the attack.
“He does a really good job of using every inch (of his height),” Harrison said. “I can’t wait to watch him play basketball. I bet he is one heck of a rebounder because he can go get it at the high point.
“His routes are just unbelievable now. That slant-and-go where the guy snatched him and he was able to use his hands to get off of him and he catches the ball over someone, I am proud of him.”
Putt said the first victory was important because it helped them get the “jitters” out and gives the Patriots confidence going into next week’s game.
Harrison praised Putt’s effort and said the only thing he told his sophomore quarterback was not to rely on the deep throws, even though they were open. He said there was a check down that was open that Putt passed up for a deeper throw that went incomplete. As was the case when he pointed something out earlier in the season, Harrison said Putt didn’t make a similar decision the rest of the night.
Seeing a sophomore quarterback make that kind of an adjustment can erase a lot of frustration.
“He was throwing great balls,” Harrison said. “He started to force it. … He takes coaching so well that you didn’t see him do it again in the second half. He just takes coaching and says, ‘Yes sir. Let’s go.’ He played a great game.
“Windy, wet, whatever, he ran our power read really well and got downhill best he has done all year. When we’re playing our best football into the playoffs, that is a good thing.”
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 36 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 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
