For three quarters, it was anybody’s ball game.
But in the fourth, the visiting Gilmer Bobcats began to fade last Friday, and the Heritage Generals put the game away. GHS was held out of the end zone in the second half while Heritage scored 16 unanswered points to deliver the Bobcats their second region loss of the season, 29-14.
The Bobcats were limited to 199 rushing yards, their fewest of the season. The last time GHS was held to under 200 was versus Adairsville on Oct. 25 of last season. Of Gilmer’s five second-half possessions, three ended with punts and two resulted in turnovers.
“We got beat on the line of scrimmage tonight on both sides, and that’s ultimately on me,” said head coach Paul Standard. “You can’t turn the ball over in critical situations. We made enough mistakes against a good football team to get beat. I thought our kids played hard, but we’ve got to get better.
“We had some great individual performances, but ultimately, it’s a team sport and we’ve got to get better in a lot of areas. That rests on my shoulders.”
Heritage’s balanced offense attacked through the air and on the ground. University of Texas commit Jake Collett was there when the Generals were unable to reach the end zone and made three field goals.
Both teams punted to start the game, and HHS needed two plays to cover 80 yards on its second series. Tailback Brayden Slaughter was a load at 215 pounds, and he ran away from the GHS defense for a 69-yard touchdown.
GHS trailed 7-0 six minutes into the game and answered with an 80-yard drive of its own. Runs by fullback Peyton Chancey, halfback Douglas Callihan, and quarterback A.J. Callihan moved GHS to midfield after four plays. A.J. Callihan then connected with halfback Cheyne Smith for a 12-yard completion.
Two plays later, on the eighth of the possession, Chancey burst through the middle of the Generals’ defense and broke two tackles on his 33-yard touchdown run.
Carter Gearhart’s extra point evened the score in the final minute of the first quarter.
HHS drove 54 yards on its third drive to set up Collett’s 31-yard field goal for a three-point edge with 8:51 left in the half. The teams then traded punts once again.
The Cats’ second and final touchdown drive began at their 41, and halfback Hunter Britain ran for 20 yards. HHS was then flagged for roughing the passer, which drew the ire of head coach Jeremy New, who was flagged for 15 more yards.
From the 6, it took GHS three more plays to cap the eight-play possession, and Chancey scored from 3 yards out. Gearhart’s point after put the Cats ahead 14-10 with 1:05 on the clock.
Starting from its 22, HHS eventually advanced to Gilmer’s 1-yard line with a 44-yard completion. After killing the clock, two incompletions followed, and Collett knocked through a 19-yard field goal.
GHS knelt when it received the ball and led 14-13 at the half.
The Cats picked up three first downs to start the third, but A.J. Callihan was intercepted on the drive’s 12th play. Both teams punted before HHS took over at its 20. Two completions accounted for the bulk of the yards on the drive, and Collett’s 53-yard field goal gave the Generals a 16-14 lead in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter.
On the first play of Gilmer’s ensuing possession, Britain ran for a first down, but the ball was knocked loose and HHS recovered at Gilmer’s 43. Two plays later, Slaughter scored on a 40-yard draw.
Down 23-14 with 10:48 left in the game, Gilmer’s final two possessions resulted in punts. It took Heritage two plays to score once again, and a blown coverage resulted in a 44-yard touchdown pass for the game’s final points with 7:47 left on the clock.
“There were some really good things, and we’ll have to sit down and evaluate to find them,” Standard said. “Sometimes when you get beat, you dwell on the negative, and I don’t want to do that. We’ve got a great group of seniors and we’ve got a great group of kids. We’ve got an opportunity to keep working and playing, and we’ve got to go back to work.
“I know it sounds like a cliché, but we’ve got to block and tackle better. I know our guys will come right back to work on Monday and give us everything they’ve got. That’s all we can ask of them.”
GHS is 3-3 overall and 0-2 in region play. The Cats host LaFayette Friday at 7:30 p.m.