The football team will face off against the Orlando Bishop Moore Hornets in the Class 5A state semifinals Friday, Dec. 5. If the Patriots win, they will be returning to Orlando next week to play for a second consecutive state championship.
Heritage (10-3) has outscored its opponents in the playoffs 150-21; and most of the starters have rested in the second half. Bishop Moore (13-0) is coming off a 30-29 double-overtime victory over Tampa Jesuit.
Although Bishop Moore is undefeated, there strength of schedule is less difficult than Heritage’s schedule has been. Bishop Moore has played teams with a combined record of 78-63 (.553), while Heritage has played teams with a combined record of 108-46 (.701).
In three playoff games, senior and Ohio State commit Torrance Gibson has passed for 367 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception, mostly playing exclusively in the first half of each game. Sophomore quarterback Jason Brown has filled in for the second half of each game of the postseason, since the Patriots have had commanding leads. Gibson has also added 183 yards and three touchdowns rushing in the playoffs.
The Patriots have molded their offense around three running backs, senior Travis Jackson, sophomore Kyshaun Bryan and junior Shadderick Lowery. Along with Gibson’s running ability, the three backs have carried the majority of the workload in the playoffs. Jackson, Bryan, and Lowery have combined for 289 yards and eight touchdowns in the playoffs.
The Patriots defense has been menacing in the playoffs so far. They shut out Immokalee in the first round and only gave up a combined 21 points to Lely and Island Coast. The Patriots have had two sacks in each playoff game and senior defensive backs Tarvarus McFadden, Dilan Thomas, and Nick Peart each have an interception.
While Bishop Moore is confident heading into the game tonight, the Patriots are unfazed. The Hornets fans and players have started the hashtag on Twitter “#ShockTheState.” The Patriots are ready to battle tonight, and as Peart tweeted, it’s “Operation Cancel #ShockTheState.”
