Wake Forest runs rampant, hands Heritage its first blemish of the season. Here’s how

Wake Forest running back Michael Dipasquale took command of the game for the Cougars, showing off his skills at both the short-game and long-game in a pivotal 23-12 win at Heritage. The result moved Wake Forest (6-2, 3-0) into sole possession of first place in the Northern Athletic 4A Conference while handing the Huskies their first loss of the season.

Dipasquale opened the game’s scoring with a one-yard end zone plunge that gave the Cougars the lead for good with 6:07 to play in the opening half. Dipasquale’s touchdown run off left tackle for 29 yards just before the fourth quarter’s two-minute mark helped cement the final score.

“Our offensive line, they’ve worked extremely hard the last two weeks,” Wake Forest coach Reggie Lucas said. “I think we saw that tonight.”

Myles Dickens also found success on the ground for the Cougars, popping off for an 85-yard run up the middle and to the end zone just over two minutes after Dipasquale’s scamper. Ninth-grade kicker Evan Helfrich set the halftime score at 14-0.

“We knew it was going to be close at some point,” Lucas said. “I was glad my guys kept their composure, fought through the toughness of the game, and we were able to pull it out.”

Heritage quarterback Lex Thomas completed back-to-back third quarter passes (covering 44 yards) to Tavares Carter. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound sophomore Carter corralled the second of those passes for a 33-yard touchdown reception near the third period’s seven-minute mark.

Huskies defensive back Derrick Hunter made his presence felt on special teams later in the third, with a 57-yard touchdown on a blocked punt with 1:03 remaining in the quarter, but a blocked extra point following Carter’s touchdown and a missed two-point conversion after Hunter’s score left the home team trailing, 14-12.

Heritage (7-1, 2-1) was in Wake Forest territory inside the 10-minute mark looking to take the lead, but Cougars defensive lineman Chris Allen stopped Huskies rusher Coleson Fields on fourth-and-two to force a possession change.

Wake Forest’s Fuller Howard and Jeremiah Bethel pressured Thomas into an end zone intentional grounding for a safety with 2:20 left, and Dipasquale scored his second touchdown on the very next offensive play after the free kick to ice the game.