Polar Bears’ Heston steps up in senior campaign

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Returning a wealth of talent from last year’s Class AA runner-up team, Fairmont Senior was expected to again feature a balanced offense with a number of skill position players joining quarterback Connor Neal to form a potent unit.

Through four games, that’s been exactly the case for the Polar Bears, rated No. 1 in the Class AA MetroNews power rankings and No. 2 in the first batch of WVSSAC playoff ratings last week.

How Fairmont Senior (4-0) has gotten to the point of outscoring its first four opponents this season, 187-53, however, has been at least somewhat of a surprise.

Early on in a season opening 46-20 win at Robert C. Byrd, Caleb Walker suffered a broken jaw — and he’s yet to play since. Walker was one of the team’s top returning players and after proving his worth at wide receiver and running back a year ago, he was expected to serve as the primary ball carrier.

Two weeks after the victory against the Eagles, the Polar Bears’ backfield took another hit when Breeden Gilbert suffered an apparent leg injury in a 43-12 win at North Marion. Gilbert, a transfer from Tennessee, had made strong a strong initial impression and FSHS coach Nick Bartic had high hopes for the brother of Bryson Gilbert, a former standout for the Polar Bears who earned first-team all-state honors in 2016 and 2017.

In an important contest last Thursday against Bridgeport, the Polar Bears were forced to play without Walker and Gilbert and needed a replacement in the backfield to step up.

Rhett Heston did that and then some, carrying the ball seven times for 92 yards and a touchdown in a convincing 45-14 win against the Indians.

“Rhett came in at running back and he has not done that his entire high school career, so that was impressive that he was able to get it going,” Bartic said. “But we were able to do those things because it starts, as always, with our front five. Those guys were awesome tonight.”

Heston is a key piece of the team’s defensive line as an end and registered a sack and a tackle for loss in the team’s latest win as he continues to make a major impact on both sides of the ball. Now Heston can add running back to his duties.

“When Breeden went down, I knew I was probably going to have to step up and play a tougher role running the ball,” Heston said. “I got one rush in at North Marion and it got called back because of a holding penalty. 

“But all week at practice, they were drilling it and making sure the timing between Connor and I was right. Connor and I, and the whole team really has been playing since we were 5 years old. So Connor and I already have that chemistry and I’m used to running the ball.”

For Neal, who had perhaps his best performance as a Polar Bear against Bridgeport, having Heston behind him brought back memories.

“When we were little kids, he used to run the ball all the time,” Neal recalled. “So it was just like backyard football back in the day. It was awesome.

“It shows that we have a next man up mentality, we’re a scrappy team and we can only go up from here really.”

Neal thrived with Heston at running back, as the left-handed signal caller completed 21-of-26 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns, including a 15-yard TD pass to Heston for the game’s first points.

Before the standout showing against Bridgeport, Heston even got some advice from one of Neal’s family members.

“His dad came up to me and was like, ‘Remember when you used to hit the hole. That’s all I want you to do tonight. Don’t run east and west. Run north and south.’ And that’s what I did,” Heston said. “The line, I can’t thank them enough. They opened up the holes and I just hit them and banged them.”

While Gilbert is likely to return before Walker, the Polar Bears hope to have both back in the lineup before the regular season concludes.

In the meantime, FSHS has a reliable option at tailback in Heston, who showed big play ability with a 40-yard TD run in the third quarter. Heston may be relied on heavily again this week with the Polar Bears set to take on University, which has a quick strike offense but has struggled to stop the run in its two losses.

“It’s good to know that we’re able to perform like that with two big dogs out,” Bartic said, “and we’ll try to take this momentum into next week.”





More High School Sports

High School Sports
Photo gallery: University defeats Bridgeport, 12-3
March 28, 2024 - 6:24 pm
High School Sports
Class AAA Boys Basketball All-State List
State champion Shady Spring lands two on first team, including captain Ammar Maxwell.
March 28, 2024 - 8:42 am
High School Sports
Montague & Nutter each drive in four runs as Morgantown rallies past University, 8-6
The Mohigans took their only lead of the game in the sixth inning with Caleb Nutter's 3-run double.
March 27, 2024 - 9:59 pm
High School Sports
Class AA Boys Basketball All-State List
Charleston Catholic's Jayallen Turner captains first team.
March 27, 2024 - 12:10 am