After defeating Antioch 64-6 in the season opener at home, Heritage’s girls flag football team traveled across town to take on rival Liberty in a rematch of last year’s North Coast Section quarterfinal matchup in which the Patriots upset the then-top-seeded Lady Lions.

Heritage lost 13-7 back on Sept. 3 in a game in which what was thought to be a high-powered Patriot offense struggled against Liberty’s defense.

Sometimes you have to make changes in order to improve the team. So, like Stella did back in 1998, the Patriots made changes, and that is how Heritage got their groove back – literally. Those changes, and their effect on the team, was on full display in Heritage’s 40-0 win over Bay Valley Athletic League newcomer Emerald Wednesday night in Brentwood.

“We’ve gone into our groove,” Heritage junior Payton Ladrido said. “(Heritage head football coach Jason Jeffrey) has realized our strengths and he knows who is able to catch and who is able to run. He switched some positions around and I think we’ve really been able to see what we’re good at. He’s capitalized on that.”

Ladrido knows that experience first-hand, converting from a slot receiver to running back two weeks into the season.

“Early on I knew we had a lot of potential weapons,” Jeffrey said. “It’s like, ‘How do they all fit into the scheme?’ And we kind of changed the scheme from last year because we have the ability to throw the ball a little bit more. I definitely want the ball in Payton’s hands as much as possible, so that was kind of a given. …I’ve coined her nickname ‘The Rabbit.’ Her change of direction is just crazy. I think that definitely finding the right place for all of the girls, we’re kind of there.”

“(Running back) is my natural position,” Ladrido said. “This is my comfortable spot. This is where I played my freshman year and this is my safe zone.”

Ladrido scored on a 60-yard catch-and-run Wednesday night against Emerald giving her receiving touchdowns in back-to-back games. She grabbed a pair of touchdowns through the air in Monday night’s win at Deer Valley.

The Patriots not only won both of their games by shutouts this week, but they also outscored both Emerald and Deer Valley (on Monday) by a combined 65-0. Since the loss to Liberty, the Patriots have ripped through five in a row, three by shutout, while allowing just 12 points.

Jeffrey and assistant coach Nate Smith joke that the offense puts the people in the seats and that defense wins games and championships. As the season hits the midway point, Heritage is doing both.

Heritage’s offense has exploded like they did back on opening day against Antioch, outsourcing their five opponents a combined 165-12 through their current five-game win streak.

“Everybody (on Heritage) has more time together, more playing experience, and that, for us, has definitely benefitted us in terms of timing and knowing personnel and knowing where we’re solid,” Jeffrey said.” We’re just so balanced right now, and that’s a huge help when it comes to calling plays. We have a lot of options and we’re just jelling as a team overall. We’ve really bonded as a team.”

The offensive explosion starts with freshman quarterback Lily Brackel who, since the loss at Heritage, threw for two-or-more touchdowns in four of the last five games entering Wednesday night against the Aerouants. Her multi-passing touchdown streak was stopped on Wednesday night, as Brackel threw just one touchdown pass — a 33-yard bomb to senior Riley Bayot early in the second quarter. She did, however, run for a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter in the win.

“She’s a baller,” Jeffrey said of Brackel, who has tossed 16 touchdowns to just three interceptions so far through the season. “The girls have just rallied around her and it hasn’t really been a grade level thing.

“It’s just a very close, tight-knit group.”