Heritage gets back on track to make playoffs with 56-7 win over Jefferson Forest
Liberty High School, Bedford, VA –
Jefferson Forest High School, Forest, VA –
The Crunch team made its way to Sabre Field Friday night for the Lynchburg high school football game of the week. Jefferson Forest hosted Heritage on the Cavaliers’ senior night. With more cars in the parking lot and the starting game temperature around 75 degrees, it almost seemed like a normal September kickoff. In a post-game interview, Heritage Coach Brad Bradley commented that after suffering a loss last week to Brookville, his team “could have felt sorry for themselves or come out full speed.” 
From the opening kickoff, the Pioneers’ response was definitely full speed as they roughed up JF for a 56-7 bounce-back game win. Heritage exploded for 42 points in the 2nd quarter highlighted by two punt return TDs, and a touchdown reception all of which were 55 yards or more. The Cavaliers were not able to keep pace with the Pioneers due, in part, to the Heritage defense allowing only 2 first downs and 35 yards total offense in the 1st half. Even with all the points the offense put up, Coach Bradley beamed when discussing his team’s defensive effort. “I felt like defense is where we won the football game tonight. Points are great, but defense – their intensity was different tonight, I felt really good about that. It’s a good team win”.
1st Quarter – Heritage RB/WR 23 Darius Brown took the opening kickoff 35 yards and the Pioneers had great field position starting on their own 45 yard line.
Heritage’ RB/WR 23 Darius Brown provides spark on opening kickoff
The Pioneers’ combo of RB/LB 21 Rajan Booker-Felder (6-48 yds, 2 TDs) and RB 2 Elijah Steele (18-148 yds, 2 TDs) shared the load on the first scoring drive and R. Booker-Felder’s 9 yard TD run coupled with Karson Adcock’s PAT put Heritage up 7-0 at the 8:23 mark of the 1st quarter.
RB 21 Rajan Booker scampers 9 yards for the TD
Jefferson Forest picked up 2 first downs on hard running by RB/LB 8 Keaton Ellis (14-42 yds) and RB 4 Kyle Woody (14-92 yds) but punted when the drive stalled on their 44 yard line.
Cavalier RB 8 Keaton Ellis tackled by swarming Heritage defenders
2nd Quarter – Heritage blew the game wide open in the second quarter scoring a touchdown every time they got the ball. Meanwhile, the Pioneer defense kept feeding their offense by forcing five, three-and-out series and forced a fumble on the other Cavalier possession. The scoring barrage started with a 1-yd TD run by QB 11 Tevin Braxton (4-22 rush, TD, 5/9-86 yds pass, TD), followed by a 55 yard punt return TD by WR/DB 13 Kenneth Crawford. After a JF fumble, two plays later RB/LB 21 R. Booker-Felder got his second touchdown, finding the end zone from 11 yards out. Heritage WR/LB 6 Keshaun Hubbard (5-86 yds receiving, TD, Punt Ret for TD) missed the Brookville game but made his presence known on the next two scores.
WR 6 Keshaun Hubbard scores on 65 yard punt return
He weaved through defenders en route to a 65 yard punt return touchdown and on the following possession, he made a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch and run for a 59 yard TD score.
WR 6 Hubbard 59 yard pass reception
RB 2 Steele closed out the scoring in the quarter with a 15 yard run as the Pioneers executed their two minute drill to perfection and Heritage led 49-0 at the half after K/P 32 Karson Adcock’s (7/7 PAT) extra point was good.
2nd Half – Coming out of the half Heritage added to their lead when RB 2 Steele was at it again with a 10 yard run for the touchdown. K/P 28 Josh Cleaver’s PAT was good and it was 56-0.
Pioneer RB 2 Isaiah Steele scores his 2nd TD on the night
Jefferson Forest quickly responded with a 2 play, 69 yard touchdown drive highlighted by RB 4 Woody’s 60 yard run where he took a reverse down to the Heritage 9 yard line.
Pioneer RB 2 Isaiah Steele scores his 2nd TD on the night
RB 4 Kyle Woody’s 60 yard run set up a first and goal at the Heritage nine. On the very next play RB 21 Devin Paige took it to the house from 9 yards out to put the Cavaliers on the board. K 24 Zach Hinton added the PAT and the final score was 56-7 Heritage. – The Machine
Offense: Rushing– Heritage – R.Booker 6-48, 2TD, Steele 18-148, 2TD, Braxton 4-22, TD, Johnson-McDougal 3-(-6) Jefferson Forest – Ellis 14-42, Fum, Woody 14-92, Paige 3-18, TD, Lambert 1-1, VanRemortel 4-(-5) Passing– Heritage– Braxton 5/9-86, TD Jefferson Forest– VanRemortel 3/9-26 Receiving– Heritage– Hubbard 5-86, TD Jefferson Forest– Woody 1-2, Johnson 2-24. Punting– Heritage– Johnson 1-18 Jefferson Forest– Hinton 4-33.5.
Scoring –
• HHS: R.Booker-Felder 9-yard TD run; Adcock PAT
• HHS: Braxton 1-yd TD run; Adcock PAT
• HHS: Crawford 55-yd punt return TD; Adcock PAT
• HHS: R.Booker-Felder 11-yd TD run; Adcock PAT
• HHS: Hubbard 65-yd punt return TD; Adcock PAT
• HHS: Hubbard 59-yd TD pass from Braxton; Adcock PAT
• HHS: Steele 15-yd TD run; Adcock PAT
• HHS: Steele 10-yd TD run; Cleaver PAT
• JFHS: Paige 9-yd TD run; Hinton PAT
