This article was written by Alex Becker, class of 2019.
The Patriots football team improved to 2-0 on the season after defeating Liberty High School Patriots from Nevada in the home opener. Defense was the key to the victory as Heritage shut out Liberty 31-0.
Senior running back Miles Jones got the first score of the game for Heritage running the ball in from the three yard-line. Jones did it all on the drive, with a 33-yard punt return, 26 rushing yards and the score on the opening drive for the AHS Patriots to make the score 7-0.
After two consecutive missed field goals by Heritage, senior defensive back Tyson Campbell recovered a Liberty fumble to give the ball back to the Heritage Patriots.
On the ensuing play, senior quarterback Cameron Smith aired it out deep to senior wide receiver Joshua Alexander for a 74-yard catch and run touchdown, stretching the lead to 14-0.
Late in the second quarter, junior kicker Jimmy Lowery knocked in a 49-yard field to make the lead 17-0.
Right before time expired in the second half, senior defensive end Andrew Chatfield picked up a live ball from a Liberty backward pass and brought it back to the house to extend the lead to 24-0.
Heritage picked up exactly where they left off in the second half, with junior running back Tyler Jones rushing 80 yards for the score on the first play from scrimmage to make the score 31-0. Jones ended the game with an outstanding 142 yards on 10 carries.
The rest of the game was a defensive standoff on both sides, with many punts and three-and-out drives, and no points scored.
The impressive blowout win over Liberty should boost the eighth ranked Patriots up in national football rankings by MaxPreps.
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