Starfire comeback comes too late, Heritage now 4-0

DANE FUELLING

WZBD.com

A 26-0 lead for Heritage with 40 seconds to play in the first half was simply too much for South Adams to overcome in their Week 4 matchup, even with a 70-yard TD pass from Tytus Lehman to Caiden Neuenschwander with zeros on the clock at the end of the second quarter, and the home Patriots moved to 4-0 with a 38-22 victory.

Tytus Lehman makes it a game with a long touchdown pass to end the first half to Caiden Neuenschwander.

The home team finished with 479 yards of offense and any memory of pre-season questions involving whether Heritage would be able to move the ball this season with a new coach and a new QB has disappeared.

That new QB, Eli Tigulis, was 20 of 27 for 260 yards, throwing three touchdowns to three different receivers.

Heritage still found room to move the ball in the second half.

The story, though, for the Patriots was really all about one man – Nasir Martin.

Nasir Martin rumbles for an 80-yard touchdown.

210 yards for Martin came on just 19 carries, with the biggest one putting the Patriots up 13-0 on an 80-yard scamper early in the second quarter. Martin closed out the scoring and put the game away for good with two minutes to play.

Jackson Garcia converts a field goal attempt for South Adams.

A Jackson Garcia field goal in the third quarter was followed up by two TD passes by Lehman to Derek McKean to make it a game in the second half, but it was too little, too late.

*Tytus Lehman rolls out and looks downfield for the Stars. (Photo by Patrick Gunsett)*

Derek McKean catches a touchdown pass at the start of the fourth quarter to draw the Stars closer.

The Starfires seized their opportunities because of a dozen Heritage penalties and two lost fumbles. Playing catch up for much of the game, the visitors didn’t have much of a ground game. Dillan Ramirez led the team with 55 yards, but overall the team had just 43 yards on the ground.

Heritage dominated the line of scrimmage with their big defensive line, tallying seven sacks and chasing Lehman all over the pocket. Charlie Riddle and Jackson Litchfield each had two sacks.