Appropriately for Senior Night, Deer Valley seniors Brandon Williams, Damon Collins and Kristoff Williams led the charge for the Wolverines offense Friday night, allowing the football team to remain unbeaten in a 31-18 victory over Heritage. In addition, Deer Valley’s defense and special teams forced four turnovers, three of which accounted for 17 first-half points.

While the Patriots can look back on their regular season with a sense of accomplishment, they might look back on this game with a groan of what might have been. Heritage’s first three possessions essentially decided the outcome of the contest: punt, fumble and interception.

After Heritage’s first punt, Deer Valley needed only five plays to get on the board. Collins blew through the line and headed for the sidelines for a 75-yard TD jaunt.

After going three-and-out, Heritage’s snap on the punt attempt sailed over the head of Chazz Griffiths. It was recovered by Wolverine John Lewis, giving Deer Valley first-and-goal on the 10. They had to settle for a 27-yard field goal from junior Brierly Lindberg for a 10-0 lead.

The Patriots’ next possession was even shorter. A half-back option play was wide open for a touchdown, but the pass was underthrown, intercepted in Heritage territory and returned to the Patriots 19. Four plays later Brandon Williams punched in a three-yard score for a 17-0 lead.

But as the quarter wound down, the Patriots began to move the ball on the ground. Unfortunately, what had started as a promising drive ended in disaster when quarterback Brent Eikanas was intercepted by Brandon Williams, who broke on an out pattern and raced 86 yards for a “pick-six” and a 24-0 lead.

Heritage recovered an onside kick to start the second half, but another turnover gave Deer Valley the ball near midfield. Heritage’s defense forced a turnover on downs with 7:51 remaining in the third. A methodical 12-play drive ended in a six-yard TD run by Tyler McDonald, narrowing the deficit to 24-6.

Another three-and-out for the Wolverines gave Heritage possession at its 31 with the quarter winding down. This time, an equally-impressive 14-play drive resulted in a seven-yard score by Kruger Story Jr. – and, surprisingly, the Patriots were back in the game, trailing 24-12.

The Patriots defense rose to the occasion, forcing another turnover on downs. Starting on their own six, the Patriots finally got a really big play when Eikanas hit wide receiver Devin Hardy for a 67-yard gain to the Deer Valley 31. Eikanas capped the drive with a terrific 37-yard completion to junior Davonte Lewis for the touchdown, drawing the Patriots within six, 24-18, with 2:27 remaining.

But the expected onside kick trickled out of bounds, giving the Wolverines the ball at midfield. Brandon Williams sealed the game with a 50-yard sprint to the house and victory.

Undefeated Deer Valley has, of course, won the Bay Valley League Championship and is in the NCS playoffs as the number 2 seed. The Wolverines host 6-4 Newark Memorial 7 p.m. tonight Nov. 20. Heritage (7-3 overall, 3-2 BVAL) is also in the playoffs, on the road tonight at 7-3 Monte Vista.