Heritage head coach Tim James embraces Luke Sims (left) following the Generals' victory on the dedication of Jeff Sims Field. (Terry Pennington)
The Generals took time prior to the game to remember the hard work and accomplishments Sims had done for the school as its first Gridiron Club president before his death on Friday March 5 of this year.
Then the team reminded LFO it had not forgotten a 64-0 rout the Warriors delivered in the first meeting between the rival schools in 2008 or 34-13 loss in 2009.
Heritage head coach Tim James attempted to downplay any intentions of repaying LFO for the 64-0 pounding.
“We’re just working to be the best football
team we can be,” James said. “We’re getting a little better. The kids are working hard and starting to buy into what us coaches have been saying all along....It feels good to have a program moving in the right direction.”
Jeff Sims son Luke said the win would have made his father smile. He said LFO was the one “W” he had looked forward to the most in his short time at Heritage.
“I remember that 64-0 game,” Luke said. “I played the whole time. It was brutal, and they didn’t let up...but I think we shut them up this time.”
Heritage scored three touchdowns in the opening quarter, including two in the first 3:00 of play.
Quarterback Jake Sampson’s 39 yard run gave the Generals their first score. Dustin Lewis added the point after the touchdown.
The Navy-and-Red then scored their second
touchdown of the quarter when Jacob Carter picked off a stray pass and sprinted 14 yards into the end zone.
Carter said he was happy he was able to make a positive contribution in such a rival game.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Carter said. “I wasn’t around for that first beating we got. But when everyone else in the locker room is ticked off at them it kind of rubs off. And all week we busted our butts because we knew we could beat them.”
Sampson connected with Carter on a pass from 27 yards out to extend the Generals lead to 21-0 with 1:37 to play in the first quarter.
Heritage then turned the game over to the Generals swarming defense.
The final blow for the hosts was an 18 yard run by Ketwan Burns with 7:34 to play in the fourth period.
Heritage finished with 321 total yards total
offense to LFO’s 139.
Ethan Thompson led the Generals with 115 yards rushing on five carries. Samson had 101 yards rushing on 15 attempts.
Tim McClendon led the Warriors with 117 yards rushing on 16 carries.
Heritage will travel to Murray County to attempt to run its record to 3-0 for the first time in school history. In fact, the Generals are 2-0 and have won consecutive games for the first time in the school’s short three-year football history.
The Murray County Indians are 0-2 for the season with losses to Southeast Whitfield, 35-6, and Dalton, 55-0.
James said the Indians were “big and physical” but nothing was impossible if his Generals continued to play as a team.
“I think we can play with them,” James said. “I just think we have to get serious, stay focused and continue to work hard. And tonight we made a lot of mistakes.”
LFO falls to 0-2 for the season after losing the first week to rival Ringgold in the 26th annual Battle of the Catoosa Cup on Aug. 27.
The Warriors will host Model on Sept. 10.
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