Heritage improves to 2-0 for first time

In just two months, Chuck Hawthorne has led the Heritage Timberwolves to places they’ve never been before.

The veteran coach in his first year at Heritage has his Timberwolves at 2-0 for the first time in school history after Heritage rolled to a 50-7 non-league win over Hudson’s Bay on Friday night at McKenzie Stadium.

“All I keep trying to do is go out every day with the kids and get them better so we can be successful,” Hawthorne said. “So far, we’re 2-0. It doesn’t mean it’s a pretty 2-0. But it’s 2-0.”

That’s something no other coach at Heritage could say after two games.

Kalani Umiamaka had another big game, rushing for 165 yards and two touchdowns – almost all of those yards were before halftime – and Gavin Lee ran for another 87 and scored four touchdowns for the Timberwolves.

“Hawthorne has given us a bunch of confidence on the field,” Umiamaka said. “He’s a great coach, and I’m just glad he’s here. He’s giving us confidence every day.”

Hawthorne got thrust into the job at Heritage when his predecessor Jack Hathaway resigned during spring drills in June.

“Our assistant coaches have done a fantastic job,” said Hawthorne, referring to his staff that includes Brendon Crudup, Steven Forgette, Dave Pilcher and White Sosene. “We work really well as a staff. They are doing a great job of putting kids in the right spots to play football.

“The kids are doing a good job of listening, paying attention, and then carrying out that game plan on Friday nights.”

That game plan called for heavy dose of Umiamaka at running back. The junior took the first play from scrimmage and raced 75 yards down to the one. But an illegal block penalty shaved 24 yards off that first run. Umiamaka eventually got the ball into the end zone four plays later with a 3-yard run.

After a Kenese Penueta interception return put the ball on the Bay 4, Umiamaka made it 14-0 with his second TD run of the first quarter.

A Gavin Lee fumble recovery early in the second quarter set up Heritage’s next score. Umiamaka had runs of 25 and 22 yards before Lee ran it in from three yards out for a 22-0 lead with 9:23 left in the second quarter.

A 48-yard interception return for a touchdown Tristan Maxwell got Bay on the board. But the excitement was short-lived for the Eagles.

Two plays later, Heritage’s back-up quarterback, sophomore Payton Monda, threw a 64-yard TD pass to Race Bynum, and the Timberwolves led 29-7 at halftime.

Lee took over the bulk of the running game after intermission, scoring on TD runs of 4 and 16 yards. Then the sophomore capped the scoring with an 11-yard fumble recovery return with 2:01 left in the game.

“We’ve been playing pretty good defense,” Hawthorne said. “We’re taking baby steps and improving. We’ve got to keep doing that. Evergreen is a good opponent next week. It’s league play, so we’ve got to keep going.”

With Chuck Hawthorne at the helm, the Timberwolves expect to do just that.

HERITAGE 50, HUDSON’S BAY 7

Hudson’s Bay 0 7 0 0–7

Heritage 14 15 7 14–50

First quarter

Her – Kalani Umiamaka 3 run (Bailey Thomason kick)

Her – Umiamaka 4 run (Thomason kick)

Second quarter

Her – Gavin Lee 3 run (Nick Somboun run)

Bay – Tristan Maxwell 48 interception return (Luis Santamaria kick)

Her – Race Bynum 64 pass from Payton Monda (Thomason kick)

Third quarter

Her – Lee 4 run (Thomason kick)

Fourth quarter

Her – Lee 16 run (Thomason kick)

Her – Lee 11 fumble return (Thomason kick)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Hudson’s Bay: Nehemiah McDougal 3-15, Camren Hyde-Moore 2-(-5), Maxwell 2-19, Jeremy Matheny 2-(-4), Stone Sabourin 8-5, Elijah Fishel 1-(-4), Jordan Hickman 3-(-15). Heritage: Umiamaka 17-165, Lee 9-87, Tyler VanBuskirk 3-(-24), Bynum 1-3, Jeremiah Kelly 1-(-4), Lofi Sosene 7-62, Monda 2-(-25), Yarnell Taryn 4-2.

PASSING — Hudson’s Bay: Matheny 11-26-3-83; Hickman 0-1-1-0. Heritage: VanBuskirk 8-13-1-85, Monda 3-5-0-79.

RECEIVING — Hudson’s Bay: Anthony Sanchez 3-13, Victor Gray 1-7, Julio Vara 2-5, McDougal 1-5, Sabourin 1-6, Fishel 1-7, Maxwell 1-36, Angel Perez 1-4. Heritage: Somboun 4-30, Kelly 2-42, Garrett Mason 1-8, Umiamaka 1-3, Bynum 2-75, Kanese Panueta 1-6.