Rebels clash for North State title

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Nov. 13, 2003
Over their 34 seasons of football, the Heidelberg Academy Rebels have played a lot of different teams. One they haven't faced before will come calling Friday night for the Academy Class A North State Championship.
Briarfield Academy of Lake Providence, La., brings a 9-3 record to Heidelberg to take on the 10-2 hosts in a battle of teams with Rebel mascots. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Heidelberg whipped Strider Academy 28-8 last week at Charleston, while Briarfield scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to turn back Wayne Academy 14-12 at Waynesboro.
Brent Welch scored on a 15-yard run, Brooks Lewis scored on a 1-yard run, and Wesley Parker tallied on runs of 2 and 6 yards as Heidelberg beat Strider. Lewis also teamed with Chris Kittrell for a two-point conversion.
Heidelberg has won 10 straight games after early season losses to Columbia Academy and Lamar School.
Welch leads HA with 13 touchdowns. Parker has eight, Kittrell seven, Dusty Bass six, and Will Thames five.
The visitors from Louisiana not only are Rebels, they also have a Manning at quarterback. No, not that one.
Briarfield scored with just 39 seconds left to nip Wayne a week ago. Quarterback Drew Manning scored on runs of 1 and 10 yards. Wayne led 12-0 going into the final period.
For the year, Manning, a senior who also plays wingback, has scored 12 touchdowns, while senior running back Blake Pierce has a team-high 15. Senior wide receiver Montellus Craft has nine, senior quarterback J.D. Kiefer seven, and senior running back E.J. Holden five.
Seven of Briarfield's 20 players are seniors. Only two are juniors, while four are sophomores and seven are freshmen.