ROMOLAND -- All week, Heritage coach Kraig Broach preached to his team that the way to get the school's first win -- and beat Lakeside -- was to practice and practice.

As he watched from the sideline with less than a minute left to go, he learned his players were listening.

Defensive back Manuel Naverrete picked off a Lakeside pass in the end zone, giving the Patriots an historic 18-13 win in their first home varsity game.

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"My knees were shaking, my gut was churning," Broach said. "At that point, I had to hope what we taught all week would pay off."

Lakeside coach Trevor Watters said his team turned the ball over too many times and didn't capitalize on the Patriots' mistakes.

"I really have to tip my hat to them," he said. "They outplayed and out-coached us tonight. They deserved to win."

Both teams came into Friday night's game after losing their first games. For Heritage, it was the first time a game was played in its new 5,000-seat stadium.

Broach, whose team does not yet have seniors, said he knew the Lancers would play physical and have more experience.

The Lancers took the lead early on when Nick Gates barreled into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

Then the Heritage defense stepped up.

Brandon Gross intercepted a pass, giving the Patriots the ball at the 48-yard line. Eight plays later, Clifford Smith carved his way 14 yards for a touchdown.

At the start of the second half, Patriots linebacker Robert Ortega gave the Patriots their first lead of the season when he stepped in front of a pass and rumbled 45 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.

The Lancers would respond with their own seven-play drive. Running back Jacob Waynick rushed seven times for all 50 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown run.

On the following possession, the Patriots went 79 yards in 15 plays to take back the lead, including several third down conversions.

Ortega said there was never any question from his teammates whether they could win.

"They bleed, we bleed," he said. "We worked hard for this and we wanted it."

The Lancers had three minutes left in the game to come back and quickly moved to the 19-yard line with less than a minute to play.

Then Lancers quarterback Corey Ball stepped back into the pocket and lofted the ball to the corner for wide receiver Donnie Pollard. The ball was knocked into the air and Naverrete came up with it and the historic first win.

"We fought and fought and fought," Broach said. "This was a great way to get that first win. It was amazing."