Heritage has a tough time in 56-6 loss to Orange Vista

By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Heritage High football team fell 56-6 to the Orange Vista Coyotes Friday night in their third league game, remaining winless on the season.

After a fumble on the first play of the game, the Coyotes were in easy position to score in four quick plays from the 22-yard line.

Following that touchdown, all but two Orange Vista possessions in the first half finished with a touchdown. The two possessions on which they did not capitalize were stopped by Heritage interceptions by Isaac Sandoval and Javan Mills.

Freshman quarterback Trey Gamble started the game for the Patriots and played the first quarter, in which the team gained just 13 total yards. Senior Ernest Haro took over for the second quarter, when Heritage added just four more yards to that total.

By that time, Orange Vista had scored 56 points with only one of their possessions starting beyond the 50-yard line. In total in the first half, the Coyotes outgained the Patriots, 237-17.

After what seemed like a well-needed break for Heritage during halftime, the Patriots came out with a defensive stop, with Julian Pulido blocking a punt from the 46 -ard line. Then Gamble came back to throw and outgained the team’s previous half of yardage in just one drive, ending in an 11-yard touchdown catch from senior Akillis Sio. That would end up being the last touchdown for either team during the game.

Sio said although his team lost, he is still happy to be playing football with them.

“No matter the sore, as long as I get to be playing with my brothers, that’s what makes me happy,” Sio said. “I love this game. No matter the record or how many times we lose, we’re still going to play. We play for [the community], we play for ourselves, we play for our families.”

Head coach Andre Smith said Sio’s love for the game makes him a reliable leader for the team.

“I wish I had 22 Akillis Sio’s to play for me,” said Smith. “You can bank on his effort all the time. This was his second game back after being out for two weeks, so I’m glad he had that touchdown.”

With that touchdown drive, the Patriots had 32 total yards in the second half, while the Coyotes had 61, a number partially explained by the running clock rule for the second half.

This loss, although it continues a losing streak of eight for the Patriots, is part of growing pains that Smith said is just part of the game—a part he is trying to learn from and teach his team the same lessons.

“You’ve got to have a growth mindset,” Smith said. “It’s tough, but you’re going to get our best and our staff’s best every week. Last year we graduated 22 guys and only one of our guys is an all-league returner, so we’re all learning and you’ve got to be positive; it’s all you can do. Monday at practice, I told the guys, we start with a clean slate.”

With two games left in the season, Smith is hoping that clean slate will pay off. He and his team will face Rancho Verde at home next Friday at 7 p.m.