Prep Football: Heritage School starts season 4-0
From Staff Reportssports@newnan.com
LaGRANGE — For the second consecutive season, The Heritage School has opened a football season at 4-0.
More importantly, they now have two very qualified starters at quarterback.
The Heritage School will face Southland on the road while hoping to continue much of the momentum from three convincing victories to start the year.
Coming off last week’s forfeit win that kept them from taking the field, the Hawks racked up 27 first-quarter points and looked little like a team that hadn’t played in 14 days.
After an early first down by Dawson Street, senior Candler Rich stepped in front of a pass on a 50-yard interception return for Heritage’s first score on a night where the two-time All-State running back went well over the 100-yard mark.
Rich added a 65-yard touchdown run in the middle of three consecutive Heritage School drives that ended in scores to open the game. The senior finished the game with a pair of picks to push his team-lead in interceptions to four through four games, two of which have been returned for touchdowns.
The Hawks offense quickly added to the early lead when Macke connected with David Bready on a 30-yard touchdown on a play where the senior was sprung on a block by freshman Spencer Perry for a 12-0 lead.
After Rich pushed the Heritage School lead to 20-0 with his 65-yard score on the Hawks second play from scrimmage following a Dawson Street punt, the Hawks tacked on another touchdown before the end of the first period when Macke connected with freshman tight-end Cole Jones on 1st-and-Goal from the Dawson Street 5. The drive’s big play came on a pass from Macke to Rich. Patrick McKee ran in the 2-point conversion on an end run.
Making the fourth start of his career, Macke continued to showcase his abilities at quarterback, connecting with end Tyler Henson on a 35-yard pass that set up Heritage School's next touchdown, a 4-yard run by fullback A.J. Gainwell.
Rich then added his second interception to give senior teammate Bonner a chance to take the field for the first time behind center. The fourth-year starter at quarterback didn’t waste any time, hitting Tyler Henson on a short pass and then finishing a scoring drive with a 10-yard touchdown throw to senior Will Duke. Ben Dudley’s extra point make it 41-0 late in the first half.
The only blip for Heritage School's defense was a 80-yard touchdown run by Dawson Street in the closing minutes of the second quarter. From there, however, the Hawks held the Wildcats scoreless in the final two-quarters amidst a running clock.
Dudley capped off the victory with a 35-yard field goal with 9:30 remaining in the game.
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SCORING SUMMARY – Heritage School 44, Dawson Street 6
Heritage School 27 14 0 3 — 44
Dawson Street 0 6 0 0 — 6
1st Quarter
HS — Candler Rich 50-yard interception return (kick failed)
HS — David Bready 30-yard pass from Brad Macke (2 pt failed)
HS — Rich 65 run (Patrick McKee run)
HS — Cole Jones 5-yard pass from Brad Macke (Ben Dudley kick)
2nd Quarter
HS — A.J. Gainwell 4 run (Dudley kick)
HS — Will Duke 10-yard pass from Joe Bonner (Dudley kick)
4th Quarter
HS — Ben Dudley 35-yard field goal
DS – 80-yard TD run (2 pt failed)
