INDIANAPOLIS -
They began the playoffs as the defending champions of Class 2A-but you couldn't fault them if the didn't feel like it.
Heritage Christian wrapped up their 2009 regular season at the mercy of the newcomer to the class, Cardinal Ritter. When it was over, the Raiders left the Eagles' home field with a dominating 55-31 victory, dropping the 2008 champs to 6-3 on the regular season.
Finding motivation probably wasn't hard for Ron Qualls's team when they opened the playoffs at home Friday night following the result seven days earlier, and from the get go that seemed to be the case.
Read: Heritage Christian Featured in IndySportsNation.com Game of the Week
The Eagles dominated the opening quarter, scoring, forcing a turnover, then scoring again to jump to an early lead and pace a 27-14 victory over Park Tudor in this Sectional 29 opening game. Just two week early the two teams met in the same place, with Heritage Christian also winning handily 21-0.
Setting the tone for the game early was the Heritage Christian defense, which stopped the Panther easily on the opening drive. The Eagles offense then used a steady diet of sideline passes and runs to drive down the field in just over two minutes. Quarterback Jackson Kirtley completed the drive with a keeper to the outside and then a dive over the endzone line for the score to make it 7-0.
Read: Park Tudor Wins Their IndySportsNation.com Game of the Week Over Lapel
Though the Panthers' offense was able to pick up enough ground of a solid rushing attack and a Heritage Christian penalty, the Eagles snuffed out the scoring drive when James Houck stepped in front of Cam Sobleski's errant pass for the interception to stall the drive.
In similar fashion as before, the steady diet of quick passes and runs set up another Kirtley scramble for a touchdown, this time for nine yards out to make it 14-0.
Park Tudor, was able to keep pace with the Eagles the entire game but were never able to overcome the early deficit. It brings an end to a turnaround season for the Panthers, who improved from 0-10 in 2008 to 5-5 this season.
Heritage Christian wrapped up their 2009 regular season at the mercy of the newcomer to the class, Cardinal Ritter. When it was over, the Raiders left the Eagles' home field with a dominating 55-31 victory, dropping the 2008 champs to 6-3 on the regular season.
Finding motivation probably wasn't hard for Ron Qualls's team when they opened the playoffs at home Friday night following the result seven days earlier, and from the get go that seemed to be the case.
Read: Heritage Christian Featured in IndySportsNation.com Game of the Week
The Eagles dominated the opening quarter, scoring, forcing a turnover, then scoring again to jump to an early lead and pace a 27-14 victory over Park Tudor in this Sectional 29 opening game. Just two week early the two teams met in the same place, with Heritage Christian also winning handily 21-0.
Setting the tone for the game early was the Heritage Christian defense, which stopped the Panther easily on the opening drive. The Eagles offense then used a steady diet of sideline passes and runs to drive down the field in just over two minutes. Quarterback Jackson Kirtley completed the drive with a keeper to the outside and then a dive over the endzone line for the score to make it 7-0.
Read: Park Tudor Wins Their IndySportsNation.com Game of the Week Over Lapel
Though the Panthers' offense was able to pick up enough ground of a solid rushing attack and a Heritage Christian penalty, the Eagles snuffed out the scoring drive when James Houck stepped in front of Cam Sobleski's errant pass for the interception to stall the drive.
In similar fashion as before, the steady diet of quick passes and runs set up another Kirtley scramble for a touchdown, this time for nine yards out to make it 14-0.
Park Tudor, was able to keep pace with the Eagles the entire game but were never able to overcome the early deficit. It brings an end to a turnaround season for the Panthers, who improved from 0-10 in 2008 to 5-5 this season.
