ROGERS — As a first-year program, Rogers Heritage was beat up a lot last year in the 7A-West Conference.

The War Eagles looked like the bullies Friday.

Heritage beat Fayetteville 49-20 in Gates Stadium to claim third place and a home game in the Class 7A playoffs against Little Rock Catholic next week.

"We've got a good football team and I think we've proven that all the way through our conference," Heritage coach Perry Escalante said. "The kids played very well tonight. Other than one mistake (on defense) I think we pretty much shut them down."

The War Eagles (8-2, 5-2) piled up 469 yards and bullied Fayetteville on defense, pressuring junior quarterback Brandon Allen and breaking up passes all over the field.

Heritage scored 28 unanswered points and triggered the mercy-rule running clock early in the fourth quarter.

Junior running back Zac Stewart, who finished with 191 yards, broke free in the third quarter for his second long touchdown run of the game and Grant Driver added a 40-yard interception return off a tipped pass on third-and-long.

The Bulldogs never passed midfield during the third quarter, punting three times and giving up two interceptions.

Travis Entwisle's second touchdown of the game -- a 24-yard pass from junior quarterback Brandon Allen -- gave Heritage a 49-12 lead with 11 minutes left.

The Bulldogs just (5-4-1, 4-3) never got going.

"It was a disappointing game," Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. "Give all the credit to Rogers Heritage. I didn't have (my team) prepared. I tried to build this game up and didn't get across to them."

Allen completed 22 of 44 passes for 268 but was intercepted twice. Michael Heintzman led the Bulldogs with four catches for 93 yards.

Fayetteville will host Conway (4-6, 3-4) next week. Conway beat Catholic (5-5, 2-5) 35-28 on Thursday to claim the 7A-Central's fifth seed.

Heritage set the tone with a score on its opening drive, then added touchdowns on three straight second-quarter possessions for a 28-12 halftime lead.

The last was a 60-yard run by Stewart.

Heritage's defense was solid in the first half, holding Fayetteville to two field goals and a long touchdown.

Fayetteville's first touchdown came when Heintzman escaped a tackle for an 80-yard touchdown, one play after Driver pushed Heritage's lead to 21-6 with a catch in the back of the end zone.

Driver finished with five catches for 95 yards and Entwisle had 10 for 89 yards.

Heritage also broke up Demetrius Dean's pass out of the Wildcat formation to Allen on fourth down in the first quarter.

Driver sprung free for a 46-yard gain during the ensuing 12-play, 96-yard drive that was capped by Stewart's 7-yard run for a 14-3 lead.

Stewart ended the half with a 60-yard rushing score, popping through the line and outrunning the Bulldog defense for a 28-12 lead.

Brown completed all four of his passes on the War Eagles' opening drive, including a 14-yard touchdown to Entwisle while escaping Fayetteville's pressure.

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thw4242 says...

Great Teams win football games. Heritage is playing great team football. Keep "Believing" Heritage!!

November 7, 2009 at 11:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )