Heritage comeback is one for the ages
The number and sequence of events that were required in order to overcome a 32-0 deficit was remarkable.
A 15-yard touchdown pass from Nick Zell to Aidan Quinn with 34 seconds left was the game-winner.
Omari Land, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound senior with 1,184 yards in the regular season, ran for three scores.
Jermaine Jackson (11 carries, 119 yards according to Nate Smith of Prep2Prep.com) scored on a 30-yard run, and Norman Haddix added a 10-yarder.
Senior Zell (29-for-39, 259 yards, five touchdowns) finished a 75-yard drive with a 22-yard scoring pass to Tyrese Mack (8 catches, 72 yards).
When Heritage’s first drive of the third quarter fizzled, hope appeared to fade, but the defense brought it back again.
Zell and an offense that averaged 35 points and 360 yards a game during the regular season began to click.
On first down, Zell threw an incomplete pass, but a roughing-the-passer call gave Heritage some breathing room.
An apparent interception by a San Leandro defensive back was stripped away by Tyriq Mack, who starts in the Heritage secondary as well.
After a sack by Jaime Luna, the Patriots celebrated one of the greatest comebacks in NCS playoff history.
Sanders knows his squad will be a heavy underdog, but it doesn’t plan to spot the Mustangs 32 points.