Who wanted it more?
The opening drive of Friday’s ACAC showdown involving the Patriots of Heritage and Jay County was a microcosm for the game as a whole. Kobe Meyer drove his team all the way down to the one-yard line and it came down to strength and size.
Meyer punched the ball in and Heritage took a 7-0 lead. The QB ran for 54 yards and threw for 132 yards and three more TDs to finish off a spectacular 8-1 season with a 28-6 victory.
The Heritage defense was especially stingy Friday and when Jay County lost A.J. Myers midway through the game, they found even more success.
After coming up with a defensive stop on Jay County’s next possession, the Heritage offense went for the quick-strike option instead of grinding out yards and Meyer hit Braden Walter for a 65-yard touchdown. A missed extra point by Heritage kept the score at 13-0.
The rain set in and changed the complexion of the game outside Portland and there was just 28 yards of total offense between the two teams in the second quarter.
As the hosts tried to climb back into the game in the second half, Heritage always seemed to make a play to keep their Patriot counterparts at bay.
Justin DeHoff tackled Kobe Meyer for a huge loss to set up third and long in the third quarter, but Nolan Hoskins made it all back up with a big run for a Heritage first down.
A minute later it was Meyer scrambling to his right and finding Eli Tigulis for a ten-yard score in the end zone and the QB kept it himself when they went for two, converting with ease.
The home team found no success in the air, waiting until the third quarter to complete its first pass, a 44-yarder to DeHoff from QB Sean Bailey.
That drive ended when Jay County slipped and fell on a crucial 4th and 1 play, turning the ball over on downs and essentially putting the game away for Heritage.
Jay County’s only score of the game came midway through the fourth quarter when Bryce Wenk ran it in from 25 yards.
Ibrahim Williams provided the icing on the cake with a 21-yard catch and score. Williams led the team with three catches.
Caleb Abbott had 56 yards on eight carries for Heritage.
Heritage will head to Woodlan for their 3A sectional opener, while Jay County faces a tough task in playing Kokomo in the 4A tournament.
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