Miller’s three touchdowns fuel Lapel’s fast start in 42-14 victory
Staff Report
LAPEL — Jack Miller needed just three carries to deliver a night’s worth of damage Friday.
The senior rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns, helping Lapel (8-1) race to a 35-point first-quarter lead before finishing off Heritage Christian (0-9) 42-14 in an Indiana high school football game.
Lapel struck early when Miller broke loose for an 80-yard touchdown run. Braden Johnson’s extra point made it 7-0, and a Heritage Christian fumble quickly gave the Bulldogs another opportunity at the Eagles’ 36-yard line. Miller finished that possession with a 13-yard touchdown run, pushing the advantage to 14-0.
Heritage briefly disrupted Lapel’s next scoring march when Justus Klingerman recorded a sack, leaving the Bulldogs facing third down near midfield. Miller answered with a 51-yard touchdown run, his third score of the opening quarter, to extend the lead to 21-0.
The Bulldogs continued finding big plays through the air. Max Lockhart connected with Reed Hamilton for a 59-yard touchdown, and Lapel finished the first quarter ahead 35-0.
A touchdown reception by Jaxson Cripe in the second quarter helped stretch the margin to 42-0 before Heritage Christian got on the scoreboard. The Eagles went into halftime trailing 42-7 triggering a running clock to start the second half.
After the explosive opening half, neither team scored in the third quarter. Heritage Christian nevertheless created an opportunity when Garrett Taylor intercepted a Lapel pass, giving the Eagles possession near midfield.
Heritage Christian advanced to the Bulldogs’ 19-yard line, then reached the 3 before the quarter ended. The Eagles added seven points early in the fourth to make it 42-14.
Another takeaway gave Heritage Christian a chance to draw closer. The Eagles recovered a Lapel fumble near midfield but surrendered possession on downs with about five minutes remaining.
Lapel finished with 457 yards of offense, including 274 on the ground. Freshman Krayson Riggs contributed 56 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Cripe led the Bulldogs with four catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. Hamilton caught two passes for 66 yards and a score, and Johnson converted all six extra-point attempts.
