ROGERS — The high-flying offense got a quick lead and a solid defensive effort sealed the big win.

And the chants raining down at David Gates Stadium summed it up nicely.

As the undefeated Heritage War Eagles celebrated their 24-9 win against crosstown rival Rogers, the Heritage student section chanted "This is our house."

The field the Mounties played on for 30 seasons before moving for the school split before the 2008 season belonged to Heritage on Friday night.

Junior quarterback Reed Brown passed for 193 yards in the first half and the War Eagle defense held the Mounties (2-3, 0-2) to just two first downs in the second half to win the young rivalry's Rotary Cup.

"It's a big conference victory but to beat the Mounties that makes it even better," Heritage coach Perry Escalante said.

"It's huge for this young football team. We took our lumps last year but we said just remember how it was and let's be on the other side next year." Junior running back Zac

Stewart put the game away

with a 20-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. He finished the win with

123 yards on 30 carries. His touchdown came

after the War Eagles (5-0,

2-0) turned the ball over on both possessions of the third quarter. They finished with four - three fumbles lost and an interception - but the Mounties couldn't capitalize.

Trailing 17-6, Mason Young picked off Brown and returned it into Heritage territory. The Mounties - playing without several starters including senior quarterback Andy Couture - moved into the red zone before settling for Spencer Dunlop's third field goal of the game.

He kicked a 37-yarder to cut the lead to 17-9 and had kicks of 46 and 45 for all of the Mounties' points.

"We struggled," coach Ronnie Peacock said. "We knew that without Andy we needed to run the ball. But we couldn't run it enough to be real effective. There were crucial times that we could stay close to them but offensively we just didn't have enough power."

Junior receiver Graham Parker, filling it at quarterback, completed 2 of 8 passes for 25 yards and rushed 14 times for 85 yards. The Mounties finished with a season-low 172 yards of offense.

The Mounties drove deep into Heritage territory five times but could never find the end zone.

Heritage had plenty of offense in the first half.

Brown was 18 of 22 for 193 yards by halftime and completed 13 straight passes at one point.

He was 4 of 5 on a 93-yard drive that gave the War Eagles a 7-3 lead and 7 of 7 on a 75-yard touchdown drive later in the half.

After a booming punt by Dunlop pinned the War Eagles at their own 7, they put together a 10-play drive capped by Jordan Snoderly's wide-open 26-yard catch.

Reed capped the other touchdown drive by sneaking in from the 1 for a 14-3 lead.

He longest pass on that drive was for 12 yards. The War Eagles converted three third downs through the air, the final to Travis Entwisle - who had eight catches for 51 yards - for 10 yards to the Rogers 1.

Grant Drive added six catches for 88 yards and Snoderly had four for 60 yards.

Heritage then stopped a long Mountie drive at the Heritage 18 but Stewart fumbled on the next play - the War Eagles' first turnover of the season - to give the Mounties the ball back at the 10. Two penalties, however, pushed them backwards and the Mounties had to settle for Dunlop's 45-yard field goal that skipped off the crossbar with 1:42 left in the half.

Heritage drove 47 yards in a minute to tack on their own field goal - a 49-yard kick from Hayden Severs - for the 17-6 halftime lead.

NOTE: Rogers junior lineman Colton Graham was carted off the field and taken to Mercy Medical Center after an injury during a second-half kickoff. Peacock said Graham had feeling in his hands and toes but had a pain in his neck. : The Mounties were without several players because of injuries and suspensions. Peacock said he suspended five players - including two starters - after they missed a practice Wednesday. NSPORTS OTES

Coaching slots available for NWA League

Rogers basketball teams, sponsored by the AAO, that will be playing in the new Northwest Arkansas Middle School Basketball League this fall and winter are looking for qualified individuals interested in coaching a boys' basketball team.

The Rogers teams will consist of a sixth- and a seventh-grade team from Kirksey Middle School and Elmwood Middle School.

Expectations of coaching qualifications are:

• A positive role model for the athletes of this age group;

• Have experience playing high school basketball or beyond;

• Expectations to learn and coach the Rogers High School basketball system and be trained through the AAO basketball clinics.

Interested individuals need to contact RHS head coach Marty Barnes at (479) 970-1440 or e-mail mbarnes@rps.k12.ar.us.

Those interested may also contact AAO director Brad Friess at 442-9979 ext. 24 or e-mail brad@aaoteam.org.

Youth basketball registration

Registration for the Rogers Community-School Recreation Association youth basketball program is currently being taken at the Rogers Activity Center. Programs are open to boys and girls grades kindergarten to 12.

• Kindergarten and first grade: Lil' Hoopsters Instructional Class. Cost for registration is $40*. Registration will be taken through Jan. 4 and the class begins Jan. 9.

• Grades 2-5: Youth recreational league, focusing on fundamentals and player participation. Cost for registration is $50*. Registration will be taken through Nov. 13.

• Grades 6-8: Competitive middle school league. Cost for registration is $50*. Registration will be taken through Nov. 13.

• Grade 9-12: New 3-on-3 High School Basketball League. Cost for registration is $50*. Registration will be taken through December 14. Players sign up individually and form their own teams.

For further information, call Lena Sneary at 631-0336 ext. 450.

Sports, Pages 12 on 10/07/2009

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