Heidelberg Academy blanks Sylva-Bay, 35-0

By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
October 18, 2003
BAY SPRINGS Sometimes, Heidelberg Academy's defense gets overlooked the way the Rebel offense puts points on the scoreboard.
Heidelberg Academy head coach Tom Lewis was raving about his defense following the Rebels' 35-0 blanking of Sylva-Bay Academy Friday to clinch the Academy 3-A championship.
Heidelberg held the Saints to just 108 total yards in improving to 6-0 in 3-A and 7-2 overall. Sylva-Bay fell to 3-2 and 7-2. The Saints' other loss was to Wayne Academy.
The Rebels scored on their first possession. Starting from the Saints 36 following a 19-yard punt return by Will Thames, Brent Welch got five straight carries, finding the end zone from 10 yards out with 7:17 left in the first quarter. Ryan Aultman added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
Heidelberg put together a five-play, 54-yard scoring drive to go up 13-0 with 6:41 remaining in the second period. Wesley Parker scored on a 6-yard run. The big play of the drive was a 36-yard run by Brody Bustin on the first play. Aultman's PAT try was no good.
Sylva-Bay's Cody Phillips fumbled on the next play from scrimmage with Bustin recovering at the SBA 23. Four plays later, Welch scored from four yards out. Brooks Lewis connected with J.R. Stephenson on a two-point pass for a 21-0 lead with 4:52 to go in the half.
The Saints threatened late in the half as John Thompson found Matt Anderson for a 35-yard gain to the Rebel 8 only to have the play negated by a holding penalty.
Heidelberg opened the second half with a five-play, 68-yard scoring drive to end any thoughts of a successful comeback by the Saints. Brooks Lewis found Matthew Andrews over the middle for a 23-yard touchdown toss with 9:54 left in the third quarter. Aultman added the PAT.
Thompson was forced to run under heavy pressure on a punt attempt on the Saints' next possession and was tackled at his 22. The Saints dodged a score as Lewis was unable to secure a snap on second-and-goal at the two-yard line.
Starting at the SBA 37 following a punt, it took six plays for the Rebels to find the end zone for the final time as Welch tallied from a yard out on fourth down. Chris Kittrell had four carries on the drive for 36 yards. Aultman's kick made it 35-0 with 1:47 to go in the third period.
Sylva-Bay had the ball for 20 of the 25 plays in the fourth quarter, but was unable to score.
The Rebels had 249 total yards with 204 coming on 36 rushes. Welch had 100 yards on 15 carries. Kittrell added 52 yards on seven rushes.
Phillips, who scored three touchdowns in Sylva-Bay's 19-7 win over Presbyterian Christian last week, was held to 47 yards on 22 carries.