Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe won the battle but lost the war Friday night at Tommy Cash Stadium, where a new star may have emerged for Heritage in a tense 27-20 win for the visiting Generals.
The Warriors were determined not to let Heritage star Cody Bryan beat them, but even though they held the senior to 36 yards on one catch, it was another receiver who stole the show.
Cohen Fletcher, a junior heretofore known for his exploits on the baseball diamond, had seven catches for 154 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Generals prevailed in the nonregion matchup of Catoosa County teams.
Heritage (2-0), though, had to rally after seeing a 19-0 lead turn into a 20-19 LFO advantage early in the fourth quarter. Bryan’s one catch and hard running from Brayden Slaughter got the lead back, and Fletcher helped seal it with his final reception of the evening.
“Cohen had a big night, and we told him before the game he would have his chances because LFO was probably going to try to take Cody away,” Heritage coach Jeremy New said. “He’s had a phenomenal offseason and summer, and we had every confidence he could come through whenever we needed him.”