Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe won the statistical battle, but Heritage won the game, getting a defensive touchdown and one on special teams in a 35-28 victory Friday night at LFO's Tommy Cash Stadium.
The Generals (2-1) won their 10th consecutive game in the Catoosa County rivalry, but Friday marked only the second time during the run that a game was decided by fewer than 14 points as the Warriors (1-2) outgained Heritage 296 yards to 257.
It was 7-7 when Heritage's Spencer Greene forced a fumble and returned it for a touchdown. After LFO scored on a Tragontae Lewis 13-yard run to get within one (the PAT was missed), Brady Chandler hit Max Owens for a 68-yard touchdown just before halftime.
Cody Bryan extended the lead to two scores with a 90-yard kickoff return to start the second half, but again the Warriors got close with a 17-yard touchdown run by Lewis.
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday night's Chattanooga-area prep football games)
Brayden Slaughter, who led Heritage with 134 yards and two touchdowns, scored on a 6-yard run late in the third quarter. LFO quarterback Darrian Keefe, who was 26-for-38 passing for 201 yards, threw his second touchdown pass of the night -- 3 yards to Grayden Johnson -- to get the Warriors within 35-28 with five minutes to play.
Owens had two catches for 86 yards and was part of a Heritage defense that forced three turnovers. Lewis led LFO with 88 yards on 17 carries, with Carson Goff catching nine passes for 82 yards.
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday night's Chattanooga-area prep football games)
Dalton 50, Sonoraville 14: The Catamounts (2-0), off last week after routing North Murray in their opener, led 43-0 at halftime in this matchup of 2022 playoff teams at Harmon Field.
Ethan Long passed for 174 yards and four touchdowns -- giving him eight in two games -- with two going to Bubba Tanner (four catches for 63 yards) and one each to Kendrix London and RJ Storey, to pace the home team.
Adriel Hernandez ran for one touchdown and returned an interception for another, and Nash Smith added 62 yards rushing and a touchdown for the Cats. Sonoraville's Braxton McMahan had 111 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Gordon Lee 44, Southeast Whitfield 16: Dustin Day passed for 191 yards and three touchdowns, and Brayden Stoker had 128 yards and two touchdowns rushing and seven catches for 101 yards receiving to pace the Trojans (2-1). Day had touchdown passes of 42 yards to Landon Norton, 30 yards to Easton Yates and 15 yards to Hurley McAllister.
North Murray 63, Ridgeland 35: Skyler Williams rushed for five touchdowns and passed for two to lead the Mountaineers (2-1) past pesky Ridgeland (0-2), which held a 28-22 halftime lead.
Ridgeland quarterback Ethan Waters had four touchdown passes, three of them to Malachi Hutchinson, to lead the Panthers' upset bid. North Murray scored six consecutive touchdowns after halftime to pull away, with Williams scoring on runs of 65 and 55 yards.
Judson Petty, who set a state single-game record last week with 360 receiving yards against Pickens, had rushing and receiving touchdowns for the Mountaineers.
Calhoun 28, Creekview 14: Trey Townsend had three touchdown passes after halftime as the Yellow Jackets (2-1) rallied from a 7-0 deficit. Townsend and tight end Emaree Winston hooked up for touchdown passes of 70 and 15 yards before Townsend hit Logan Speer from 13 yards and Caden Williams extended the lead with a 30-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Dade County 55, North Sand Mountain (Alabama) 13: Braylon Sullivan had 147 yards on just five carries while adding 78 yards receiving on two catches to lead the Wolverines to their first win in three games. Bryson Shrader had four TD passes and 209 yards and Demetrius Waller had 75 yards on two catches for Dade.
Other area scores:
Coosa 33, Gordon Central 6
Darlington 35, Christian Heritage 0
Gilmer 35, Murray County 7
Temple 57, Chattooga 21
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.