Sr Joseph Harmon helped shut down Cardinal Gibbons HS to win District Crown!
Both Heritage and Gibbons came into this game with identical 6-2 records. They also had the same thing to play for last night and that was a district crown. When Heritage got the ball first they made a statement as Sony Michel went 80-yards off the right side of the line for a touchdown. The scoring did not stop as Heritage went into half time with a 27-7 lead. In the 2nd half Gibbons came out and scored 13 straight to bring the game within a touchdown. It would not be enough as Heritage held off Gibbons late rally to win 36-27.
Michel carried the ball over 30 times for 193 yards and 2 tds!
For Heritage it was the Sony Michel show. He carried the football over 30 times which resulted in 197 yards and two touchdowns. The talented back played a great game and will be on the recruiting radar for years to come. Michel is only in the 8th grade and had one of the best performances for a running back we have seen this year.
Big brother Marken helped out with over 70 yards of offense and 5 tackles!
It was a family affair as Michel brother Marken also played well. He had close to a 100 yards receiving and 5 tackles on the defensive side of the ball. Marken will enter his senior season next fall and his stock should continue to rise. He can play on either side of the football and be effective. Look for Marken to make his mark over the next couple of weeks as Heritage makes a run in the playoffs.
Another player who was all over the field for American Heritage was linebacker Joseph Harmon. He made his presence felt against Gibbons. Harmon is a 6′0, 215 pound middle linebacker that showed the ability to shed blocks and make plays in the backfield. He is an under the radar linebacker that should start to draw some interest in the coming month.
Not to be overlooked was Jacob Wheeler. He had a touchdown catch in the 2nd half that sealed the win for American Heritage. The senior tight end should continue to provide Heritage with a threat in the red-zone.
Keep an eye on: DT-Dinsdel Jackson-(2011), DB-Lawrence Taylor-(2011)-WR Andre Flory-(2011) and Shanard Saxon-(2011).
For Gibbons this was a game that seemed to get away from them early on. After surrendering a 27-7 lead at halftime they did get back into the game and made it close but it was not good enough. They had a tough time stopping Michel from running the football. On offense they were able to get some things done.
Wide receiver Shawn Corker had a quiet night but did still score twice. His 2nd touchdown chopped the Heritage lead down to one score. Corker and his quarterback Chris Rapka just did not seem to be on the same page all night.
Along with Corker, Dareyon Chance had a good night. The talented back made an impact not only running the football but as a receiver out of the backfield. He accounted for over 125 yards of total offense. He also scored from the 1-yard line late in the 2nd half.
Two other offensive players that made an impact on the game were running back Eric Mclamore and wide receiver Jack Crittenberger. Both were instrumental in Gibbons coming back from a three touchdown deficit and making the game close in the 2nd half.
Final thoughts: American Heritage took a major step forward by finding a running game and playing good defense for the most part. They have a team built for the playoffs. They should make a nice run into the playoffs. It would not surprise us to see them face Gibbons again down the road. For Gibbons was a tough loss but one that should not make much of an impact on their season. They will also make the playoffs and should get past their first round opponent. The main difference now is once in the playoffs they will have to get past Glades Central which will be a tough task.
