After 2-season drought Patriots again sit atop Class 5A, gain program’s 5th crown

After a two-season drought, American Heritage is back on top.

The Patriots beat Tallahassee Rickards 24-6 to win the Class 5A state title at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Friday night. The victory gives American Heritage its first title since 2017 and the fifth in program history.

The Patriots squeaked by Tampa Jesuit in the state semifinals, but they got out to a big lead in the first half Friday. Sophomore running back Mark Fletcher put Heritage on the board with a 2-yard touchdown run with 5 minutes, 55 seconds left in the first quarter.

Fletcher finished the game with 127 rushing yards on 21 carries.

Later in the first quarter, Blake Murphy handled a third-and-16 situation and tossed a 49-yard touchdown pass to senior Nick Whitton. Murphy added a second touchdown pass on a 3-yard toss to Syracuse signee Oronde Gadsden II, who leaped above a defender to make the catch.

The sophomore quarterback finished the game with eight completions on 16 attempts for 132 yards.

While the Patriots offense was clicking, the defense was keeping the Raiders in check. Although Rickards was able to move the ball, Heritage kept it out of the end zone. The Raiders attempted two field goals in the first half; the first was too low and hit an offensive lineman, while the second just missed at the end of the first half.

Rickards got on the board at the start of the third quarter. Greg Turner Jr. returned a kick 70 yards, and the Raiders moved the ball the remaining 27 yards, scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run by Michael Townsend.

The Patriots couldn’t capitalize on a pair of third-quarter drives that started in Rickards territory, but they didn’t need to do so. Heritage’s defense bottled Rickards up in its own end of the field, preventing the Raiders from narrowing the Patriots’ lead.

American Heritage’s defense consistently held Rickards in check. Senior safety Boogsie Silvera had 17 tackles and a tackle for a loss, and junior defensive end Marvin Jones Jr. had four total tackles for a loss. Jones had two sacks, and senior safety James Williams and junior defensive lineman Belizaire Bassette II each had a sack.

Chris Maron, who kicked the game-winning field goal in the state semifinals, added three points on a 29-yard field goal to add to the Patriots’ lead late in the fourth quarter.