DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
It was not to be for the Heritage Patriots Friday night. A long road trip to Delaware County resulted in an even longer ride home as the Delta Eagles ran all over Heritage in a 54-14 thrashing in the opening round of the local 3A sectional.
Delta QB Bronson Edwards threw for 197 yards and ran for 26 more, scoring two touchdowns, to lead the Eagle attack. Nolan Carpenter led all rushers with 86 yards.
The home team scored on its first three possessions and quickly put Heritage in deep trouble. The Patriots punted four times on their opening five possessions, turning it over on downs in the other, as they struggled to gain any sort of footing in the game.
Meanwhile, the Delta offense was clicking, picking up big chunks of yards at once.
Heritage had no answers until there were just under two minutes left in the first half. Lucas Weber got the visitors on the scoreboard with a six-yard run and the Patriots trailed by three touchdowns at halftime.
There was hope that receiving the opening kickoff in the second half would draw the Patriots within 14 points, but that quickly went away when Delta got an interception on the very first offensive series for Heritage (see gallery below).
The Eagles quickly scored on a 36-yard strike from Edwards to Zane Cline to go up 35-7.
Heritage did not lay down and let Delta walk over them and Braden Walter came back with a touchdown catch from Tigulis and the defense came up with a big stop to give the offense the ball back.
Trying to cut it to a two-touchdown deficit before the third quarter ended, disaster struck and the game effectively ended when Tigulis was absolutely hammered at midfield from his blind side by Nash Keesling. Keesling scooped up the ball and took it 47 yards for the score.
Heritage never found the ground game they needed to keep pace with Delta, running for just 28 yards without Nasir Martin in the lineup. Lucas Weber had 34 yards rushing on 14 carries.
Tigulis finished 14 of 29 for 167 yards and the one touchdown.
Braden Walter led the team with 118 yards receiving on eight catches. He also had an interception.
SCORING SUMMARY
Quarter 1
8:53 – Nolan Carpenter 31-yd run, Ritchie PAT good, 7-0
5:47 – Bryce Stroble 2-yd run, Ritchie PAT good, 14-0
1:58 – Bronson Edwards 1-yd run, Ritchie PAT good, 21-0
Quarter 2
6:54 – Bronson Edwards 1-yd run, Ritchie PAT good, 28-0
1:22 – Lucas Weber 6-yd run, Rauner PAT good, 28-7
Quarter 3
9:54 – Zane Cline 36-yd reception from Edwards, Ritchie PAT good, 35-7
6:58 – Braden Walter 27-yd reception from Tigulis, Rauner PAT good, 35-14
3:38 – Nash Keesling 47-yd fumble return, Ritchie PAT no good, 41-14
Quarter 4
11:52 – Zane Cline 23-yd reception from Edwards, 2-pt attempt no good, 47-14
8:38 – Chase Ritchie 1-yd run, Ritchie PAT good, 54-14
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