FORT SMITH — Rogers Heritage and its prolific offense was rescued by its defense Friday night.
As a result, the War Eagles returned home with the second-year program's first-ever 7A-West Conference victory.
Heritage (4-0, 1-0) forced five total turnovers - including four in the second half - and the War Eagles got just enough offense to beat Fort Smith Northside 24-21 at Mayo-Thompson Stadium.
"There was a comment in the paper that we played nothing but air but our first three ballgames," said Rogers Heritage Coach Perry Escalante, who seconds later was doused with an ice water cooler. "We didn't play air tonight. We beat a good football team at their stadium.
"These kids played their brains out tonight."
Rogers Heritage trailed 21-13 at halftime but scored on its first two possessions of the third quarter to take a 24-21 lead.
Sam Mayhall intercepted two passes in the fourth quarter and Jimmy Britton intercepted a Northside pass in the end zone on the final play of the game to seal the victory.
The War Eagles got 264 yards in the first half. Hayden Severs kicked field goals of 30 and 31 yards, and Brown threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Travis Entwisle.
But Northside (2-2, 0-1) had 317 yards of offense in the firsthalf. Northside scored on two big plays - a 33-yard touchdown run by Tanner Knight and a 66-yard run by Donnie Jones - and Knight hit Arthur Poole for a 14-yard touchdown pass.
The War Eagles adjusted in the second half, switching to a four-man defensive front.
Senior defensive end Casey Wilber batted down three passes in the second half and Stefan Reed recovered a fumble for Heritage on the third play of the second half.
That turnover led to a seven-play, 45-yard scoring drive capped by a 4-yard pass from Brown to Entwisle with 9:36 left.
The War Eagles' defense held on the next possession and got the ball back. Heritage drove inside the 10 and Severs kicked a 26-yard field goal for the deciding points.
The War Eagles stopped Knight on fourth down for a turnover at the Heritage 15 and momemtarily injured the Northside quarterback on the first one. Mayhall picked off passes on the next two possessions, followed by Britton's pick in the end zone with no time left.
Entwisle led Heritage with 138 receiving yards on eight catches. Grant Driver had 11 receptions for 118 yards. Brown completed 28 of 53 passes and 2 touchdowns, giving him 16 on the season. Zac Stewart rushed or 73 yards and caught eight passes for 53 yards.
Northside had 538 yards of offense, including 172 yards receiving for Shaquille Jones. Knight was 30 of 44 for 336 yards.
Sports, Pages 25 on 09/26/2009