The Heritage Generals marched into Huff-Mosley Memorial Stadium last Friday with a potent passing attack.
While Gilmer High came out ahead on the stat sheet, it was quarterback Nick Hanson’s accuracy and the Generals’ big-play ability that allowed them to come out ahead on the scoreboard.
Heritage led from wire to wire, and while Gilmer was able to cut the deficit to a touchdown in the first and second halves, the Generals extended their lead each time and won, 35-22.
GHS head coach Kevin Saunders knew the Bobcats were in for a challenge, but they did not back down.
“Heritage has the best offensive and defensive lines we’ve seen all year,” he said. “I thought that’s where we might struggle, but for the most part, our kids competed really well. They played hard and tough and were physical, but the better team won tonight.”
All five of the Generals’ touchdown plays were over 22 yards, which included three passes and two runs. Hanson completed 13-of-20 attempts for 241 yards.
“That’s the best team in the region,” Saunders said. “We made them earn stuff, but we can’t give up the big plays. We have to get better with our (pass) coverages. We just have to keep getting better, and we’ve gotten better from week to week.”
Sophomore Kobe Stonecipher was the Bobcats’ workhorse. The 140-pound wingback continually slipped through the line and broke tackles en route to 169 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 attempts.
“Our weight program is really starting to kick in,” Saunders said. “Our backs don’t usually get tackled for losses and we’re moving piles and falling forward. We play with intensity and just have to keep getting better. I was encouraged by the effort and intensity tonight.”
Heritage scored touchdowns on its first two possessions and converted 3-of-3 third downs in the process.
The Generals’ first scoring drive covered 80 yards on five plays. Hanson completed 3-of-5 passes for 60 yards. His last pass was a 42-yard strike to receiver Logan Lowe.
HHS changed it up on its next drive, opting for six rushes and two passes. The 62-yard possession concluded when Gabe Ogle took a draw play 25 yards to paydirt.
Heritage went for two, and the successful conversion gave them a 15-0 lead with 4:45 to play in the opening quarter.
The Bobcats were forced to punt on their first two possessions.
The Generals’ third drive gained 7 yards to their 43, and they attempted to catch GHS off guard with a fake punt on fourth down. However, the Bobcats made the tackle short of the yard HHS needed, and Gilmer took over at the Generals’ 45.
Stonecipher ran for 12 yards and a first down to begin the drive. GHS faced third down and 11 three players later, and Stonecipher picked up 15 yards to the 19-yard line.
After a short setback, quarterback Spenser Smith completed a 17-yard pass to Gray McClure for first and goal at the 4.
Smith took a quarterback sneak into the end zone on second down to cap the 7-play drive.
GHS recovered the ensuing kickoff after Heritage could not field it cleanly. Gilmer’s offense was back on the field just 29 yards from the end zone, but Smith was intercepted on third down.
Heritage began its third trip to the end zone from its 21. It took seven plays and Hanson connected with Lowe for a 28-yard touchdown.
The point after gave HHS a 22-7 lead, and the score did not change over the remaining 4:04 of the first half.
The teams traded punts to begin the third quarter. When GHS got the ball back, its second scoring drive started at Heritage’s 46.
Stonecipher accounted for all of Gilmer’s offense on the drive, and after he rushed for 7 yards on first down, a face mask penalty gave GHS an additional 15 yards and a fresh set of downs at the 24.
Following an incompletion, Stonecipher rushed consecutively, and his last carry spanned 7 yards and across the goal line for a touchdown. He also walked into the end zone on the two-point conversion as the Generals’ lead was cut to 22-15 four minutes into the second half.
The Cats’ defense forced Heritage’s second punt, and GHS took over at its 29. Gilmer gained two first downs and crossed midfield to Heritage’s 45. But on third and eight, Smith’s pass was tipped in the secondary and intercepted.
HHS started at midfield before the teams swapped 15-yard penalties on the drive. Heritage cashed in its fourth touchdown on the drive’s fifth play when Hanson completed a 24-yard pass to Lowe.
The extra point pushed Heritage’s lead to 29-15 in the final minute of the third quarter.
GHS was forced to punt, and the Generals’ final scoring drive started at its 43. The 5-play possession ended when running back Paxton McCrary ran 22 yards through the middle of Gilmer’s defense and shed two tacklers in the secondary.
Following the missed extra point and with 7:33 left in the game, GHS trailed, 35-15.
On its next scoring drive, the Bobcats got a boost from senior wingback Donnie Ledford, who rushed for 55 yards on three carries. He advanced Gilmer deep into HHS territory with a 45-yard jaunt to set up the Cats at the 15.
Four plays later, Ledford took a first-down hand-off 4 yards and into the end zone.
Adolfo Bautista’s third successful extra point trimmed Heritage’s lead to 35-22 with 3:31 on the clock.
GHS forced Heritage’s third punt of the night, but Smith was intercepted on Gilmer’s last-ditch scoring effort as time expired.
The loss was Gilmer’s fourth straight to Heritage. The 13-point differential was Gilmer’s closest defeat over that span. In the previous three meetings combined, Heritage outscored GHS 131-23.
“We are really good on offense, and if we cut down on the big plays (we allow), our kids will have a chance to do some things,” Saunders said. “I’m really proud of the way we played. We were prepared and I can’t complain about anything. Our future looks really good.”
The Bobcats will continue their Region 6-4A schedule when they travel to Northwest Whitfield (5-2) Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.