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Published Friday, October 03, 2008 in Sports

Heritage wins region opener as senior scores 5 TDs on Homecoming

By Stuart Crosby

The Times-Herald

The Heritage School Hawks celebrated homecoming in style Friday night as senior Brent Veal scored five touchdowns while the defense contained the spread offense of the Griffin Christian Crusaders in a 49-20 GISA Region 4-AA victory.

The win improved the Hawks’ overall record to 4-2 in the region opener, but the victory came at a cost. Senior wingback Christopher Rich suffered a knee injury on a punt return in the first quarter and did not return.

“Losing Chris is the same as losing two people,” said Hawks head coach Larry Harrison of Rich. “He is our leading rusher and one of our better defenders.”

As for the game itself, the Hawks attempted an onside kick to start the contest and Max Owen was able to make the recovery for Heritage at the Crusaders’ 45 yard line.

Three plays later, the Hawks had their first score of the game as Veal hit paydirt on a 24 yard run approximately one minute into the game and the extra point by Edward Loughlin was successful.

The Hawks tried the onside kick again but the Crusaders were able to recover the ball but the offense was unable to get on track and were forced to punt.

Rich fielded the ball on a hop and veered to his left where he was able to return to the Heritage 38 where he went down with his injury with 8:38 remaining in the quarter.

Meanwhile, the Hawks went on another long drive toward paydirt as Veal struck again when he powered his way through the Crusaders’ line for a three-yard touchdown run with 4:38 remaining and the lead was 14-0 after the extra point.

Unable to get anywhere on offense, the Crusaders had to punt again and the Hawks went on their third scoring drive of the first quarter.

The five play, 58-yard drive came to an end when quarterback John Veal connected with Hanson Powell on an 40-yard pass play with 1:10 remaining and the Heritage lead was 21-0.

On the ensuing possession, the Crusaders got on a scoreboard as quarterback Christian Lawver connected with Anthony Lewis on a 13-yard pass play in the opening minutes of the second quarter that cut the margin to 21-6 after a bad snap on the extra point attempt.

The Crusaders tried an onside kick after the score but the Hawks were able recover the ball and went on a 10-play, 60-yard drive that ended with Veal’s third score of the evening as he powered his way for a two-yard run.

Loughlin’s extra point gave the Hawks a 28-6 lead with 5:38 remaining in the half.

After holding the Crusaders on downs, the Hawks regained possession at their own 24 with 4:34 remaining in the half and three plays later found themselves at midfield, but the series came to an end as the Crusaders recovered a fumble with 2:47 remaining.

Griffin Christian made Heritage pay for the miscue Lawver converted with Lewis on a 54-yard pass and run play that cut the score to 28-14 after a two-point conversion with 2:28 remaining.

The Crusaders tried on an onside kick of their own but Zach Slaney fell on the ball for the Hawks at their 44 and six plays later, John Veal hit Powell with a 25-yard touchdown pass with all of seven seconds remaining in the half.

Turnabout was fair play as the Hawks tried another onside kick that glanced off a Crusader player and Kyle Kimsey fell on the ball at the Crusaders’ 40 where Stuart Bready raced to the end zone at the horn to give the Hawks a 42-14 lead at intermission.

The third quarter was filled with turnovers for both teams as the Hawks fumbled on the first series of the half while the Crusaders tossed a pair of interceptions and almost had a punt blocked.

The fourth quarter had the same feel as the third as both teams were their own worst enemy with the exception of one drive as Veal recorded his fifth touchdown of the night when scored on a five-yard drive with 8:47 remaining in the game.

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