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 inTallahassee on Friday night. The victory gives American Heritage its first title since 2017 and the fifth in programhistory.

The Patriots squeaked by Tampa Jesuit in the state semifinals, but they got out to a big lead in the first half Friday. Sophomore runningbackMark Fletcher putHeritageon the boardwith a 2-yardtouchdownrunwith

5minutes, 55seconds left in the first quarter. Fletcher finished thegamewith 127 rushing yards on 21 carries.

Later in the first quarter, BlakeMurphy 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 tomake the catch.

Thesophomore quarterback finished the gamewith eight completionson16attempts for 132 yards.

While the Patriots offense was clicking, the defense was keeping the Raiders in check. Although Rickardswas able tomove the ball, Heritagekept it out of theendzone. 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 thirdquarter. GregTurnerJr. returned a kick70yards, andthe Raidersmovedthe ball the remaining 27 yards, scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run by MichaelTownsend.

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 Rickardsupin its ownendof the field, preventing the Raiders fromnarrowing the Patriots’ lead.

AmericanHeritage’s defense consistently held Rickards in check. Senior safety Boogsie Silvera had 17 tackles and a tackle for a loss, andjunior defensive endMarvin Jones Jr. hadfour total tackles for a loss. Joneshad twosacks, andsenior safetyJamesWilliams and junior defensive lineman Belizaire Bassette II each had a sack.

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