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yanceysports.Heritage quarterback Trevor Robinson threw for two touchdowns and reached the 1000 yard barrier passing the football to help lead the Cougars to an upset win over Thomas Jefferson Academy in the annual Homecoming game at E.L. Briggs Stadium Friday night.
Robinson passed for 128 yards, completing 9 of 13 throws and ran for another 111 yards to lead the Cougars (2-5, 1-3) past the Gryphons (6-2, 2-2) in a 54-36 offensive shootout in Western Highlands Conference play.Robinson had plenty of help. Senior Lucas King scored three touchdowns including a 79 yard kickoff return, while rushing for 106 yards and junior Dalton Robinson rushed for 109 yards and scored a touchdown as the Cougars had their best rushing performance of the season with 357 yards on the ground as a team.
The Heritage running back by committee approach overruled the Gryphons one man show as the Cougars found a way to keep Thomas Jefferson’s double threat quarterback Mac Martin, who came into the game with over 800 yards passing and another 750 yards rushing, out of the end zone when they had too.
Martin had a hand in all five Gryphon touchdowns but in the 4th quarter when it counted the Cougars shut Thomas Jefferson out.
The Gryphons took their opening possession of the game and moved 62 yards to quickly grab an 8-0 lead on a two yard Mac Martin run and two point conversion run by Mason Martin.
Lucas King got the Cougars off on the right foot with a great kickoff return to midfield and with the running of Dalton Robinson, Trevor Robinson, and King, Heritage pulled to within two points of the Gryphons on a hard-nosed two yard run by Drew Hoilman.
The Gryphons added to their lead when they got the ball back as Mac Martin broke off his longest run of the night, a 59 yard scamper for a score that put TJ in front 15-6.
Starting from the Cougar 49 after another good kickoff return, this time by Dalton Robinson, Heritage set out on an eight yard scoring march that ended with a Robinson to Jake McClellan 24 yard TD pass and catch. Trevor Robinson added the two points after and Heritage was back in the race trailing 15-14 in the first quarter.
After forcing a Gryphon punt the Cougars went to work and grabbed the lead for good. Heritage stayed on the ground and covered 65 yards to score on a one yard plunge by Lucas King. King also caught the two point pass from Robinson and Heritage enjoyed its first lead of the game.
The Cougar advantage would grow to 28-15 after the defense stepped up and forced another Thomas Jefferson punt. After the defensive stand, Heritage strung together seven plays and moved 72 yards, covering the final 27 on a hookup between Robinson and Drew Hoilman.
Thomas Jefferson threatened on their ensuing possession, moving all the way to the Cougar 11 yard line before a bone jarring hit by Daulton Buchanan knocked the football loose giving Heritage possession near the goal line.
On first down the Gryphon defense caught Trevor Robinson in the end zone for a safety to give Thomas Jefferson two points and new life.
The Gryphons trimmed the Cougar lead to back to five points at the break with a score with only four seconds remaining in the first half after getting the football at the TJ 25 following the Heritage free kick.
The Cougars kept the pressure up in the third quarter when Lucas King showed his speed when he took second half opening kick to the house. His 79 yard return, together with Eddie Magna’s PAT gave the Cougars some breathing room at 35-23.
The Gryphons answered with a Martin three yard TD run to cut into the Cougar lead early in the third quarter.
On the next Heritage possession a third down catch by Zack Brown and a fourth down conversion grab by Daulton Buchanan kept the Cougar scoring march alive and MHHS increased its lead to 41-30 on a 23 yard touchdown run by King.
But the Gryphons, who will leave the Western Highlands Conference after this season, made it know that they would not roll over and the Gryphons were able to cut the Cougar lead back to 41-36 following a 73 yard bomb from Martin to Efrim Borders midway through the third quarter.
But another strong run by Dalton Robinson put the icing on the victory cake for the Cougars. The junior running back capped an 83 yard drive with an 18 yard TD run to add to the Heritage lead.
Heritage put the finishing touches on their first league win of the season with a 9-play 81-yard time consuming drive in the 4th quarter. Drew Hoilman got the touchdown on a short run and the Cougar defense did the rest holding the high powered Gryphons scoreless in the final 12 minutes of play in the 54-36 victory.
The Cougars must keep the momentum flowing if they expect to have a shot at the 2A playoffs, with Mitchell (1-7, 0-4), Avery (2-6, 0-4) and Madison (7-1, 3-1) remaining on their schedule.
Heritage will travel to Mitchell this week where a win over the Mountaineers would go a long way in making 2012 a successful season on the gridiron for the Cougars.
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