Balanced Attack is Key to Heritage's 37-16 Win Over Beaumont

Limihai Hifo races downfield for a long gain on a pass reception in Heritage's win over Beaumont on Friday.

The Heritage High School football team did a little bit of everything in its 37-16 victory over Beaumont High in the Patriots' first home game of the season Friday night.

The rushing attack took control from the start, led by Jamal Morrow (128 yards rushing) and Limihai Hifo (10 carries, 130 yards). Quarterback Mat Bradshaw, starting only his third varsity game, passed for 76 yards and a touchdown and ran the offense capably.

A small but aggressive offensive line paved the way for the running game all night. And on defense, the Patriots recovered a fumble, came up with some key sacks and allowed only three points in the first half.

As a result, Heritage remains undefeated at 3-0 and the Patriots seem to be building confidence with each victory.

"It was nice, especially early on, to do some different things," said Coach Kraig Broach, who was able to look at more facets of his offense and more second-string players. "I like the development of Mat at quarterback, and the offensive line, for a bunch of guys who are like 5-9 and 200, they work their tails off."

Specifically, Broach praised the work of linemen Matt Rodts, Levi Davison and Caleb Marquez, who were able to control the line of scrimmage well enough for Heritage to dominate throughout the contest.

In addition to his 128 yards and one touchdown rushing, Morrow returned the opening kickoff of the second half 98 yards for a TD. Taking the football on one bounce at the 2-yard line, he raced down the left sideline and beat the Cougar defense to the opposite end zone.

On Heritage's first possession of the game, Morrow burst through a hole in the right side of the line and raced 52 yards for a touchdown. Moments later, following a fumble recovery, Heritage scored again on a 1-yard TD pass from Bradshaw to Darius Allensworth.

Heritage took a 20-3 lead just before halftime on a 1-yard run by Hifo, and Morrow's kickoff return at the start of the second half basically put the game out of reach.

Jamal Morrow, who had 226 all-purpose yards, heads upfield on a run in the second quarter Friday.