HA Rebels fall to East Rankin in home opener
By By Dale McKee / special to the Star
Aug. 22, 2004
HEIDELBERG Sophomore quarterback Jacob Massey scored three rushing touchdowns here Friday night to lead East Rankin Academy over Heidelberg Academy 39-27 in a non-district contest.
Massey rushed for 104 yards on 19 totes and scored on runs of 12, 16 and 15 yards. East Rankin ran for 344 yards on the night.
East Rankin scored on their opening possession when they drove 72 yards in 12 plays to score on Massey's first TD, a 12-yarder. The kick conversion by Jep Peavy put ERA up 7-0 midway through the opening period.
The Patriots scored early in the second period when Massey concluded a 24-yard scoring drive by rushing in from the 16 yard line. Defensive back Beau Murphey set up the score with his first of three interceptions on the night. Murphey intercepted a Rebel pass and returned it 25 yards to the HA 25-yard line.
HA dented the scoreboard when Wesley Parker scored from the four yard line. The drive was 70 yards and took seven plays. Parker had a 34-yard run in the drive. The kick conversion failed and HA trailed 13-6.
East Rankin took the HA kickoff and marched 59 yards in eight plays to score. Murphey scored on a 10-yard run on a fourth down and seven play. The conversion failed and ERA led 19-6.
Heidelberg came storming back and tallied when Will Thames scored from the six, climaxing a 65-yard, five-play drive. The kick conversion by Justin Gibbs cut the lead to 19-13 at halftime.
East Rankin upped their lead to 25-13 in the third period when ERA marched 90 yards in seven plays to score on a nine-yard run by fullback Justin Leiden. Murphey highlighted the drive with a 39-yard run.
In the final period Massey rambled 17 yards to end a 25-yard five play scoring drive. The conversion failed again and East Rankin led 31-13.
HA came roaring back and marched 60 yards in six plays to score on a two-yard run by Parker. The conversion failed and HA trailed 31-19.
Murphey ended the scoring on the night when he swiped his third pass of the night and ran 45 yards for the final TD of the night for the visiting Pats. Chris
Burnham scored the two point conversion and ER led 39-19.
Parker ran the ensuing kickoff back 40 yards to the ERA 35 yard line. From there HA drove the 35 yards in seven plays as Parker ran it in from the five-yard line.
Mark Smith caught two conversion passes from Thames to end the scoring on the night at 39-27.
Leiden rushed for 71 yards on 19 tries while Murphey added 93 yards on six runs for the winners.
Parker led HA with 193 yards on 17 runs while on the night HA rushed for 272 yards. Thames passed for 45 yards as he completed three passes on the night.
Heidelberg travels to University Christian next Friday night.
