DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
DECATUR – A change in quarterbacks for the Heritage Patriots appeared to be a near seamless transition as Zeb Tigulis took over for his brother, Eli, who graduated in May, marching the offense down the field efficiently to score on five of the team’s first six possession en route to a straightforward 42-0 win over the Bellmont Braves Friday.
Tigulis threw for three touchdowns on just eight completions for 100 yards and he, along with four other rushers, found success on the ground to put the game away early and not allow the Braves to sniff much of a chance of breaking their long losing streak.
Heritage won the toss and elected to kick to start the game. That worked well for coach Jeremy Hullinger, whose defense forced an early fumble and gave the team great starting field position on the Bellmont 44. Two plays later, Tigulis showed what he can do with his accurate sophomore arm, hitting Lantae Cassel in the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Cassel used his size and athleticism to take the ball from Dylan Painter, who provided pretty decent coverage on the play.
Bellmont’s freshman quarterback, Charlie Faurote, picked up first downs in both of the Braves’ first two drives, but they were forced to punt and a long return once again gave the Patriots a drive that started in Bellmont’s half of the field. The Braves’ defense held strong and forced a fourth-down try, but the visitors handed the ball off to their big sophomore, Jax Litchfield, who picked up the first down and then took it in for an 11-yard touchdown on the very next play.
The Braves punted again the game was officially out of hand when the Pats needed just one play to make it 21-0, with Tigulis finding Alden Bowers in space for a 41-yard scamper down the sidelines with plenty of blocking with more than a minute to play still in the first quarter.
Bellmont did respond with a solid drive, punching the ball across midfield as Oliver Werling gained some solid yardage and Faurote developing a favorite target in Corbynn Omlor for some short completions, but the drive stalled on a 4th-down conversion. Heritage went right down the field and Lucas Weber walked into the end zone on a one-yard run for the score.
Late in the second quarter, Heritage secured the running clock in the second half with a short drive that ended with Tigulis’s third TD pass of the half, this time to Weber, who scored from 23 yards out.
On the ensuing kickoff, freshman Oliver Faurote was hit hard by the Patriots special teams, causing a fumble for another Bellmont turnover. The Patriots did not score thanks to an interception by Jacob David, but Oliver Faurote, who had some nice tackles in the first half, did not return to the game.
Heritage received the ball in the second half and a solid return gave them another short field. Jake Krauss made it 42-0 with his legs and Weber, who was perfect on extra points, exited the game thereafter.
Bellmont’s last attempt to score looked agonizingly close to a touchdown, but one throw from Faurote to Mason White was just out of reach and the next was intercepted by Sawyer Thiele. The Patriots spent the rest of the running clock conservatively, with Easton Meyer taking over at quarterback.
Jake Krauss came into the game late but still managed to lead the Patriots in rushing with 73 yards.
Charlie Faurote ended his night with 45 yards passing and was 8 of 17. He added 33 yards on the ground.
Oliver Werling had 42 yards rushing on 15 attempts.
Heritage will host Delta in Week 2. That game will be available on WZBD’s YouTube channel. Fans of the Braves can also hear Bellmont’s game at South Adams on WZBD Radio YouTube.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
9:28 – 18-yard reception by Lantae Cassel from Zeb Tigulis, Lucas Weber PAT kick good, 7-0
4:27 – 11-yard run by Jax Litchfield, Weber kick good, 14-0
1:21 – 41-yd reception by Alden Bowers from Zeb Tigulis, Weber kick good, 21-0
2nd Quarter
5:43 – 1-yd run by Lucas Weber, Weber kick good, 28-0
:40 – 23-yd reception by Lucas Weber from Zeb Tigulis, Weber kick good, 35-0
3rd Quarter
4:58 – 3-yd run by Jake Krauss, Weber kick good, 42-0
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