Utica (5-2, 1-1) was riding a five game winning streak when Heath (5-2, 2-0) came to town, but the Redskins couldn’t keep their momentum going against a tough OCC foe, and fell 21-14.
The Bulldogs started off the scoring early with a score in the first minute of the game on an 81 yard rushing touchdown by Connor Corbett, who took a toss outside the tackles, found a hole and went untouched leaving defenders in the dust for an easy score. Cam Montgomery hit the extra point to go up 7-0. Utica was able to tie it up with six minutes left on a Hayden Piper eight-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Chinn. Logen Fisher hit the extra point to make it 7-7.
Heath scored at the beginning of the second quarter as well to make it a 14-7 game on a two-yard run by Brayden Bayles and a Montgomery kick, and then ran Corbett another in from five yards out, with three minutes left to go.
In the third quarter, Piper connected with Chinn for six yards, and with an extra point by Fisher it was 21-14 with 11 minutes to go. Heath did well holding off the Redskins the rest of the way, and took a one touchdown victory.
Piper was 7-for-13 for 82 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also ran 15 times for 52 yards. Chinn caught five passes for 25 yards and two touchdowns. Justin Giffin had 12 carries for 66 yards. On defense, Dylan Cooperrider recorded three tackles and a sack. Chase Bennett and Tyler Collura had 11 tackles each.
Remaining games for Utica:
Friday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m. at Johnstown-Monroe
Friday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m. at Northridge
Friday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m. vs. Lakewood
