Highland Baptist Christian School’s mascot may be the Bears, but it was someone described by his coach as a warrior that came up big Thursday night as HBCS opened its inaugural varsity football season with a 26-20 win over Natchitoches Christian Academy.

Highland quarterback Zach Fleming rushed for 201 yards and passed for 54 as the Bears survived a late rally from the Eagles to win its first varsity football game.

“That guy is a warrior,” said HBCS coach Artie Liuzza. “He’s going to fight and fight and fight.”

Highland Baptist running back Seth Woerner (5) heads upfield against Natchitoches Christian in the Bears’ season-opening 26-20 win Thursday at New Iberia Senior High. It was the first varsity game in the history of both schools. - Lee Ball / The Daily Iberian Advertisement

The Highland sophomore took the fight to the Eagles Thursday, giving the Bears the lead late in the fourth quarter after taking off on a scramble around the left side and running 16 yards into the end zone to give HBCS a 26-20 lead with 2:34 remaining in the game.

“I honestly can’t remember the play,” said Fleming. “I was running on pure adrenaline and just kept going.”

It was Fleming’s adrenaline that kept the Bears going on offense.

Despite having several plays in which he was tackled in the backfield by a hard-charging Eagles’ defensive line, Fleming was able to break free enough times to keep several drives alive.

He ended up rushing 31 times for 201 yards with touchdown runs of three, two and 16 yards. He also completed four of 12 passes for 54 yards despite misfiring on several passes and having his receivers drop several others.

“Quite honestly I was surprised when the passing game came when it did,” said Liuzza. “We’ll eventually get there. I told these guys that some of the routes probably won’t come until next season.”

While Fleming proved to be the majority of the offense for the Bears, it was a standout defensive play that sealed the win for Highland.

With under a minute left, Natchitoches Christian was driving for a touchdown to tie the game when linebacker Seth Woerner stopped a sweep by Eagles quarterback Keyeon Jenkins on a key third down play.

Natchitoches Christian converted on fourth down but Woerner’s stop forced the Eagles to call a time out to stop the clock and the visitors eventually ran out of time deep in Highland territory.

“I was covering the receiver and was going back with him when I realized that quarterback was planning to go around,” said Woerner. “I went back to the quarterback, grabbed his legs and took him down.

“I noticed during the game that they were trying to separate the receivers from the rest of the line so there would be a bigger hole for the quarterback to run through. I read it and took off.”

Jenkins kept Natchitoches Christian in the game early when it appeared that Highland would win going away.

He had a 70-yard kickoff return for a score after Highland’s first touchdown of the game and added an 89-yard run for a score in the fourth to tie the game at 20-20.

He finished the night with 206 yards rushing on 15 attempts.

“We just couldn’t put the ball in the end zone at the end,” said Natchitoches Christian coach Langston Sinclair, who only has 11 players on his team this year. “We came here with 11 men. It was a faith walk the whole time.

“I’m just glad we put 20 points on the board. We’re learning, we’ll be back.”

For Liuzza, stopping the Eagles on the last drive after giving up a last play touchdown in the jamboree last week was enough reason to smile.

“That’s the epitome of bend but don’t break,” said Liuzza. “I’m proud of these guys and the way they work hard. It was a sloppy and we have a lot of work to do and it’s going to be a long season for us. But these guys gave everything they had tonight and made the plays when they had to. I’m proud of them.”