Those viewing the Rockdale vs. Heritage football game in their homes on WSB TV, they may have wanted to adjust their dials.
But the channel adjustment wouldn't have done anything because the Heritage defense was just that dominant in a 41-0 win over Rockdale.
The Patriots clinched the Conyers Cup and won their fourth game in a row, starting the year out 4-0 for the first time since 1998 when current Athletic Director Chuck Landy was the head coach of the football team.
Heritage achieved the undefeated mark by holding the Bulldogs to just 42 yards of total offense on four first downs, and kept Rockdale (1-3) from advancing any further than its own 41-yard line.
"Our defensive line was very dominant," Heritage coach Chad Frazier said. "They didn't cross the 50-yard line."
The Patriots' defense also led directly to the first two scores of the game.
After a fumble gave the Patriots the ball in Rockdale territory, Heritage scored two touchdowns that were both called back due to penalties. However, the third time was the charm as the Patriots lined up for a field goal on fourth-and-goal from the Rockdale 16. Instead of kicking for three points, Heritage faked the field goal as Ryan Sutton found Dustyn Moore for a 16-yard touchdown pass.
On Rockdale's ensuing drive, quarterback Zach Powell threw an interception to Heritage's Chase Alford. Alford gave the ball back to the Patriots' offense on the Rockdale 25-yard line.
From their Heritage ran five plays, capped off by a 2-yard TD run by Dominic Craft with 4:52 left in the first quarter.
"Turnovers can swing momentum in your favor," Frazier said.
The Patriots' defense didn't have a chance to cause a third-straight turnover on the Bulldogs next possession following Craft's score as Heritage recovered an onside kick.
After the onsides kick, Heritage marched to the Rockdale 23, where they were at third-and-11. Quami Stanley caught a 15-yard pass from Sutton to extend the drive. Two plays later Stanley rumbled 3 yards into the end zone for a 21-0 Heritage lead with 11:15 left in the second quarter.
After a short punt by Rockdale, Heritage recovered the football on the Bulldogs' 40-yard line less than two minutes later. A 21-yard pass from Sutton to Craft set up Stanley's second touchdown of the night, a 19-yard run with 9:32 left in the first half.
Ahead 28-0 at halftime, Heritage continued to stifle Rockdale's offense as the Bulldogs managed just eight yards on 31 carries.
"Unfortunately we're young up front, and it showed tonight," Rockdale coach Michael Etheridge said. "They dominated the line of scrimmage."
With Heritage controlling the line of scrimmage they scored two more times, both in the fourth quarter.
Ryan Sutton hit Alford on a 12-yard TD pass with 11:39 left, to make it 34-0 after the extra point failed, and Sutton had another touchdown with a 1-yard run with 2:56 to play.
The Patriots leave Rockdale County for the first time Friday when they travel to Cedar Shoals. Rockdale will play its second cross-town rival game in as many weeks as it travels to Salem on Friday.
