ROSSVILLE - Thursday's game between conference co-leaders Heritage and Rossville was expected to be a heavyweight showdown, and it didn't disappoint.

In a game that wasn't decided until the game's final play, the Generals held on for a 22-20 victory over the Bulldogs in a battle of NGAC unbeatens.

The homestanding Bulldogs (4-1) drew first blood. After recovering a Heritage fumble on the third play of the game, the Rossville offense went 45 yards in just four plays with Jalyn Shelton capping the drive with a 20-yard touchdown run. Chris Henderson scored on the two-point conversion to stake the Blue-and-White to an early 8-0 lead.

But the Generals (5-0) would answer on their ensuing possession. An 18-yard sprint by Seth Roberson help set the table for a two-yard plunge by Luke Grant to get the visitors on the board. The conversion attempt was stopped, but Heritage recovered an onside kick and sent their offense back to work.

This time the Generals chewed up nearly 4:30 off the clock. Grant was 2-of-2 in the air on the march, hitting Trent Kiniry for 22 yards and Noah Keaton for 18 to move the ball inside the Rossville 10.

On second-and-goal from the Bulldogs' 6-yard line, Corbee Wilson found Keaton on a rollout pass, and the two hooked up against for the conversion that gave Heritage a 14-8 lead.

Rossville needed just under a minute to respond with a highlight-reel play. Shelton made a nice shoetop grab on a pass from Hunter McKenzie, regained his balance, spun to avoid a defender, and broke two more tackles on his way to a 57-yard touchdown which tied the game. The conversion attempt failed.

Heritage, however, would find the end zone one more time before intermission.

A 22-yard run by Grant moved the ball into the red zone, and on third-and-goal from the 4-yard line, the Generals' fake field goal attempt on the final play of the half paid off as Kiniry made a diving catch of a Wilson pass for six points. Grant provided the conversion to give the Generals a 22-14 lead at the break.

The Bulldogs caught a break in third quarter when Heritage misfired on a fake punt at its own 26, but Shelton coughed up the ball on a fourth down run from the Generals' 9-yard line.

Four plays later, Heritage would attempt another fake punt, this time from their own 11. Rossville's Christian Gentry stepped in front of punter Cole Wilcox's pass and returned it to the Generals' 2-yard line, where McKenzie would plow in on the very next play. But the Heritage defense stacked up McKenzie on the conversion attempt to preserve the narrow 22-20 lead.

Heritage would begin their final drive from their own 38, and took advantage of three critcial offside penalties on Rossville - two coming on fourth-and-one plays - to move the ball down to the Bulldogs 3-yard line with just over one minute to play. But Roberson would fumble while diving for the goal line, giving Rossville new life inside its own 1-yard line.

On the second play of the drive, Shelton barrelled through Heritage defense for 57 bone-shattering yards before the Generals were finally able to bring him down. But a block in the back penalty brought the ball back to midfield, and the Generals were able to sack McKenzie for a 10-yard loss on the next play.

Down to one final snap from his own 39, McKenzie heaved the ball toward Grayson Moore, but HMS defensive back Jameson Wright came up with the pick to seal the win.

Heritage rushed 44 times for 188 yards, paced by 75 yards on 14 carries by Roberson. Rossville had 148 yards on just 19 carries, while Shelton leading all rushers with 123 yards on 11 carries.