By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
November 21, 2003
CLINTON Heidelberg Academy's sixth state football championship will be remembered for many things, but one that stands out was simply the drive.'
The 11-play, 96-yard journey to immortality padded a shaky 13-7 lead in Heidelberg's 19-14 victory over Trinity Episcopal Day School for the MPSA Class A state title Thursday afternoon at Mississippi College's Robinson-Hale Stadium.
The Rebels had just stopped a major threat by the Saints when Dusty Bass picked off a Ryan Rachal pass at the HA 4-yard line on the sixth play of the fourth quarter.
Trinity was knocking on the door after a phantom pass interference call on Heidelberg when Trinity's Dudley Guice clearly shoved a Rebel defensive back.
The call woke up the Rebels as they tackled the Saints for losses on three consecutive plays before Bass' theft on fourth down.
The Rebels' first two plays left them facing third-and-5 at their 9. Brent Welch rumbled 29 yards for a first down at the 38 and followed that with a 32-yard pickup to the Trinity 30 on the next play.
Suddenly, the Saints were reeling and the Rebels were rolling.
Paving the way for the 96 yards, all of which came on the ground, were right tackle Ryan Aultman, tight end Mason Key, right guard Tyler Maples, center Chad Carmichael, left tackle Darrell Patrick, and Andrews at left end.
After Welch converted a third-and-1 at the 21 with a 3-yard gain, Chris Kittrell picked up 14 yards for first-and-goal at the 4.
Three plays later, Kittrell scored on a 3-yard run up the middle to give Heidelberg a 19-7 lead with only 3:05 remaining.
HA finished with 311 total yards with 205 coming on 37 rushes. Lewis was 4-of-13 passing for 106 yards and a pair of touchdowns.