Heritage Volleyball wins Lincoln Prairie Conference tournament, VGH Football playoff eligible

BY FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com

Heritage Volleyball

Heritage players pounded 37 kills Thursday night and avenged a loss to Okaw Valley with a 25-13, 21-25, 25-17 victory in the championship match of the first Lincoln Prairie Conference tournament at Kansas.

The Hawks (24-4) have won 11 matches in a row. During that time, they have beaten three teams they had lost to previously.

Bri Struck was one of the offensive weapons against Okaw Valley. She delivered 16 kills. Olivia Sorensen had six kills, Bree Buck and Kiley Knoll each notched five kills and Torie Rothermel contributed four kills.

Sorensen handed out 29 assists and Buck led all Hawks with three aces.

Anna Sanders had a team-high 11 digs. Struck ended with eight digs, Knoll had seven, Malani Smithenry had six and Sorensen chipped in with five.

Heritage returns to action on Tuesday at Broadlands against Decatur Lutheran.

Villa Grove/Heritage Football

The Blue Devils and Cumberland combined for one touchdown and 10 total points in the first 47 minutes of Friday night’s Lincoln Prairie Conference football game in Toledo.

And then, thanks to two touchdowns – and two lead changes – in the final 44 seconds, Villa Grove/Heritage rallied for a 14-10 triumph that put the team to within one win of playoff eligibility entering the season’s final two weeks.

VG/H (4-3) scored its first points with 3 minutes, 22 seconds to play when Ezra Ely raced three yards to the end zone. He also converted the extra-point kick, putting the Blue Devils in front, 7-3.

Cumberland regrouped, and scored a go-ahead TD with 44 seconds to play, taking command 10-7.

Four offensive plays later, VG/H faced a fourth-and-50 from its own 34 when Liam Barr – who was 0-for-3 on his passes – connected with Keagan Patterson on a 66-yard TD strike. Patterson caught two passes in the game, but the first one was thrown by Cumberland.

The points were put on the board with seven seconds remaining. Ely’s kick created the final 14-10 margin.

Thanks to the late offensive blitz, the Blue Devils held a 193-143 edge in total yards.

Blake Smith rushed for a team-high 68 yards and passed for 31 yards on four completions. He also intercepted two passes.

Carson Howard had three pass receptions for 32 yards.

VG/H returns to action on Friday at home for its Senior Night contest against Decatur Lutheran (1-6).