Pride double up Hubs
By Carl Lukat
Heritage needed some time to find its rhythm in a 28-21 season-opening win at South Lakes Aug. 29. The Pride had no such problem in their home opener Sept. 5 against North Hagerstown (Md.).
Senior Ross Madison returned the game's opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to start the Pride's surge towards 36 unanswered points in the first quarter.
When the dust had finally settled at the end of four quarters, the Pride walked off the field with a convincing 56-28 victory over the Hubs.
"I think we came ready to play. Especially in the first quarter," Heritage coach Wes Driskill said. "In the second quarter, we got a little sloppy. I told them we needed to put together a good game at home. We made some improvements."
Following Madison's kickoff return, the Pride produced two rushing touchdowns (quarterback Zach Gordon scored from nine yards out and Madison from three yards away) just 1:07 apart to build a 20-0 lead with 8:24 remaining in the first quarter.
Heritage's defense decided to join the scoring party next as TJ McPhaul returned an interception 73 yards for a touchdown.
After Josh Thiel drilled a 27-yard field goal, David McCarthy capped off the first-quarter fireworks with his fumble recovery in the Hubs' end zone for six more points.
"Last week, we didn't do as good as we could in the first half but we picked it up in the second half. We wanted to bring the momentum from the [South Lakes] game right into here," Pride senior defensive end Lawrence Middleton said.
Middleton's pressure on North Hagerstown quarterback Bryan Calendine created the fumble that McCarthy recovered for a touchdown. Middleton hit Calendine in the midsection to pry the ball loose in the end zone.
"I went to [recover the fumble] but I saw my linebacker David McCarthy get it," Middleton said.
The advantage grew to 50 points in the second half. After Madison and Nelson produced rushing touchdowns, sophomore Dan Dykema returned a fumble 38 yards for a touchdown on the last play of the third quarter to give the Pride (2-0) a 56-6 lead.
The Hubs (0-1) scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to trim the final margin, but it was not nearly enough for the visitors from Maryland.
"Things are working for us," Driskill said. "I like the way the team is coming together."
The Pride will host Brentsville Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Heritage stat leaders
Passing: Gordon (5 of 6 for 79 yards); Rody (5 of 7 for 30 yards)
Rushing: Madison (8 for 120 yards, 2 TD); Gordon (6 for 84 yards, 2 TD)
Receiving: East (3 for 46 yards)