The Brentwood Bowl Game has been played annually between Heritage and Liberty high schools since the first varsity season for the Patriots in 2007. The Bowl trophy has resided in the trophy case at Heritage each season, and its address will not change for another season. The Patriots methodically pounded the Lions, 41-0, with a ground game that was as beautiful as it was brutal.

The first possession was indicative of the night’s action, as the Patriots drive six plays for 69 yards for a touchdown. The bulk of the damage done by junior Kruger Story, Jr., who scored the first of his two TDs from two yards out to give the Patriots a 6-0 lead within the first four minutes of play. The Lions countered with eight plays for 27 yards before turning the ball over on downs, thanks to a Patriots stop on 4th and 1 by Story, Jr. Heritage scored four plays later on a four-yard plunge by senior DeShaun McCoy for a 13-0 lead.

Liberty fumbled on its very next offensive play, and it was recovered by the Patriots senior LB Johnny Waller at the Lions’ 11-yard line. Junior RB Shai Kobayashi scored from a yard out to make it a 20-0 Heritage advantage.

So it went throughout the night. The Patriots three-headed rushing attack of seniors McCoy and Cody Cox, and junior Treyvon Hanna helped Heritage amass over 280 yards rushing, and a time of possession differential that was nearly two-to-one.

Liberty junior QB Devyn Parsons was injured on the last play of the first half, and did not return. Sophomore Caleb Moravec took over, but did not find more success. Moravec and junior RBs Shaw Vasquez and John Francisco played valiantly in defeat. Vasquez in particular was all over the field on both sides of the ball, logging over a dozen tackles on defense, and churning out hard-earned yardage on offense.

But the Patriots were just too much to handle on this night. The icing on the cake was one of nine Heritage pass plays. In the third quarter, junior QB Brent Eikanas dropped back and lofted a perfect pass to Hanna, who made a terrific catch in the back left corner of the endzone for a 26 yard TD that gave the Patriots their final score.

Patriots Head Coach Jeff Haagenson stated after the game, “That’s the way to win against this (Liberty) team; pound the rock. We won this game in January,” he said, while miming a weight-lifting exercise.

The victory gives Heritage a 1-1 league record, and drops the Lions to 0-2 in BVAL play. The Patriots will host the Antioch Panthers, who are tied with Deer Valley for the league lead at 2-0, in next week’s Homecoming game. JV starts at 4:30 and the varsity team takes the field at 7:00. The Lions will travel to Deer Valley to face the Wolverines next Friday.