Heritage Smiling After Big Plays

Micca Brown, right, Rogers Heritage, is tackled Friday by Rogers High’s Zack Wary.
Micca Brown, right, Rogers Heritage, is tackled Friday by Rogers High’s Zack Wary.

— Josh Qualls had a big smile Friday night.

Beating your city rival and securing a playoff berth in the same season would make any quarterback grin.

Rogers Heritage topped crosstown rival Rogers High 41-28 behind an opportunistic defense and special teams in the first half, and a steady offense in the second half.

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Heritage Streak

Heritage is a on a three-game winning streak after beating Rogers High. In that span the War Eagles averaged 46.6 points a game with a high of 57 in a Week 9 win over Van Buren. Heritage won its first four games of the season, averaging 41.7 points a game with a high of 70 against Siloam Springs in Week 4.

Qualls directed three Heritage touchdown drives in the second half, the last coming with 25 seconds to play that put Heritage ahead 3-2 in the short all-time series with Rogers.

“Those drives in the second half were big because they used up some time,” Qualls said. “Those were all big drives.”

Utah Julius put the War Eagles ahead 20-14 with a 21-yard blocked punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter.

“The ball just bounced right to me,” Julius said of the play.

Forrest Ward had a 71-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown that helped the War Eagles climb out of an early 14-0 hole.

Heritage coach Perry Escalante said those two plays were crucial as the Mounties set the tempo early behind the running of quarterback Nick Wary.

“We needed that,” Escalante said. “We needed a spark and those plays did it.”

Now, the War Eagles head for the Class 7A playoffs for the third time in the last five years, and Qualls feels the War Eagles won’t be an easy out.

“We’re going to keep fighting,” Qualls said.

A playoff spot, even one that will require the War Eagles to travel next Friday, is especially sweet after going 1-9 last season, Julius said.

“This is huge for my senior season — winning this game and going to the playoffs,” Julius said.

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