Morrow Leads Heritage to 16th Straight Victory, 34-21

Heritage High quarterback Brett Virgil looks to pass during the Patriots' win over Elsinore.

No one is saying the Heritage High School football team is perfect, even though its record for the last season and a half would certainly suggest so. But the Patriots showed once again Friday night that they have more than enough to get the job done.

Battling an Elsinore High team that boasts a diverse and powerful offense, Heritage survived several penalties and an early 7-0 deficit to defeat the Tigers, 34-21, in the Sunbelt League opener for both teams.

Senior running back Isaiah Morrow (right) rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns, including a huge insurance score in the final minutes, to help keep the Patriots undefeated this season at 6-0. Jalen Glover (83-yard run, 63-yard pass reception) and quarterback Brett Virgil (22-yard run) also contributed to the scoring, while the defense held off Elsinore long enough to ensure the victory.

Heritage hasn't lost a football game since Sept. 20, 2013, when the Patriots were defeated by Great Oak, 43-40. Since then, Heritage has a 16-game winning streak -- longest current streak in the state. But of course, coach Kraig Broach doesn't want to hear anything about that.

He's simply enjoying watching his players perform, week after week.

"We're a young team, but they're great kids ... and what an effort tonight," Broach said. "They're a young team and they're just playing through things. They're making it very fun this year with their attitude."

Morrow's 3-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter gave Heritage a 28-14 lead, but Elsinore (0-1, 3-3) wasn't finished. On the first possession of the fourth quarter, the Tigers drove 56 yards, scoring on a 10-yard pass from quarterback Matt Morones to tight end Jacob Moore. That closed the gap to 28-21 and Heritage started its next drive on its own 5-yard line.

A 51-yard run by Morrow soon helped give them good field position, however, and just a few plays later, Morrow was back in the end zone, running 11 yards for the score that put the game away.

"We have the ball at the 5 or so and that drive, how huge," Broach said. "Isaiah just found a way to get things done. He had that big run, then he needed a quick breather, then he popped one for about 15. That's what you need from your seniors, right there."

Morrow said the Patriots' never-say-die attitude has become something of a theme this year. Two weeks ago, they fought back from a 14-0 fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Etiwanda, 15-14.

"I'm loving it," Morrow said about this season. "I feel honored just to be on this team. We never give up and we're always executing. Do your job and everything else will fall into place."

Brett Virgil looks back and realizes no one is going to stop him from scoring in the first half Friday night.