Rich, Bonner lead Hawks to playoff win over Patriots

Candler Rich was at it again Friday night with three touchdowns while quarterback Joe Bonner threw a pair and ran for one to lead the Heritage Hawks to a 42-27 win over the Pinewood Christian Patriots in a GISA AAA playoff game.

The home victory for the Hawks was the program’s first playoff win and improved their overall record to 10-1 as they prepare to host the Westfield Hornets next Friday as the latter defeated Trinity Christian of Sharpsburg 10-7.

Pinewood Christian finishes their season with a record of 5-6.

The Hawks opened the scoring quickly as Rich ended a six-play drive buy running along the sideline for a 28-yard touchdown run with 9:52 remaining and after recovering a Patriots fumble, the Hawks took a 14-0 lead as Tyler Henson scored on a seven-yard pass from Bonner with 5:57 remaining in the quarter.

Bonner, who finished the evening completing 4-of-6 passes for 108 yards, passed the 3000 yard mark for his career with the touchdown pass.

The Patriots got on the board with 8:23 remaining in the first half when Ethan Kumpula scored on 13-yard run.and after a Hawks fumble at the Patriots 33, the latter threatened to tie the game as they reached the Hawks’ nine yard line, but the drive stalled with an errant snap on fourth down with 2:56 remaining.

Heritage took advantage on the first play at their own 25 as Bonner hit Garrett Jones with a pass and after three attempts, Jones secured the ball and scored the touchdown.

After a Patriots fumble early in the third quarter, the Hawks took advantage with a time consuming 13-play, 54-yard drive that culminated with a five-yard keeper by Bonner and the lead was 28-7 with 1:58 remaining after Dudley converted the extra point.

The Patriots cut into the lead when quarterback Dalton Johnson connected with Heath Waters for a 47-yard touchdown pass with 57 seconds remaining in the quarter and the Hawks’ lead was 28-13 after a failed two-point conversion attempt.

Heritage had an answer for the Pinewood score as Rich recorded his second touchdown of the evening with a 72-yard return on the ensuing kickoff and Dudley’s extra point was true and the Hawks took a 35-13 lead into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, both teams lost fumbles with the Patriots recovering the second miscue and converting as Johnson scored on a 12-yard keeper with 7:15 remaining that cut the score to 35-21 after Joshua Barnard caught a pass in the back of the end zone for a two-point conversion.

Johnson completed 10-of-25 passes for 186 yards and threw two interceptions while rushing for 65 yards on 23 carries.

The Hawks took a 42-21 lead as Rich recorded his third touchdown of the evening with a 30-yard run through the middle of the Patriots’ defense with 4:11 remaining, but the Patriots scored one more time as Johnson connected with Barnard on a 46-yard touchdown pass with 2:16 remaining.