The Highlanders of Heathwood Hall Episcopal managed to score three defensive touchdowns to take down the Augusta Christian Lions 36-7 on Friday night, Oct. 23, on the Lions’ home field.
Indeed, it was three pick-sixes that did the Lions in against the team from Columbia.
Augusta Christian (5-4) started its offensive night at its own 26-yard line. Its drive came to a swift end after Highlander linebacker Heyward Belser intercepted quarterback Harris Janik’s pass, and ran it 34 yards into the end zone for a pick six to start off the night. Townsley Rivers drilled the extra point, and it was 7-0 Heathwood Hall with 10:23 remaining in the first quarter.
Augusta Christian started its second drive of the night at its own 29-yard line. Unfortunately, the Lions couldn’t gain a first down and were forced to punt.
Heathwood (5-4) also began its offensive night with a rough start after running back Jayson Bolton fumbled the football, which was then recovered by Lions’ safety Demo Tucker.
The Lions took over at their own 34, but this drive also amounted to nothing, and the hosts were once again forced to punt. The snap was botched, though, and Janik, also punting, fell on the ball on his own 22-yard line.
Heathwood wasted no time capitalizing on the big play, as quarterback Harrison Harley dropped back and found wide receiver Keon McKinley for an 8-yard receiving touchdown, and the first offensive score of the night.
The extra point smacked the crossbar, making it 13-0 with 3:51 remaining in the first.
After a failed Heathwood onside attempt, Augusta Christian had the ball at its own 49. The Lions were quickly forced into a four-and-two situation, which they opted to go for. The run was quickly stuffed, though, and the visitors had the ball on their own 43.
As the second quarter began, the visitors were able to drive to the 28-yard line. However, the Lions’ defense stiffened, and Harley’s fourth-dwn pass fell incomplete, and Augusta Christian took over on its own 28.
This was followed by yet another three-and-out, and the ball was punted back to Heathwood.
The following Highlanders’ drive began at their own 20. Heathwood managed to march down to the 13-yard line, where they then handed the ball off to McKinley, who ran to the end zone for his his second score of the night. Liam Edwards kicked the extra point, and Heathwood Hall led 20-0 with 4:19 remaining in the half.
The following drive only made things worse for the hosts, as another Lion pass was intercepted, this time by cornerback Liam Edwards, who then ran it in for a 20-yard pick six. A second clanked extra point gave the Highlanders a 26-0 lead at the half.
To start the second half, Heathwood Hall received the ball at its own 43-yard line. The Highlanders were able to drive to the 5-yard line, but after a sack by Lions’ defensive end Gabriel Forbes, they ended up getting a 27-yard field goal by Edwards for a 29-0 lead with 6:57 remaining in the third.
Augusta Christian’s following drive began at their own 37 yard line. This drive also was killed after Janik’s third interception of the night, this time caught by Heyward Belser.
This time, though, it was the Lions’ turn to make a big play, as defensive back Bentley McGhee intercepted a Harley pass to the end zone, returning the ball to the Lions.
The hosts’ following drive began at the 20. For the third drive in a row it ended with an interception. Defensive back Henry King intercepted the pass and ran it back 35 yards for the third pick-six of the night for Heathwood Hall.
After Rivers kicked the extra point, the Highlanders led 36-0. With the lead at least 35 points, the clock ran the rest of the game.
After a nice kickoff return by Maddox Smith, the Lions strung together a nice drive and drove to the Highlander 12-yard line. Yet Augusta Christian was forced into a fourth-and-10 situation, which they could not convert.
The visitors then fumbled the ball, returning it back to Augusta Christian. Janik found wide receiver Rowan Cothran for a 10-yard touchdown, but the PAT kick failed.
“We were just able to establish the run, and hit some passes when they made holes in the defense,” said Heathwood Hall coach Tymere Zimmerman. “They are a good football team, but our defense stepped up.
Despite the tough game, Zimmerman still showed serious respect for Augusta Christian coach Roy Stabler.
“He has done a phenomenal job,” the Highlander coach said. “I told my team, this is the most impressive team that I’ve seen improve from last year. If my kid was living in Augusta, I would have him here playing for coach Stabler.”
Lion running back Ethan Porter still managed to put up 140 rushing yards on 15 carries in the loss.
“When I see my team down I gotta keep pushing, and keep everybody on the same accord no matter the outcome,” said Porter.
Harley went 7-for-16 for 101 yards for Heathwood Hall, and teammate Bolton rushed nine times for 81 yards.
The Highlanders next will host Hammond High School on Oct. 30, while the Lions will hope to bounce back at Ben Lippen High School.
William Reyes is an Augusta University student.
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