Coming off a big win against the Southridge Raiders, the Gibson Southern Titan football team defeated Heritage Hills Patriots 31-28 on Friday, Sept. 22.
The Titans started on offense, which ended up stalling out after eight previous plays. This was not a common theme for the Titan’s offense. The Patriots then had a couple of big plays, which led to a three-yard touchdown run by junior Jett Goldsberry. This gave the Patriots a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.
“Starting in the second quarter, we dominated,” senior defensive tackle Brayten Reinhart said.
After a few mishaps on offense, this put the Titans to punt once more. The returnist for the Patriots muffed the ball, and Titan Connor Wirey made the recovery at the Patriots 42-yard line. On the first play of the drive, the Titans threw an interception to a Patriot defender.
This next drive by the Patriots ended quickly and forced the punt. The Titans later drove down the field and into the endzone from a 35-yard touchdown from senior quarterback Tanner Boyd to junior Seth Parsons. Kicker Cam Novotny hit the extra point to tie the game 7-7 at the close of the first.
The Titans defense was crucial throughout the entire game, as they hemmed in the strong Patriots offense to only seven points through the first half. In the start of the second quarter, Boyd ran into the endzone for a five-yard touchdown run. After a couple changes of possession, the Titans once again ended up with the ball in their hands late in the second quarter. After driving into the red-zone, Boyd once again connected with one of his weapons on offense, this time it was senior running back Sean Delong, which made the game 21-7.
“The offensive line played decently in the first half, just too many mistakes,” Titan offensive lineman Kylin Eads said.
To open the second half, the Titans came out the gate hot. The defense allowed one first down before forcing another punt. The Titan’s offense was stopped without much time off the clock. The Patriots had the football back and drove down the field to miss a field goal, then give the ball up at the 20 yard line.
After a few changes of possession the Titans had the ball back deep in their own side of the field. Not long after, Delong ripped off a lengthy 95-yard touchdown.
“I think we were picture perfect,” Eads said. “The difference between a big play and a touchdown were the wide receivers.”
Although the Titans were up heading into the fourth quarter, the Patriots offense was not ready to back down. They drove down the field, and then capitalized on a 11-yard passing touchdown from Goldsberry to Meredith. The extra point then made it 28-14. The Titans got the ball back in great position and drove down the field with the clock on their minds. This led to a nine-yard field goal to bring the score to 31-14.
The Patriots were still fired up, although there was less than four minutes on the clock. They then hit on a big play to put them at the five-yard line. Goldsberry then once again hit his favorite target, Meredith, for the passing touchdown. This play held them in the game, making the score a tight 31-21.
The Titans had some urgency to take time off the clock and drew it low enough, but the Patriots had just enough time to develop a drive. Goldsberry then threw a 40 yard touchdown pass to sophomore Tyler Rexer, which made the game 31-28. After the score, they then tried an onside kick, which failed. The Titans recovered the ball and then set into victory formation.
The Titans held onto a big game inside conference play, which improved them to 4-2 on the season, and 2-0 in the Pocket Athletic Conference. The Titans will next travel to Washington High School for their week seven game.
