Jones’ 3 TDs lead Heritage past BishopMoore
PLANTATION — Before each of AmericanHeritage’s last two state championships, the Patriots first had to get through Orlando BishopMoore at somepoint in the playoffs.
Heritage, the third-ranked team in the nation, jumped that hurdle on Friday. The Patriots started fast, ended with another scoring run and held off a Bishop Moore rally in betweento takedowntheHornets 56-27 in a wild Region 4-5A final at home.
Miles Jones scored three touchdowns — the opening kickoff and two more rushing — for a Patriots offense that totaled 285 yards on the ground. Jordan Johnson went for 109 yards and a touchdown, and quarterback Cam Smith ran for a touchdown while throwing for two scores, including the exclamation point on an 82-yard bomb to Anthony Schwartz to run the clock in the fourth quarter.
The Patriots (10-0), now winners of 24 consecutive games after winning their third state title in four years last season, get their big rematch with district foe Cardinal Gibbons after the Chiefs knocked off Rockledge in the other regional semifinal.
In the regular season, Heritage and Gibbons, the top-two ranked teams in Class 5A, played to a 23-19 decision at Gibbons. ThePatriots will host the regional final.
Heritage started with a 28-0 lead. Jones took the opening kickoff back 99 yards for a touchdown on a play where he appeared to be stopped, but rolled on top of aHornets player and kept running.
“I just didn’t hear the whistle, soIkept going,” said Jones, a Vanderbilt commit who finished with 132 yards rushing on just four carries. “It’s going to be a tough game [against Gibbons]. It’s going to be close. Just have to see who’s a bigger team and a betterman.”
After the Patriots defense forced a three-and-out, Jones took Heritage’s opening play from scrimmage 51 yards on the ground for another score.
The Patriots would’ve scored on their next offensive play, too, but a deep CamSmith touchdownpass to Anthony Schwartz was called back. They ended up scoring that drive anyway as a 12-play drive resulted in Smith’s 1-yard sneak for a touchdown.
Heritage built its28-point lead when Smith connected with Marcus Lodge, who went up high in the corner of the end zone to come down with a 19-yard touchdown catch on the first play of the second quarter.
Bishop Moore was at 6 yards of total offense at that point, but started working its way back. A defensive score with senior lineman Kaden Youssef intercepting Smith near the goal line put the Hornets on the board. After a quick stop, Bishop Moore scored again, with Zac Suarez finding paydirt on a 4-yard scamper to make it 28-14.
“We started off really well. Wewere clicking on all cylinders,” Heritage coach Patrick Surtain said. “Then adversity hit. That’s playoff football. You’re going to hit rough patches, but we overcame it.”
Jones responded with his third touchdown, bolting 71 yards on the very next play from scrimmage. The Hornets scored right before the half as quarterback Dale Thomas plunged into the end zone from3 yards out.
Heritage scored 21 unanswered points in the second half. Tyler Jones scored a late touchdown that preceded Schwartz’ nail in the coffin. Sophomore defensive backDaryl Porter intercepted a pass in the second half, and defensive linemen Nesta Silvera and Andrew Chatfield had key tackles for loss.
dfurones@sunsentinel.com, @DavidFurones_