Heritage Into Semifinals
The Eagles of Vidalia Heritage Academy racked up 80 points in just over three quarters on their way to a first round playoff victory over the Rangers of Fideles Christian. It was the first round of the GAPPS State AA Playoffs.
The Rangers got on the board first with 9:08 in the first quarter on a long pass play. They missed the extra point but led 6-0 over VHA.
Ethan Sikes had a good kickoff return to the Fideles 35-yard line. Two runs and a penalty moved VHA to the 10-yard line. Ledger Curl pushed the ball to the 5-yard line and then went in on the next play to tie the game at 6-6 with just over eight minutes on the clock. Sikes went in for the twopoint conversion to take an 8-6 lead over Fideles.
The Rangers went back on top with 5:53 left in the first quarter on a 30-yard pass play. They added the extra point to take a 13-8 lead.
Another good return by VHA, this time by Dylan Green put Heritage at the Fideles 33-yard line. Sikes took it down to the 3-yard line before Curl went in for the score with 4:41 on the clock. John-Colby Thompson took the two-point conversion continued from page
in to put VHA up 16-13 on the Rangers.
The Rangers answered with a 45-yard touchdown pass and added the twopoint conversion for a 21-16 lead over VHA with 1:32 left in the first quarter.
This time VHA started at their own 15-yard line. John Smith connected with Sikes, and then Thompson got out to the 44-yard line with a solid run. Just a few plays later Sikes went for 63 yards and a touchdown with 10:41 left in the half. Curl went in for the two-point conversion for a 24-21 lead for the Eagles.
Fideles muffed the ensuing kickoff with Thompson recovering it for the Eagles to set them up with good field position. Runs by Curl and Sikes moved the ball to the 19-yard line. Sikes took it from the there for the touchdown with 7:33 left in the half. Curl went in for two for a 32-21 lead.
Fideles connected on a long touchdown pass to make it 32-27 with 4:21 left in the half.
Sikes ansered with an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for the Eagles. That extended the lead to 40-27 after the two-point try with just 4:05 left in the half.
Fideles scored with 1:25 left in the first half to close the lead to 40-33. Fideles went for an onside kick that was scooped up by Hardy Franklin for the Eagles. He took the ball to the 32-yard line to set the Eagles up with good field position. A big sideline penalty against the Rangers moved VHA all the way to the 16-yard line and then Thompson went in on the next play for a touchdown still with 1:07 left in the first half. Smith then found Chris Reeves for the two-point conversion to put VHA on top 48-33.
Fideles moved the ball down the field, but were stopped at the 15-yard line as the half came to an end.
Early in the third quarter the Eagles added another touchdown and two-point conversion to push their lead to 56-33. Fideles added a score with 8 minutes left in the third quarter to close the lead to 56-41.
VHA again found the end zone, this time with six minutes left in the third quarter. They connected on the two-point conversion to push the lead to 64-41.
Another passing touchdown by Fideles made it 64–49, but again VHA answered as they took a 72-49 lead with five minutes left in the third quarter.
As it went back-andforth, Fideles scored with four minutes on the clock to make it 72-55, but with just one minute to go in the third another touchdown by VHA gave them an 80-55 lead.
Fideles scored just one minute into the fourth quarter to close it back to 80-61, but soon after that the game was called as Fideles forfeited, giving Heritage the 80-61 win.
This week it will be a battle in the semifinals of the playoffs for Heritage as they travel to Rome to take on the Lions of Unity Christian School. Heritage is 9-1 coming into this game and the Lions are 10-0. The game is this Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Ethan Sikes ran for 200 yards for the Eagles in their win over Fideles Christian.Photo by Mike Branch
