Heritage junior varsity gets first win of 2012 season
The Cougar JV got back on the winning track with a good performance on both sides of the football in a 26-12 road win over Smoky Mountain in Sylva Thursday night.
Heritage dominated field position throughout the game and kept the Mustangs out of the end zone for most of the first half to construct a 26-6 halftime lead.
The Cougars won the toss and struck quickly to grab the advantage. Heritage quarterback Avery Austin capped a 12 play 58 yard march with a 2 yard keeper to put the Cougars up early. Eddie Magana drilled the PAT and Heritage led 7-0 with 5:52 left in the first quarter.
Joey Brown was the workhorse on the opening drive, carrying the rock five times including a key pickup on third and one from the Mustang 28 to keep the scoring march alive.
A booming kick by Magana pinned Smoky Mountain at their own 17 yard line to start the game and the Heritage D promptly forced the Mustangs three and out.
Heritage gained good field position at the 41 following the Mustang punt and the Cougars wasted no time padding their lead when Austin zipped a short pass to EJ Ochoa who out ran the Mustang defense 32 yard to the end zone to put the Cougars in front 13-0.
Smoky Mountain again began their possession deep in their own territory and on first down Heritage took advantage when Isaish Rose stepped in front of a pass intended for a Mustang receiver and returned the pick to the Smoky 36 yard line.
With strong runs by Joey Brown and Ryan Meadows, the Cougars were able to drive to the Mustang 11 where they faced a 4^th down and 2. Dalton Cannon got the call on 4^th down and after he picked up the first down to the Smoky two yard line, Ryan Meadows finished off the drive with a tough run off tackle. Magana’s kick allowed the Cougars to build a comfortable lead at the intermission.
After the Cougar score, lighting caused a thirty minute delay in the action. When the game resumed the Mustangs put together their only scoring drive of the first half, going 65 yards in seven plays to give them some hope.
Heritage (1-1) continued to enjoy great field position and the Cougars were able to tack on another score just before the break when Avery Austin spotted an open Ryan Meadows open in the end zone for an 11 yard score. Heritage led 26-6 at the intermission.
The Mustangs were able to tack on another score in the third quarter but the Cougars shut Smoky Mountain out of the end zone in the 4^th quarter to come away with their first win of the season.
The Cougars have an open date on their schedule this week but will resume play on September 6 when they travel to North Buncombe for their final non-conference game of the season.

David Grindstaff
david@wkyk.com