Heritage Stages Fourth-Quarter Comeback for 15-14 Win

Heritage quarterback Brett Virgil (8) and running backs Isaiah Morrow (26) and Jalen Glover (5) played big roles in Heritage High's victory Friday night. Morrow scored the Patriots' first touchdown in the fourth quarter, Virgil scored the second, and Glover ran for a two-point conversion and a 15-14 victory. (Photos by David Stovall)

By Aaron Rachman

Quarterback Brett Virgil let his feet make the difference with a 12-yard touchdown run and Jalen Glover added a 2-point conversion to lead Heritage High School to a thrilling 15-14 come-from-behind win over Etiwanda to celebrate Homecoming Friday night.

The victory kept the Patriots undefeated 5-0 heading into a bye week before their Sunbelt League opener against Elsinore Oct. 10.

"We just wanted to come back out and play with focus," coach Kraig Broach said about the halftime discussion when Heritage was trailing, 14-0. "The kids did a lot themselves at halftime. They were amped to keep playing and win the ballgame.

"Even in the third quarter things weren't going well, but then there was a turnover and we got the big fumble recovery by Logan Dreese. That just seemed to spark some things."

Heritage still trailed 14-0 entering the fourth quarter before the momentum began to shift. The Patriots had to punt on a long fourth-down play but Etiwanda fumbled the return and Heritage's Dreese recovered the ball, setting up the Patriots with nice field position.

The Patriots converted that turnover into points when Isaiah Morrow took it in for a 3-yard touchdown run. Suddenly, the Patriots were down by only seven points with about 10 minutes remaining in the game.

Etiwanda's Eagles were stopped minutes later and gave the ball back to the Patriots with less then 5 minutes remaining. Glover highlighted the Heritage drive with runs of 12, 13 and 10 yards to set the tone for a nice game-winning drive.

Virgil (left) ran the ball in from the 12-yard line with 1:51 remaining in the game, leaving the Patriots trailing by a point, 14-13. Broach decided to go for the lead with a 2-point conversion and the Patriots got it with a nice run from the 3-yard line by Glover for a 15-14 lead.

"We don't want a tie," Broach said. "I thought we had a good opportunity from the 3-yard line to punch it in and they executed."

There was still time on the clock for one last drive from Etiwanda. The Eagles marched down the field and with 35 seconds left had 4th and 6. A 36-yard field goal attempt was wide right and the Patriots held on for the victory.

The game was all Etiwanda in the first half. Eagles quarterback Andrew Kanatsky got them on the board with a rushing touchdown with 4:39 remaining in the first quarter. Early in the second quarter the Eagles got another touchdown when Kanatsky threw a touchdown pass to Keon Stephens.

Later in the second quarter, the Eagles were called for a holding penalty and then an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, setting up the Patriots with nice field position, but they couldn't move the ball.

The fourth quarter was a different story.

"Maybe the team came together a little bit tonight, but I think the kids will tell you that it's exciting what happened tonight, but there's a lot of improvement needed ahead," Broach said. "And that's exciting in itself."

Axel Uveakovi (32) and teammates lead a defensive charge against an Etiwanda ballcarier.