Heritage overpowers North Murray
It seemed like on every play that North Murray High School quarterback Preston Poag Jr. was either on his back or running for his life.
A veteran Heritage High School defense constantly brought pressure his way, blitzing on nearly every play, and the North Murray offensive line couldn’t hold with the Mountaineers as they fell 42-14 at home on Friday.
Poag Jr. has done just that this season with 641 yards and eight touchdowns through the first two games. But with no time to process the play, he didn’t look like his typical self.
Led by standout senior defensive end Zach Goins, the Heritage front seven sacked Poag Jr. six times. Countless more times he was being chased down from behind or pummeled seconds after he let go of the ball.
Still, Poag, Jr. finished by completing 21-of-30 passes for 200 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
After a back-andforth start to the first quarter, Heritage (4-0) took the lead on a 17yard pass to the front pylon from senior Blake Bryan to senior receiver Luke Grant for the game’s first score.
The next time Heritage touched the ball — off a North Murray punt on the ensuing drive — senior wide receiver Ryan Carter took it 75 yards after the Mountaineers broke containment, putting the Generals up 14-0 late in the first
quarter.
The Generals added another score on a 36yard connection from Bryan to Grant. Grant finished with nine catches for 187 yards and three touchdowns, with a 57-yard touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter.
Bryan, who paced the offense with his arm and his legs, amassed 275 yards and five touchdowns through the air and an additional 84 yards rushing.
The Mountaineers (1-2) held Heritage scoreless for chunks of the game, but gave up nine plays of 20 yards or more.
“We just gotta do a better job up front on both sides of the ball,” North Murray coach Preston Poag said. “I thought they were the more physical team. They hurt us some over the middle on the throws, ran the ball good and the quarterback played good, but it’s the same deal. We have to cut down on our mistakes.”
Down 21-0 in the middle of the second quarter, North Murray started to fight its way back. They used a seven-play, 54-yard scoring drive, capped by a 28-yard pass from Poag, Jr. to Ladd McConkey, who finished with eight catches for 89 yards and the score.
However, Heritage marched answered with a 10-play, 78-yard drive, culminating in a seven-yard Carter touchdown reception on the following drive.
North Murray didn’t have much semblance of a running game in the first half, allowing Heritage to dial up the blitzes without much hesitation.
The Mountaineers totaled just five yards rushing on seven attempts in the half. In the second half, it was much of the same as Heritage held North Murray to minus-9 yards on the ground for the entire game.
North Murray freshman running back D’ante Tidwell provided a spark in the third quarter on a 94yard kickoff return for a touchdown following a Heritage touchdown, but by then, down 35-7, it was too late.
The Generals will enjoy an off week before heading to Ellijay to face winless Gilmer in the Region 6-AAAA opener on Sept. 22.