Heritage fends off Southside’s 4th-quarter rally

Rogers Heritage running back Brandon Gates (7) avoids Fort Smith Southside’s Garrett Wolfe in the War Eagles’ 20-19 victory Friday in Rogers. Video available at arkansasonline.com/videos.
Rogers Heritage running back Brandon Gates (7) avoids Fort Smith Southside’s Garrett Wolfe in the War Eagles’ 20-19 victory Friday in Rogers. Video available at arkansasonline.com/videos.

— Rogers Heritage players celebrated at midfield as they tackled the Fort Smith Southside runner after time expired Friday night.

The War Eagles held on for a 20-19 victory over the Rebels in Gates Stadium, nearly repeating a tendency that cost them against Southside a year ago.

Southside scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes, but the Rebels’ second bad snap of the night on a extra-point attempt helped Heritage hang on.

The War Eagles’ excitement was tempered by an injury to starting quarterback Josh Qualls, who sat out the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury.

Qualls threw for a touchdown and ran for another to lead Heritage to a 17-6 halftime lead. But he did not return after throwing his second interception of the game late in the third quarter.

Qualls, a 6-0 junior quarterback, who finished 11 of 21 for 183 yards, said his right shoulder still hurt after the game, but he was proud of the way his team stuck together.

“It was great to get a win, especially against a team as good as Southside,” Qualls said. “It shouldn’t have been that close at the end, but that win gives us lots of momentum going into next week.”

Heritage Coach Perry Escalante praised his defense, despite two late breakdowns. He also said Qualls could have played more, but opted to play it safe in the season opener.

“We think he’ll be OK,” Escalante said. “But our defense did a good job against a big, physical Southside team.”

Southside had been held in check the entire second half until quarterback Issac Jackson hooked up with junior Coady Wooten for a 49-yard touchdown. The extra point pulled the Rebels within 20-13 with 2:37 left.

The Rebels recovered a squib kick at the Heritage 28. Moments later, Jackson faked to running back David Price and found senior Reece Strickland wide open on a post pattern for a 26-yard touchdown. But the snap on the ensuing extra-point attempt was high and the War Eagles swarmed the Southside holder with 1:50 left.

Southside Coach Jeff Williams said Heritage made fewer mistakes.

“We made mistakes playing and coaching tonight, I don’t think there’s any question,” Williams said. “We were horrendous in the kicking game. Our offense didn’t execute at times. Defensively we were decent. We gave up the one big play. But the kicking game was the big point.”

Jackson, a junior, was Southside’s big offensive standout, running for 70 yards and throwing for 128. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.

Sports, Pages 28 on 09/01/2012

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