By Jessica Brooks
Staff WriterINDIANAPOLIS – Class 2A #5 Heritage Christian rallied from a 21-7 deficit late in the first half via its running game Nov. 14 to pull out a 27-21 victory over host Speedway in a Regional 15 war.
The Sparkplugs outplayed the Eagles in the first half, tallying 191 rushing yards. With Heritage Christian (12-1) trailing by those two touchdowns late in the second quarter, coach Ron Qualls told his team to go for it on 4th and 17 from their own 44-yard line. Quarterback Jackson Kirtley hit James Houck dead-on for a 20-yard gain, and Michael Briener caught a Kirtley pass for a 10-yard touchdown soon after to cut the lead to 21-14 at the break.
After the half, the play of both teams' defenses intensified. With 5:52 left in the third quarter, the Eagles tied it up at 21 on a 15-play, 78-yard drive when Kirtley (18 for 28 passing for 274 yards) scored on a four-yard touchdown run.
When Speedway (9-4) tried to respond, Heritage Christian's defense stopped the Sparkplugs on downs inside the Eagles' 30. Speedway again approached the Eagles' 30 in the fourth quarter, but this time the 'Plugs fumbled.
Heritage Christian recovered, and three plays later Tommy Eggleston caught a 51-yard Kirtley pass for a touchdown. That dagger gave the Eagles their first lead of the game with 5:48 left to play.
In the final two minutes of the game, Speedway ran seven plays inside the Eagles' 6-yard line. Several opportunities escaped them, including an overthrow by Speedway's Jonny West on 1st and goal from the 3 after an Eagles penalty. Heritage Christian's defense withstood the pressure and, with only five seconds left in the game, Breiner intercepted a West pass intended for Kyle Linville.
The victory was especially meaningful for Heritage Christian's Max Russell, whose father passed away early Wednesday morning at age 49. Russell was awarded the game ball following the win.
The Eagles, the 2A state runner-up last season to Fort Wayne Luers, will host No. 11 Brownstown (11-1) in the 2A southern semistate next weekend.
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