Heritage advances to second round with 26-7 win over Rustburg
“That’s Heritage Football. We were around for four quarters and didn’t back down”– Heritage Coach Brad Bradley
City Stadium,Lynchburg, VA- Heritage Head Coach Brad Bradley’s Pioneers did what they had to do to move the ball, and the defense stood strong all night as Heritage advanced to the second round in Region 3C with a 26-7 win over Rustburg.
This we Heritage and Rustburg’s second meeting this year with the Pioneers taking the first one 31-14, mid October. Heritage received the opening kickoff and drove to the game’s first score. QB 5 Ayden Slash did the honors to make it 6-0. The PAT was no good.
On the very next drive, Rustburg drove down the field and capped off their series with an 8-yard TD run by RB/LB 24 Marshaun Rosser. Rustburg led 7-6 going into the second quarter. At that point, Heritage went on a rushing attack with Slash doing most of the damage (23/177,3TDs rush; 4/5,52 passing). Heritage finished the night with 329 yards on the ground on 43 carries, and 381 yards of total offense. Subsequently, Bradleys’ Pioneers controlled the ball and time of possession. The Red Devils defense played a great game but couldn’t get Slash on the ground.
Rustburg never got back on the board while Heritage reeled off 20 unanswered points. After the game, Coach Bradley looked at the players and said, “That’s Heritage Football. We were around for four quarters and didn’t back down”. He also commented, “LCA starts now”.
Rustburg Head Coach Dustin Russell thanked every player for a great year in his first season as the Devils head coach. Heritage will move on next week as they travel to LCA who beat Heritage 34-27 earlier, in their closest contest of the year. LCA is unbeaten at their new field which opened last year. – Allen Bailey