Weeks ending Sept. 7, 14

Bledsoe busts out

(Editor’s note: Blount Press Row has been in the process of moving its web hosting the last two weeks, resulting in a few reports not making it onto the site. The absence of players of the week for Weeks 1 through 3 was a regrettable casualty we wanted to address first.)

Orlando Bledsoe runs for another big gain last week. Photo by Jolanda Jansma

The touchdown scamper to bring Heritage back Friday night at Seymour was epic.

Heritage junior Orlando Bledsoe has delivered back-to-back, monster games in earning Aubrey’s/Blount Press Row Player of the Week honors for each of the last two weeks. The Mountaineers snapped a 20-game losing streak with a down-to-the-wire, 41-38 win over the Eagles. Bledsoe was a big reason why.

The Heritage fullback rushed for 262 yards and a touchdown. His 72-yard, cutback scoring run brought the Mountaineers back within a touchdown, 28-21, with seven minutes remaining in a shootout first half. Bledsoe carried seven times on a 15-play, 99-yard drive with two minutes remaining that gave Heritage the winning margin. Khalil Abuhania sprinted 26 yards for the winning touchdown.

In a Week 2 loss at Bearden, Bledsoe ran for 157 and three touchdowns. His influence has the Mountaineers on a remarkable pace this year. After a combined 55 points in all 10 games last season, Heritage has 77 through three games this year – including a 26-7 loss to South-Doyle, a 54-28 loss to Bearden and the streak-busting win over the Eagles. South-Doyle shut out the Mountaineers, 40-0, last season.