Heritage had a defensive plan to stop Harlem’s usually lethal ground game.
The Generals didn’t have an answer for what turned out to be a game-turning big-play passing attack by the visitors Friday night at Jeff Sims Field.
Heritage took a quick 14-0 lead, but the Bulldogs rallied behind the explosive aerial attack led by quarterback Mercer Barton to escape with a 35-28 win in the first round of the GHSA Class AAA playoffs. Harlem (9-2), the 32-team bracket’s No. 17 seed, moves on to a second-round matchup next week at top-seeded Jefferson, while the 16th-seeded Generals finish their season 7-4.
Barton, who entered the game with 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns against six interceptions this season, had touchdown passes of 45, 40, 11 and 30 yards, catching the Heritage defense in one-on-one situations several times and taking advantage of a couple of coverage busts in the rally.
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday night’s Chattanooga-area prep football playoffs)