MS Football: Hawks feeder teams win big
From Staff Reportssports@newnan.com
Heritage Middle School’s football team set itself up for a showdown this week with crosstown rival Trinity Christian in a battle for first-place in the Metro Atlanta Christian Athletic League following a convincing 26-12 victory at Flint River last Thursday.
Both Heritage School and Trinity Christian take 5-0 records into Thursday’s game at East Coweta Middle School. It will follow a lower-school game at 5:30 p.m.
In the middle-school game, coach Drew Henderson’s Hawks jumped out to a 26-0 lead at halftime. Hamp Smith opened the scoring on a 50-yard run on fourth down only to see his teammates recover the ball on the ensuing kickoff.
That set up another score on fourth down, this one when quarterback Kirby Arnall connected with big tight-end Patrick Pitzer on a 40-yard catch and run.
Remarkably, Hawks special teamers again recovered the ball on Carlisle Taylor’s second straight kickoff that eventually set up another touchdown toss from Arnall. Caleb Perry hauled in a waggle pass from 35-yards out and Heritage pushed a 20-0 lead following Smith’s two-point run.
Arnall finished 5-for-5 passing for over 100 yards. In all, Heritage recovered three onside kicks in the game.
Hays Burns scored the final touchdown of the first half on a 40-yard run.
Flint River’s touchdowns came late on a long run from scrimmage and a punt return.
In Thursday’s lower-school football game, Heritage equally built a commanding lead at halftime scoring 32 points before Flint River finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter.
Branch Burns scored three touchdowns and Grant Evans added a pair in the first half. The defense held the shutout before halftime by making a key fourth-down stop on its own 20-yard line.
Wright and Henry Arnall connected on an 80-yard halfback pass for the last of six first-half scores for the Hawks.
Heritage’s final touchdown came on a 50-yard run by quarterback Gridley Pendergrast.
Brothers Sam and Jake Martin led the Hawks defense in tackles.
