Colleyville Heritage holds off Richland in weather-shortened game
Colleyville Heritage defeated Richland 30-21 in a game halted early in the third quarter after a second lightning delay Friday at Mustang-Panther Stadium.
After lightning delayed kickoff for an hour, Colleyville Heritage (1-1) fell behind quickly in a back-and-forth game.
Richland (1-1) got a stop on defense, then on its first pass, Brett Kates found Aaron Brooks open down the sideline for an 80-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
The Royals were looking to add to their lead after another stop, but Landon Dressell intercepted a Richland pass and returned it to the Royals’ 4-yard line. A touchdown on the next play was nullified by a holding penalty, and Heritage settled for a 31-yard field goal from Dressell to cut the lead to 7-3.
The Panthers finished the first quarter by stuffing Richland at Heritage’s 20-yard line on fourth-and-short.
The Panthers then converted on a third-and-long when quarterback Bodey Weaver connected with receiver Lucas Sunwall, who made a circus one-handed catch for a 26-yard touchdown to give Heritage its first lead at 10-7.
Richland answered quickly when Kates found running back Jayshon Gibson open on a wheel route that he took 67 yards for a touchdown.
The Panthers then came back, with Weaver hitting Blake Wendler on a short pass that he took 17 yards for a touchdown as he stretched for the pylon. Heritage led 16-14 after missing the extra point.
After a stop, Heritage finally got some breathing room. On fourth-and-12, Weaver bought time in the pocket before finding Gabriel Bess uncovered on a wheel route out of the backfield for a 28-yard touchdown to put Heritage up 23-14 at halftime.
Richland trimmed the deficit with a focus on the ground game, as Kates and Gibson ran the ball right through the Panthers’ defense while playing up-tempo. Gibson punctuated the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run up the middle to cut the lead to 23-21.
But Heritage wouldn’t give up its advantage. After struggling in the first half, running back Jerrod Wiley got loose on an untouched 69-yard touchdown run on the first play of the next drive to put Heritage back up two scores at 30-21.
The game was called shortly thereafter with Richland about to punt.
Weaver finished with 204 yards passing and two touchdowns for Heritage. Wiley led the Panthers with 80 yards rushing and a touchdown. Sunwall caught four passes for 84 yards and a touchdown.
Coach Jerry Edwards said he was proud of how his team responded after losing to Red Oak 20-11 in Week 1.
“We had too many mistakes in that game,” Edwards said. “We got back to what we do. ... I wanted our offense to get out there and get rolling, and they did.”
For Richland, Kates threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Gibson led the Royals with 93 yards rushing and touchdown, and Brooks reeled in two catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Next week, Heritage hosts The Colony at 7 p.m. Sept. 12 in a District 3-5A Division II opener, while Richland hosts Denton at 7 p.m. Sept. 12 in a District 3-5A Division I opener.