When and Where:
4A #3 Heritage Hall (7-0) at 4A Newcastle (2-5)
October 20 (FRI) 7:00 PM
Racer Stadium

Most Recent Matchup:
Heritage Hall hosted the Newcastle Racers in week eight of the 2016 season and put together yet another impressive performance. Blake Adams got the Chargers on the board first, finding the endzone from 23 yards out, and taking a 7-0 lead into the second quarter. Newcastle had nothing working on offense for the majority of the game, as the Hall's defense continued its tremendous season by shutting the Racers out in the first half. Adams followed the opening score with his second long touchdown pass of the day, which opened the door for the Charger offense to finally get things going. Heritage Hall took a commanding 23-0 lead into the halftime break, due to a Billy Ross Jr. 21 yard rushing touchdown and a field goal just before the time expired. Newcastle opened the third quarter with a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 23-7, but the Chargers were too much for the Racers from that point on. Heritage got the ground game working in the second half, pounding two runs into the endzone, including one by Morgan Dinwiddie from the nine yard line. The Chargers held on to their 37-7 lead until the final horn sounded, extending the school record win streak to 35 consecutive and 8-0 on the 2016 season.

Player Spotlight:
This 2017 Newcastle squad is not like the 2016 Racers whatsoever. Multiple talented players transferred to the school over summer break, and as a result, the Racers now have one of the most formidable offenses in all of 4A. The main catalyst in Newcastle's air raid attack is star Casey Thompson, possibly the best quarterback in the entire state. Thompson has committed to play at the University of Texas next year. The senior quarterback has been almost unstoppable so far, accounting for just over 2350 passing yards, 660 rushing yards, and 30 total touchdowns through just seven games. His blazing speed, scrambling ability, and downfield passing accuracy keeps the Racers in each game no matter the score.

Although Thompson is undoubtedly the star of this Newcastle team, wide receiver Jacob Morris has quietly put together one of the best campaigns in the state with 81 receptions for 1506 yards and 14 touchdowns – a truly an insane statline (for reference, the Chargers' single-season receiving yardage record holder, Sam McCurdy '05, posted 1485 in a full season). However, Morris' numbers in their last three games may be even more impressive, with 820 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns over that short span. Morris has tremendous speed, allowing him to blow right by defensive backs and catch long passes over the top. Thompson and Morris create one of the most dynamic duos Heritage Hall has faced in a long time.

Tight end Cade Thompson, Casey's younger brother, must also be accounted for offensively, as he enters this weekend's game with 411 receiving yards and three touchdowns. At 6'2", his large body frame makes him Casey's most reliable and favorite threat when the Racers are operating in the red zone.

Outlook:
Newcastle's record thus far is not pretty, sitting at 2-5 on the season. Most would attribute this to a poorly performing defense. The Racers have been playing much better recently, however, winning two of their last three, including an impressive 49-48 victory over Clinton last week in which the Newcastle defense defended a Tornadoes 2-pt conversion attempt late in the game. Despite this, the Chargers should still feel confident heading into this Friday's matchup, as the Hall is playing as good in all facets of the game as they have at any point of the season so far. Last week, Heritage Hall defeated a tough Elgin opponent with ease, winning by a score of 48-0. The Chargers outgained the Owls with 423 total yards to just a meager 109, led yet again by Blake Adams, who threw for 229 yards and four scores, three of which were caught by Chandler Shapard. Billy Ross, Jr., got things going on the ground, rushing for 171 yards and three touchdowns. Grayson WIlson led the defense to an impressive shutout with eight total tackles, including two for losses, while Phillip Smitherman intercepted his first pass of the season on a flashy one-handed catch. The Chargers will need to be on top their game against Newcastle, as Casey Thompson and his offense will be much more of a challenge than recent opponents. To be successful, Heritage must execute two things throughout the the contest. They will most definitely need to exploit the Racers' defense, scoring at will in mass quantities. The Hall must also be ready to play on special teams, as Newcastle generally squibs the ball short in attempt to recover it and keep the offense on the field. The Racers' head coach, Jim Brickman, is not afraid to gamble on fourth downs either, as Newcastle has not attempted a single punt all season. If the Chargers can do those things, as well as break through Newcastle's offensive line to put pressure on Thompson in the pocket, they should be able to move to 8-0 on the season.

Article by Jake LeForce '19
Photos by Jake Steelman '19 | More on Flickr