PREP FOOTBALL: War Eagles Run Through List

ROGERS HERITAGE’S EMPHASIS ON GROUND ATTACK PAYS OFF WITH PLAYOFF BERTH

By Paul Nielsen

Posted: November 12, 2009 at 5:21 a.m.

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Losing all seven 7A-West Conference games a year ago, many by lopsided margins, was a humbling experience for Rogers Heritage.

As soon as the final horn sounded on the 2008 season, the War Eagles coaching staff put together a list of things that needed improvement.

Near the top of that list was placing even more emphasis on improving the running game. In that 3-7 inaugural campaign, the War Eagles rushed for just 602 yards and averaged 2.2 yards per carry.

“We knew we had to run the football and balance our offense,” said Heritage offensive coordinator Chad Harbison. “We had to be able to run the football.”

Heritage has more than doubled its output on the ground as the War Eagles have rushed for 1,386 yards. Zac Stewart leads the way with 1,015 yards and the War Eagles are averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

A more effective running game has opened up the passing game for quarterback Reed Brown (173-276-2, 335 yards) and one of the most noticeable improvements in the new-found balance is when the War Eagles move into the red zone.

Heritage (8-2) has scored on 25 of its 29 trips into the red zone. That total includes 19 touchdowns for the No. 3 playoff seed from the 7A-West Conference.

“The red zone was another area where we needed to make improvement,” Harbison said. “We would get inside the 10 last year, we would have to trick you or throw it in there somehow because we couldn’t run it. We can run a little bit of play-action now because no one was going to bite on it last year.

“We have a lot of rushing touchdowns. Zac Stewart has 10 rushing touchdowns, Reed (Brown) has rushed for a couple touchdowns. That’s been huge because most of our touchdowns last year were passes.”

The new-found running game has also upped the War Eagles’ first-down production. Heritage is averaging seven yards on first down and they have converted on third down 50 percent of the time.

“One of our goals this year is four or more on first (down) and we have been good at it,” Harbison said. “Obviously, if we can get to second-and-short, third-and-short, your odds are better of making it (first down). We have run the ball a lot on first down this year. There are more things you can do, play-action screen run and pass. When you are third-and-long, you just about have to throw it.”

Little Rock Catholic coach Scooter Register saw Heritage play Fayetteville last season and the Rockets coach said he sees a huge difference in the War Eagles after watching film of this year’s team.

“I tell you what, Heritage is a good football team,” Register said. “They are doing a lot of things well this year and they are not making a lot of mistakes. They play hard and are having fun.”

Harbison said Catholic will be one of the best teams the War Eagles face this year but having the game in Gates Stadium will be a plus.

“We play real well here,” Harbison said. “It’s big for the community, it’s big for the program that we can have a playoff game at home. We want to establish some tradition in our program. Hopefully, it’s not the last time it happens over the next couple of years.”

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