VIDEO: PREP FOOTBALL Har-Ber pulls away in second half for 49-13 win

ROGERS -- Springdale Har-Ber was unable to put away Rogers Heritage in the first half, but the Wildcats applied a quick knockout punch in the second half en route to a 49-13 7A-West Conference win Friday night at Gates Stadium.

Har-Ber quarterback Blaise Wittschen threw three of his six touchdown passes in less than six minutes to open the second half for a 42-7 Wildcats lead to finally break away from the War Eagles.

The Wildcats led only 21-7 at halftime, but Wittschen struck quickly in the third quarter to put the game away.

Wittschen and Hunter Wood were a nice 1-2 punch for Har-Ber. The quarterback completed 15 of 19 passes for 280 yards and six touchdowns. A good chunk of that went to Wood.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior finished with nine catches for 163 yards, several of them coming in spite of tight coverage.

Wittschen found Wood for an 18-yard score less than two minutes into the second half. Senior Cole Bowen then intercepted a Jeb Brown pass on Heritage's first play from scrimmage to put Har-Ber back in business near midfield.

It took only three plays for Har-Ber to score as Jay Burns went 25 yards on a screen pass for a touchdown. After the Har-Ber defense held Heritage to a three-and-out, Wittschen finished off a five-play drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Wood.

Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said the Wildcat defense started off a little slow after a tough loss to Bentonville last week, but the offensive line did its job and Wittschen wreaked havoc with the Heritage pass defense, he said.

"The guys gave a lot of heart and soul last week," Wood said. "I thought we settled down in the second half, took control of the game and got ourselves a win.

"I thought the offensive line set the tone, had really good pass protection. Blaise set in the pocket and threw the ball. I thought Hunter and Errington McRae both did a great job. Each week Hunter is getting double-teamed and still making plays time after time."

Har-Ber (3-2, 1-1 7A-West) struggled to shake the winless War Eagles in the first half. Heritage was stopped on downs deep in Wildcat territory twice, but finally broke through late in the second quarter.

Ethan Farris scored on a 2-yard run on fourth-and-1 to pull Heritage (0-5, 0-2) within 21-7 with less than a minute left in the first half.

Four Downs

Har-Ber scored on all three of its first-half possessions, including converting a fake punt on fourth down to keep one drive alive.

J.J. Webb led Heritage with 83 yards rushing on 14 carries.

Senior Josie Stitt was honored as Heritage's homecoming queen.

Har-Ber hosts crosstown rival Springdale High next week, while Heritage travels to Bentonville High.

Springdale Har-Ber 49, Rogers Heritage 13

Har-Ber 14 7 21 7 — 49

Heritage 0 7 0 6 — 13

First Quarter

Harb-McRae 44 pass from Wittschen (Barroso kick), 7:57.

Harb-McRae 17 pass from Wittschen (Barroso kick), 0:01.

Second Quarter

Harb-Wood 20 pass from Wittschen (Barroso kick), 6:44.

Hert-Farris 2 run (Baxley kick), 0:21.

Third Quarter

Harb-Wood 18 pass from Wittschen (Barroso kick), 10:42.

Harb-Burns 25 pass from Wittschen (Barroso kick), 9:52.

Harb-Wood 24 pass from Wittschen (Barroso kick), 6:35.

Fourth Quarter

Harb-Reiter 54 run (Barroso kick), 5:40.

Hert-Brown 2 run (Run failed), 0:15.

Sports on 10/05/2019

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