Heritage Fights Off Ramay

Fayettevile Ramay’s Terrell Tyson is squeezed between Rogers Heritage defenders in the first half of Thursday’s junior high game in Gates Stadium in Rogers.
Fayettevile Ramay’s Terrell Tyson is squeezed between Rogers Heritage defenders in the first half of Thursday’s junior high game in Gates Stadium in Rogers.

The Rogers Heritage War Eagles certainly didn’t play their best game of the season Thursday night.

They did just enough, however, to win for the eighth consecutive week.

Heritage’s ninth-grade football team withstood a strong effort from Fayetteville Ramay and defeated the Indians 17-7 in Gates Stadium. Rogers Lingle rallied to beat Ramay 40-36 in the eighth-grade game.

Josh Qualls and Jeremy Spickes connected for two touchdown passes, and the War Eagles held Ramay (2-6) to 120 total yards as they improved to 8-0.

The War Eagles started with a surprise and took advantage of a gutsy call by Heritage coach Jason Upton, as Carlos Hernandez recovered a game-opening onside kick by Cesar Morales.

Six plays later, Qualls nailed Spickes on third-and-9 for a 30-yard touchdown pass.

The War Eagles then wasted a chance to extend their lead later in the first quarter. Scott Carson dropped Ramay for a 1-yard loss on its first play from scrimmage, and the Indians had to punt two plays later. Heritage then drove 27 yards in nine plays before facing fourth-and-6.

But the War Eagles had a 30-yard pass from Qualls to Brandon Gates — on a fake punt — called back because of an illegal man downfield penalty.

Ramay forced a punt on Heritage’s next possession as well, and the Indians immediately mounted a drive. They marched 62 yards in eight plays, tying the game at 7 on Daniel Shimer’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Tyson on third-and-8.

Heritage answered. Gates ripped off runs of 9 and 10 yards. Qualls then completed a 25-yard pass over the middle to Micca Brown before lofting a 20-yard touchdown pass to Spickes.

Qualls’ second scoring toss to Spickes put the War Eagles up 14-7 with 36 seconds left in the first half.

Heritage forced a fumble midway through the third quarter, and Daniel Spickes recovered the ball on the Ramay 32. The Indians did manage to hold the War Eagles to a 22-yard field goal by Morales that put Heritage up 17-7.

Daniel Spickes then picked off Shimer as time expired to end the third quarter, and his 18-yard return set Heritage up at the Ramay 34. Three plays later, however, Qualls was hit in the backfield, lost the ball and Nathaniel Kisor grabbed it out of midair.

Ramay recovered a Heritage fumble at its 49 with 4 minutes, 11 seconds left but turned the ball over on downs inside the War Eagles 10.

Heritage will take on Bentonville Gold next week, while Ramay will host cross-town rival Fayetteville Woodland.

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