Heritage can't make up big deficit, loses opener, 41-30

Heritage High made an admirable rally in the second half after falling behind 35-6, but the host Steele Canyon Cougars had too much firepower on offense and scored a 41-30 victory in a nonleague football season opener Friday night.

Senior running back Major Givens was the offensive star for the home team, which jumped out to a 21-0 lead in building an advantage the Patriots couldn’t overtake. That, and a defense led by linebacker Michael Lindley, put Steele Canyon in a position to dominate the game.

“Their running back is super special,” said Heritage coach Andre Smith. “We’re going to have to play four quarters to do a better job. We’re inexperienced all over, but we got some experience tonight.”

Heritage’s standout player was senior halfback Akillis Sio, who ran 65 yards for a touchdown and caught touchdown passes of 45 and 21 yards. He and teammate Angelo Serena also had big gains in a drive that set up a field goal by Isaac Ahmed in the first half.

Serena ran 2 yards for the Patriots’ final score late in the game.

“He’s a ballplayer,” Smith said about Sio. “He’s a returning all-league player who’s really a jack of all trades. He’s going to be featured in our offense this year.”

On defense, Heritage coaches praised the play of senior cornerback Jacob Barrera Jones.

The Patriots play their home opener next Thursday against San Jacinto.