Photo by Jim Marczesky Heathwood Hall’s Walker Sojourner tries to break free from Cardinal Newman’s Rico Martinez. Mac Whalen threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns, all to Joseph English, as the Heathwood Hall Highlanders completed a perfect regular season by downing the Cardinal Newman Cardinals 28–0 on Senior Night.

The fireworks started quickly for the Highlanders

10–0, 4–0) when Whalen hit English for a 54–yard touchdown on Heathwood’s first offensive play, and Cole Fowble’s extra point gave the Highlanders a 7–0 lead. Cardinal Newman (1–8, 0–4) then got some offense going behind Joey DeAngelis and Nick Palevich, who combined for a couple of first downs before the drive stalled, forcing a punt.

The Highlanders got the ball back at their own 18 and moved the ball down the field behind Whalen’s passing to seniors English and Benji Stern. The Highlanders cashed in the drive on a 1–yard plunge by senior Walker Sojourner, increasing their lead to 14–0 early in the second quarter.

Photo by Jim Marczesky Heathwood Hall QB Mac Whalen throws a pass over the Cardinal Newman defense. After another Cardinal punt, the Highlanders moved the ball down the field easily before getting stopped at the Cardinal four–yard line. Fowble came out to attempt a 21–yard field goal, but the kick was low, and Tommy Winterstein blocked the kick, giving the Cardinals a little hope. Alas, the Cardinals had to punt again, and the Highlanders raced downfield to get into position for Fowble to attempt a 48–yard field goal at the end of the half, but this one fell short, leaving the score 14–0 at the half.

In the third quarter, Whalen was briefly shaken up, and the Cardinals took advantage, as DeAngelis intercepted backup quarterback Jance Shine to give the Cardinals good field position. Cardinal Newman could do nothing with the drive, however, and gave the ball back to the Highlanders.

Whalen then calmly led Heathwood down the field, hitting English with a 31–yard touchdown pass. After another punt, Whalen hit English for their third touchdown pitch–and– catch, this one from 40 yards out to complete the scoring for the evening.

Cardinal Newman got some offense going in the fourth quarter with DeAngelis following good downfield blocking by senior Richard Hodaly for a 26–yard run, and Conor Egan converted a fourth–and–8 play with a 19 yard run. However, Heathwood stopped Winterstein just short on a fourth–and– long with just over a minute to go to preserve the shutout.

English ended with 187 yards on 10 catches. DeAngelis finished with 111 yards on 23 carries for the Cardinals.

Heathwood Hall hosts Porter–Gaud this Friday, November 6, in the first round of the SCISA playoffs.