ROGERS — Rogers Heritage will ride some momentum into the playoffs after a 41-28 victory against Rogers High on Friday night. Heritage (7-3) will travel as the No. 5 seed from the
That Figures
1 — Heritage blocked punt, which they returned for a touchdown
2 — Rogers High wins over Heritage since the district split
3 — Heritage victories against Rogers High since the district split
4 — Mounties playoff appearances since 1978 (1994, 1997, 2006, 2012)
7A-West Conference to West Memphis (7-3) on Friday. West Memphis ended the regular season with a 54-7 win against Mountain Home as they rushed for 352 yards against the Bombers.
Rogers (6-4) is also headed to the playoffs as the No. 6 seed. It is the Mounties’ first playoff trip since 2006, and they will play at Conway (8-2) on Friday. Conway ended the regular season with a 31-0 win Thursday against Little Rock Catholic.
Rogers outgained Heritage 298-297 yards, but the War Eagles returned a fumble for one touchdown and ran a blocked punt in for anther score for a 20-14 lead at halftime.
Heritage junior Brandon Gates picked up 107 of his 113 yards rushing in the second half. Heritage quarterback Josh Qualls was 14-of-23 passing for 173 yards and two touchdowns.
Rogers senior quarterback Nick Wary led the Mounties 269 yard rushing attack with 161 yards on 26 carries.
PLAY OF THE NIGHT: After Heritage cut the Mounties lead to 14-7, Rogers was driving and Wary ran 27 yards down to the Heritage 21 for a first down. But Wary was hurt on the play, and Max Harrell entered the game at quarterback. On first down, the junior was swarmed in the backfield and Heritage linebacker Forrest Ward stripped the ball and raced 71 yards for a touchdown. Just less than two minutes later, Heritage blocked a punt and Utah Julius took the ball in for another score and a 20-14 lead.
INJURY UPDATE: Rogers backup quarterback Max Harrell suffered a dislocated elbow.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Rogers quarterback Nick Wary rushed for 161 yards on 26 carries, and the senior scored all four of the Mounties touchdowns. Wary averaged six yards a carry, and he had runs of 33, 27, 20 and 16 yards. He has now rushed for 979 yards and 21 touchdowns on the year.
Notable: Rogers could welcome back fullback Austin Pinkerton and slot back Stokes Wenzler back for Friday’s playoff game. Pinkerton suffered a knee injury while Wenzler suffered a concussion against Bentonville. ... Rogers last played Conway in 2006 when the Mounties beat the Wampus Cats 42-0 in the first round of the playoffs. ... Heritage has been to the playoffs three times in its five year history. Heritage receiver Forrest Johnson now has 54 catches for 1,109 yards after catching four passes for 96 yards against the Mounties.
THE LINGO: “Big victory. We thought we could get to that punt, and we had some kids that stepped up and did it.”
— Perry Escalante
Rogers Heritage coach
“Guys played hard and they fought hard. The good thing is that we are still playing next week.”
— Shawn Flannigan
Rogers High coach
UP NEXT: Heritage travels to West Memphis while Rogers goes to Conway. Both games kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday.