CHESAPEAKE — Two freshman quarterbacks started their first playoff game Friday when Indian River’s Lord Malik Heru and Kempsville’s TJ Cason met in a Class 5 Region A quarterfinal.

One showed he didn’t have any jitters, as Heru completed 11 of 19 passes for 232 yards and five touchdowns as the Braves ran away with a 47-14 win over the Chiefs. Indian River (9-2) travels to No. 2 seed Cox (9-2) in next week’s region semifinals.

Showing poise and uncanny leadership for a freshman, Heru picked apart Kempsville as he helped the Braves score on their first three possessions with touchdown passes of 18, 23 and 40 yards. Two of those touchdowns went to Elijah Boggs.

“I felt great coming in, and I felt well-prepared,” Heru said. “I just treated it like another game because there’s more to come.

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