Citrus Hill Dominates Play in 29-10 Win Over Heritage

Heritage defensive back Jayden Dawson (5) closes in on Citrus Hill running back Devin Floyd Friday night. Photos by Kristi Jo Aguirre of kristijophotography.com

By Daniel Millhouse

With not only the CIF football title at stake, but its undefeated season as well, Heritage High School battled against Citrus Hill of Perris for the Inland Division championship Friday night.

Featuring a tough line on both sides of the ball, the Hawks of Citrus Hill (13-2) were able to put a stop to the normally dominant running game of the Patriots (13-1) and defeat Heritage, 29-10.

"They’re (Citrus Hill) a great football team and they beat a great team (Heritage)," Heritage coach Kraig Broach said after the game.

The tone of the game was set early when senior Aleva Hifo took the opening kickoff and ran it to the Heritage 31-yard line, only to be stripped of the ball, which was recovered by a Citrus Hill special teams player.

The Hawks struck right away, scoring in less than 90 seconds when senior running back Devin Floyd ran the ball in for a 9-yard touchdown, giving him his 25th touchdown of the season and his team an early 7-0 lead.

Even with the quick score, the Patriots did not let it affect their game plan. They took control of the game with a mixture of clock control and running. Possessing the ball for five and a half minutes already with the ball on the Hawks’ 29-yard line, they decided to go for it on fourth and seven. Quarterback Brett Virgil rolled right and hit a leaping Hifo, but the ball came loose before he hit the ground when he was hit by a Citrus Hill defensive back.

With a strong running game of it own, Citrus Hill took to the ground, pushing the ball downfield and into the red zone. The Hawks' five-minute drive resulted in a 6-yard touchdown run by senior all-purpose back Dumar Fisher for a 14-0 lead.

Later in the second quarter, Citrus Hill attempted to run a double reverse play, but lost it when receiver Michael Tobin couldn’t control the second handoff in the play from Floyd. Defensive back Jayden Dawson recovered the loose ball for the Patriots and gave them possession on Citrus Hill’s 42-yard line.

Two minutes later, the Patriots were faced with another fourth-down situation. With fourth and seven on the Hawks’ 39-yard line, the Patriots were determined not to let the turnover go to waste. Virgil hit Hifo for a 30-yard pass to keep the drive alive.

Eventually the Patriots had to settle for a 26-yard field goal by senior kicker Tyler Baca to give his team its first points of the night, 14-3.

Heritage was able to get the ball back before the end of the half with less than a minute left on the clock. Looking to make a big pass to put his team down by only one score, Virgil looked down field for an open receiver, but lost control of the ball, which was recovered by Citrus Hill linebacker Karriem Madison with seven seconds left on the Heritage 19-yard line.

This set up Citrus Hill for a 42-yard field goal by junior kicker Manny Berz to give his team a 17-3 lead and Heritage’s worst first-half performance of the season.

The Patriots and Hawks started the second half with back-to-back three and outs.

With some momentum on their side, the Patriots were able to contain Floyd and the Hawks’ running game, holding them to 3 points on a 38-yard field by Berz, putting the score at 20-3.

The Patriots, faced with another fourth-down play with seconds left in the third quarter, decided to go for it for a third time in the game. With the ball on their own-45 yard line, Heritage ran a double reverse pass. Dodging the oncoming rush of the defensive line, Hifo tossed the ball to senior tight end Andreas Henry, who could only get back to the line of scrimmage, giving the ball back to Citrus Hill.

The Heritage defense stood strong, forcing the Hawks to punt after a three and out. Unfortunately, the punt by Berz put the Patriots on their own 4-yard line.

After being held to their own three and out, the Patriots were forced to punt the ball. Standing along the back of the end zone, Hifo, who also punts for the Patriots, waited for the snap from long snapper Albert Sumaya. The snap flew above Hifo’s head and out the back of the end zone, giving Citrus Hill 2 more points due to a safety, Citrus Hill had a 22-3 lead with 9:54 left in the game.

With 5:09 left in the game, after another strong stop by the Heritage defense, Virgil was able to connect with Hifo for the duo’s final touchdown together, for a 22-yard touchdown that put the score at 22-10.

The Hawks recovered an attempted onside by Baca, but could not take advantage of the good field possession. Led by a tackle behind the line of scrimmage by sophomore defensive lineman Parker Brenner, the Patriots defense once again held Citrus Hill to another three and out.

With the momentum slowly swinging Heritage’s way, the Patriots started with the ball on their own 12-yard line with 3:37 left in the game.

Evading the rush of the Citrus Hill defensive line, Virgil looked downfield for a receiver, but couldn’t find one. Instead, he tried to pitch the ball behind as he was being brought down. With no one in the line of the pitch, the ball was loose on the 4-yard line, but recovered by Henry for an 8-yard loss.

On the same possession, Virgil threw the ball downfield searching for a first down to keep the drive alive, but was picked off by senior Skyler Thomas.

The last score of the game came while Citrus Hill was working on trying to work the clock down in the final minute of the game. With 46 seconds left, Fisher broke through the line for a 46-yard touchdown run for his second touchdown of the game and 16th of the season, putting the nail in the coffin of a stellar season by Heritage High School.

Notable performances include Hifo’s 7 receptions for 144 yards receiving, including 1 touchdown, and the entire Heritage defense, which held Citrus Hill’s running game to 148 yards total on 49 carries.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, they were held to only 22 yards rushing in the second half, which is normally their strength.

"We just got defeated by a good, strong team," said senior defensive lineman Quentin Asberry. "We tried, but we couldn’t prevail."

Broach was noticeably emotional after the completion of the game. He had built a close relationship with all his players, especially the outgoing senior class.

"One of the great parts and sad parts of coaching high school, you watch young boys grow up to be young men and then they move on," he said.

Heritage linemen Brendon Sandoval (73) and Gilbert Hernandez (53) lead the way for teammate Aleva Hifo Friday night.

Devin Floyd tries to get past the Heritage defense in Friday's championship game.