After Building a Big Lead, Heritage Triumphs Again, 34-16

Running back Jalen Glover outruns the pack for a 20-yard gain in the second quarter of Heritage High's win over La Quinta Thursday night. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

It's been an unusual week for the Heritage High School football team.

First there was the Labor Day holiday, which was a factor in the practice schedule, as was the oppressive heat and freak thunderstorms. Then on Thursday morning, already scheduled to play a day earlier than they're used to, the Patriots learned that their new artificial surface wasn't yet suitable for play for their home opener against La Quinta. Hours before kickoff, the game was moved to Perris High School.

One constant remained, however. Heritage won again, as it has in 62 of its last 69 games dating back to the start of the 2010 season. It wasn't a flawless victory -- a failed fake punt play and a lost fumble among the mistakes -- but in the end, the Patriots once again had more weapons and more success than the other team, scoring a 34-16 victory over the Blackhawks.

Photo at right: Heritage linebacker Caros Vargas takes down La Quinta QB Michael Avina.

The Patriots have been incredibly consistent in terms of points scored and points allowed in their 3-0 start to the season. They have won by scores of 35-13, 35-14 and 34-16. This one was 27-3 at one point early in the third quarter, however. Two key mistakes by Heritage and persistent offensive play by La Quinta made it closer by the end.

Seconds after a Logan Prescott 33-yard field goal for La Quinta cut the deficit to 27-6 late in the third quarter, a fumble by the Patriots' Aleva Hifo was recovered by the Blackhawks on the Heritage 20, leading to a 3-yard scoring run by running back Ricky Vargas, making the score 27-13. Then early in the fourth quarter, after a run by Hifo on a fake punt came up short, Prescott kicked another field goal to cut the deficit to 27-16.

That's as close as the visitors got, however. Heritage quarterback Brett Virgil capped off the scoring with a 28-yard touchdown run with 7:20 left. That, and the cushion provided by an offense led by Hifo and running back Jalen Glover in the first half, made the difference.

"La Quinta historically, they're a tough team to play," Heritage coach Kraig Broach said after the game. "When you make mistakes, they're going to make it a ballgame. But on the positive note, after that fake punt failed, the defense held them to a field goal and our offense decided to win the game. That's a growing step for us.

"I hope it's something we can grow from and capitalize on. Yes, I think we left some points on the drawing board. You're frustrated at the mistakes, but at the same time, to get a win against a good team like La Quinta, I'll take that."

It didn't take long for Heritage to take control of the game. On their first offensive series, the Patriots took the lead on an 18-yard touchdown run by Glover. That followed a 28-yard pass from Virgil to Hifo (left), who was a factor in several different ways.

On the next possession, the Heritage defense forced a failed field goal attempt by La Quinta, giving the Patriots the ball on their own 20-yard line to start their second drive. On the first play, the Patriots lined up with three men wide to the right side. Virgil threw the ball to Hifo right at the line of scrimmage, and following the other two as blockers, he raced 80 yards for a touchdown.

"Brett was joking that he threw an 80-yard touchdown bomb," Broach said with a smile. "Actually, CJ Newman and Javier Luna did a good job of stock blocking. The other stuff on that play, you can't coach. Aleva is pretty fun to watch once he gets the ball."

Virgil was happy with the victory but acknowledged that improvement is needed for the Patriots, who play at West Valley in Hemet next Friday.

"We got the W, but we didn't play to our ability," Virgil said. "We're winning, but we need to get it all together."

The Heritage defensive front stacks up a La Quinta ballcarrier for no gain in the first quarter.

Heritage defensive lineman Quentin Asberry (47) sacks La Quinta quarterback Michael Avina.

Running back Javier Luna picks up 18 yards in the third quarter, setting up a Heritage touchdown.