Heritage Defense Leads The Way

By Paul Nielsen

Posted: November 15, 2009 at 5:48 a.m.

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ROGERS — Brad Bolding came back to his old stomping grounds Friday night, and the North Little Rock coach walked away impressed.

Bolding spent four seasons roaming the sidelines in Gates Stadium as the defensive coordinator for Rogers High when the Mounties called Gates Stadium home.

Bolding was back in town to scout Rogers Heritage, and the third-year North Little Rock coach came away impressed after the War Eagles defeated Little Rock Catholic 17-10 in a first-round Class 7A playoff game.

Heritage turned in one of its best defensive efforts of the year in holding the Rockets to 172 yards of offense — 98 passing and 74 rushing.

Catholic only had five plays that went for more than 9 yards. Two of those plays — a 34-yard touchdown pass and a 20-yard run — came in the final 2 minutes, 47 seconds of the game.

Two Catholic quarterbacks combined for 13 completions but only two of those were for more than 9 yards. Catholic also had a 17-yard gain on a fake punt attempt that went for a first down.

“That was big. Heritage didn’t give up many big plays,” Bolding said. “Heritage’s defense has come a long way. They shut down Catholic’s running game.”

Heritage coach Perry Escalante said the key to the defensive success came from the defensive line. Reid Schatzman had three sacks, and the Heritage defense had eight stops for losses.

“What an effort by the defense,” Escalante said. “Schatzman had a big night. Looking at film, we thought we would match up pretty well with their offensive line. We knew if he played like he was capable of, he would get some pressure up front. Schatzman did and he manhandled them up front. He very rarely got pushed out of there.”

Escalante, however, was disappointed that the War Eagles committed seven penalties for 63 yards. A holding penalty and an illegal procedure call pushed Heritage back from the Catholic 15 to the Rockets 33 late in the first half.

Hayden Severs then missed a 50-yard field goal.

“We committed those penalties. We can’t have that,” Escalante said. “We have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot.”

Escalante and Bolding coached together at Rogers, and the second-year Heritage coach expects a tough battle. North Little Rock (8-2) received a first-round bye, and the Charging Wildcats’ two losses are to El Dorado (19-18) and Cabot (17-6).

“That’s going to be a good hook-up down there,” Escalante said. “(Bolding) is a defensive guy and he will have them ready to play.”

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