Home > Forums

[Lynn Burke]

Heritage's 2nd half subdues Menchville
By Dan Maher | Correspndent

NEWPORT NEWS — Heritage’s Richard Anthony wanted to see some fire on the Hurricanes’ sideline after a µlackluster first half against Menchville Friday night at Todd Stadium. When he fielded the opening kickoff of the second half, he had a chance to ignite a spark.

Sixteen seconds later Anthony µcelebrated in the end zone after his 94-yard touchdown return snapped a tie and broke up a 31-6 Heritage rout.

“I told coach that I was gonna take the kickoff back, but I think he thought I was joking,” said Anthony.

“Everything was µgoing wrong and we didn’t have any intensity level in the first half, but in the second half we went from like 10% to 120%.”

Anthony ran for 107 of his game-high 176 rushing yards and tossed a touchdown pass in the second half to seal the win.

Both teams started sloppily, trading turnovers in the first quarter.

Menchville capitalized first when it converted a fumble recovery by Don-L Whitehead into a scoring opportunity.

With 11:31 remaining in the second quarter, Odis Wesby µfinished off a three play drive, punching the ball in for a 5-yard TD run and a 6-0 Monarchs lead.

Heritage responded immediately with a 53-yard scoring drive, capped off by Anthony’s determined 27-yard touchdown run. After being hit at the 5-yard line, he carried two Menchville defenders the rest of the way into the end zone.

“This is his money year,” Hurricanes coach Jason Robinson said of his standout senior tailback’s effort.

“He can’t afford to slack off. He puts a lot of positive pressure on himself.”

On the ensuing drive after Anthony’s game-breaking kick-off return, Menchville QB Steve Crisp threw an off-balance µshovel pass directly into the arms of Hurricanes linebacker David Searcy, who returned it 13 yards for a touchdown and a 19-6 advantage.

Heritage capped a 19-point third-quarter explosion and iced the game when Anthony took a fourth-down pitchout and launched a 32-yard TD pass to Demetrius Craighead over a stunned Menchville defense.

Menchville backup quarterback Marc Centeio had to be carted off the field on a stretcher after a jarring hit with five minutes remaining in the game.

Heritage starting QB Lawrence Turner hobbled off the field on crutches after suffering a serious ankle injury just before the end of the third quarter.

HERITAGE 31, MENCHVILLE 6
Men 0 6 0 0 — 6
Her 0 6 19 6 — 31

M – Wesby 5 run (kick failed)
H – Anthony 27 run (run failed)
H – Anthony 94 kickoff return (Anderson kick)
H – Searcy 13 interception return (kick failed)
H – Craighead 32 pass from Anthony (run failed)
H – Malone 14 run (run failed)
Men Her
First downs 6 12
Rushes-yards 30-46 43-237
Passing yards 16 46
Comp-Att-Int 5-13-3 2-12-0
Penalties-yards 3-30 11-85
Fumbles-lost 4-3 6-2
Punts-avg. 3-33.3 0-0