VIRGINIA BEACH — Everyone now knows about Indian River’s amazing freshman quarterback, Lord Malik Heru.
But he’ll be the first to tell you that his success this season doesn’t happen without his receiving corps of Elijah Boggs, Jason Preston, Donovan Brown and Valentino Shaw.
The foursome showed up in a big way on a frigid Friday afternoon to help the visiting Braves (11-2) beat Green Run 20-14 to win the Class 5 Region A title. Indian River will play at Highland Springs next week in a state semifinal.
Heru’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Brown with 4:57 left was the game-winner.
FINAL – INDIAN RIVER WINS CLASS 5 REGION A TITLE.
INDIAN RIVER 20, GREEN RUN 14 pic.twitter.com/UD3lTzhTmw
— Larry Rubama (@LHRubama) November 28, 2025
“This win means a lot,” said Preston, a senior who finished with three receptions for 33 yards. “Throughout the whole offseason, Coach (Brandon Carr) has been preaching, ‘This is the team that’s going to win it all.’”
It’s the second time Indian River has beaten Green Run for the region title. The Braves also did it in 2023 on a late field goal.
After a scoreless first quarter, Shaw caught a 12-yard touchdown pass to give the Braves a 7-0 lead.
Indian River wide receiver Elijah Boggs (0) hauls in a long touchdown pass during a game against Green Run at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. (Ted Calise/For The Virginian-Pilot)
They had a chance to add to their lead as they were driving deep into Green Run territory, but Heru threw an interception — one of two he had for the day — that halted the drive.
He would shake it off, but not before Green Run (12-1) tied the game in the third quarter when Charles Jackson III took a short pass from Luke Ashcraft and went 60 yards for a touchdown.
Indian River came right back when Heru threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Boggs, who made an amazing catch over the defender.
Green Run, which was playing in its fifth consecutive region title game, answered on Zaevion Cleveland’s 20-yard touchdown pass from Ashcraft with 8:53 left in the game.
Not to be outdone, Heru and the Braves drove down field for the eventual game-winner.
“Everyone thought we were going to lose because they beat us last year,” said Boggs, who finished with two receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown. “But we knew we had the better team, and the better wide receivers. And I got a great quarterback to throw me the ball, and we went out winners.”
Heru completed 12 for 19 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns. He admitted the cold temperatures created problems early as he threw for only 40 yards in the first half.
“The weather did impact the game,” he said. “But I had to trust in myself and trust in my guys for all the hard work we put in over the summer, and it showed today.”
He said that winning a region title as a freshman was definitely impressive.
“It’s great to come in as a freshman and have guys show up,” he said. “It feels great, but we’re not done yet.”
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
