Front four key for Heritage

— Unbeaten and untested Heritage is counting on a stronger defense to lead it down a different path than last year's 0-7 record in the 7A-West Conference.

"Our defensive front, linebackers and secondary are a lot better," head coach Perry Escalante said. "But they're still not getting tested like they should and won't until this Friday night. Obviously, Fort Smith Northside is going to sling it all over the place."

The War Eagles' three nonconference opponents have passed just 31 times and completed 15 of them for 151 yards. Northsidejunior quarterback Tanner Knight completed 21 of 38 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns in a 32-30 loss Friday to Little Rock Catholic at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

Heritage has given up 630 yards on defense, 479 on the ground. It has allowed 20 total points in three games, 35 fewer than it did in nonconference play last year.

Escalante has told everyone that the key to the War Eagles' defense is the front four. Those players are defensive ends senior Conor Bolton and junior Reid Schatzman, and senior tackles Spanky Purdy and Jeff Couch. On obvious passing downs, senior Casey Wilbur plays end for Bolton, who moves to tackle in place of Purdy.

"If they can play real well then we've got a chance," he said after beating Republic (Mo.) 35-7Friday night. "I don't think they graded out real well this week, but it wasn't horrible. We had some misalignments this week, which was very unusual for a couple of guys. But they played pretty solid at times."

He said the team felt in command of the game at the half, leading 21-0.

"It should have been 28 but we squandered an opportunity early," he said. "We felt good because our defense was playing well. We gave up a little bit of yardage, but on fourthand-short - a foot - we stuffed them and made them turn the ball over a few times. We just kept chipping away at them."

He said Republic was reluctant to turn the ball over to the War Eagles.

"I think there were two or three times we stopped them on fourth and short," he said. "They were just trying to run the veer at us, some belly plays and counter stuff. Trying to keep the ball away from our offense and burn some clock."

Sports, Pages 5, 6 on 09/22/2009

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