DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
In the last three games the Heritage Patriots have played, they’ve gone up against the Delta Eagles twice. What they couldn’t do in last year’s sectional game on the road, they most definitely did at home on Friday in the regular season.
They held the Eagles’ offense in check when it mattered most.
Two monumental defensive stands in goal-to-go situations gave the Patriots a thrilling 13-6 victory in their home opener in overtime.
Sophomore Jax Litchfield scored on Heritage’s first and last possession with rushing touchdowns to account for the scoring, but a missed PAT attempt on the first possession of overtime meant that Delta was a major threat to steal the game away if they could score from the ten and put it through the uprights.
That’s where the Heritage D came up big.
The Patriots stopped Delta on the three-yard line on third and goal and again on fourth down to clinch the victory.
It was not the first time they had made such a stand, however. They had to do the same thing at the end of regulation to even get the game into overtime.
The home team took their 7-0 lead into halftime, but Delta scored on their first possession of the third quarter to set up the fourth quarter excitement.
Tigulis finished the game 8-for-11 for 103 yards and 18 more on the ground.
Litchfield had four carries for 22 yards.
One note of concern for the Patriots was an injury to Lucas Weber, who only had nine carries for 45 yards in the win. His absence forced Heritage to go for two after the overtime score. Weber also had three catches in the game before coming off.
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