American Heritage Overcomes Jesuit

     The American Heritage Patriots overcame a 13-point deficit and got by the Jesuit Tigers 16-13 at Heritage Field in a FHSAA Class 5A state semifinal in Plantation on Friday night. The Patriots advanced to the state title game for the first time since 2017. 

     Jesuit(14-1) got up 6-0 at the 4:27 mark of the first quarter. Wide receiver Junior Vandeross returned a punt return 52 yards for a touchdown. 

     The Tigers made it 13-0, following a turnover by the Patriots, just 19 seconds later. Quarterback Joe Pesansky threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Vandeross on the left hash marks. 

     American Heritage(10-2) chipped at the lead at 9:18 of the second quarter when Chris Maron kicked a 41-yard field goal. He was able to boot a 28-yard field goal with 6:38 left in the third quarter and they trailed 13-6. 

     The Patriots tied the contest 13-13 with 3:15 to go in the third. Running back Mark Fletcher busted through the left side of the line and scored from 39 yards away. American Heritage won the game with no time remaining in the fourth quarter when Maron made a 40-yard field goal to pull out the victory.