Hifo, Takitaki Lead Way as Heritage Defeats Temescal Canyon

Limihai Hifo beats Temescal Canyon's Jacob Zinda across the goal line for one of his two touchdowns in Heritage's 48-28 victory Friday night.

They're cousins, but they call themselves brothers. On the football field, they are warriors -- and that's what matters most to the members of the Heritage High School football team.

Limihai Hifo rushed for 154 yards and and one touchdown and scored again on a pass reception, while Sione Takitaki ran for 62 yards and two TDs to lead the Patriots to a 48-28 Sunbelt League win over visiting Temescal Canyon Friday night.

Heritage (2-0, 6-1) took the lead right from the start, scoring on Jalen Glover's 88-yard kickoff return on the game's opening play. Pounding the Temescal defensive front with the solid running of Hifo, Takitaki and others, the Patriots never looked back.

In fact, Heritage has such depth at running back, Hifo and Takitaki -- both seniors -- are allowed frequent breaks while backs such as junior Isaiah Morrow (41-yard TD run) and sophomore Glover enter the game to throw different looks at the defense.

"People know when it's their turn to shine," said Takitaki (left), a bulldozer of a running back at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds. "Having more guys to run in there helps keep everyone's legs fresh."

Indeed, no one on the Patriots squad seemed tired as they ran up and down the field with the Titans, who fell to 1-1 in league and 3-4 overall.

Following Glover's initial touchdown, the Patriots got the ball right back on a fumble recovery during Temescal Canyon's kickoff return. Within minutes, Heritage led 14-0 following a 21-yard pass from quarterback Brett Virgil to Hifo.

Hifo scored again later in the game on a 3-yard touchdown run. He was an aggressive ballcarrier throughout the contest.

"I was happy with our fast start," Hifo said. "I thought it would be closer than this. It's nice to have the young guys stepping up."

Temescal Canyon cut the deficit to 14-7 on a touchdown run by Armani Simmons midway through the first quarter, but Heritage re-established control with Morrow's 41-yard touchdown romp for a 21-7 lead. By the time Hifo capped a 66-yard drive with a 3-yard TD run early in the second quarter, the Patriots were comfortably in charge.

Takitaki scored both his touchdowns in the second half, on a 1-yard run and 10-yard run. Chris Nile also scored for the Patriots on a 34-yard pass from Virgil.

"We were able to throw the ball early in the game, which was nice to see," said Heritage coach Kraig Broach. "I have to give a lot of credit to the offensive line. Overall, we're playing better as a team."

Next Friday, Heritage plays at crosstown rival Paloma Valley, which is undefeated at 7-0.

Sione Takitaki heads toward the end zone on a 10-yard touchdown run in the second half Friday night.

Chris Nile hauls in a pass from quarterback Brett Virgil and beats the secondary for a touchdown.

Isaiah Morrow is off and running on a 41-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

Limihai Hifo takes to the air to avoid defenders on a run during the second half of Friday night's game.