Heritage Hall playmakers come up big against Perkins
Billy Ross Jr. just wanted to make a quick move.
The Heritage Hall senior running back caught the short pass in the flat and gave a sudden jab step to the inside, freezing the Perkins linebacker.
Before the defender could recover, Ross was gone down the sideline with nobody in front of him.
Ross would take the pass 70 yards to end zone, one of three bigplay touchdowns on the night for him and one of several chunk scoring plays Heritage Hall would use to down previously undefeated Perkins 35-12 on Thursday night in a battle of Class 3A teams.
“We thought we could beat them with our speed,” Ross said after the Chargers improved to 5-1. “Every time I touch the field I like to consider myself the fastest on the field, so I just try and use that to my advantage.”
Ross’ first touchdown on the night was also for a long touchdown as he took an outside toss play and ran through a pack of Perkins defenders to go 59 yards for a touchdown to give Heritage Hall the early 7-0 lead.
After the 70-yard catchand-run score made it 14-0, Heritage Hall would again find the end zone as quarterback Robert Mbroh tossed a 13-yard pass to another senior playmaker in Conner Carey to make it 21-0
Heritage Hall coach Brett Bogert said having playmakers like Ross and Carey means the Chargers can score at any moment.
“They make us dangerous,” Bogert said. “Anytime you can get Billy the ball or Conner the ball, they are explosive and can take it to the house.”
Perkins would get on the board right before half.
The Demons scored on a 6-yard pass from quarterback Austin Mages to receiver Caden Williams with six seconds remaining.
After halftime, Perkins jarred the ball loose from Carey and returned it five yards for another score.
But from there, Heritage Hall would turn again to Carey and Ross.
Carey broke off a 61-yard touchdown run to put the Chargers up 28-12 with less than 4:30 remaining in the third quarter. Ross followed that up with a 38-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter.
“I think the turnover really refocused us,” Bogert said. “We got our act together and took care of business after that.”
Ross finished with seven carries for 136 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while also catching three passes for 82 yards and another score.
Carey rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, while also catching a 13-yard touchdown pass.
For Perkins (5-1), it was led by Mages, who finished 8-of-15 for 66 yards and a touchdown. He added 50 yards rushing.
Heritage Hall is now 3-0 in district play.
“The vibe is great with us right now,” Ross said. “We keep winning, and we are gonna keep moving.”