Corbin Pierson scores the first Jefferson touchdown in a Jefferson victory over Heritage High in Leesburg on Friday night. David Pennock

LEESBURG, Va. — After scoring only 16 total points in its previous three games — all losses — Jefferson defeated Heritage (Virginia) 26-14 last Friday in Leesburg.

The Cougars were winning for the first time in the 2019 campaign after falling to Millbrook (Va.), Sherando (Va.), Musselman and Spring Mills in their first four games of the season.

Heritage was left with the same 1-4 overall record. The Pride had previous losses to Riverside, Millbrook and Fauquier along with a 14-6 win over Kettle Run in its first four games of 2019.

Jefferson is back home this week to face Dominion (Va.), another Leesburg high school. Dominion will come into tonight’s 7 p.m. game in Shenandoah Junction with a similar 1-4 overall record after getting its first win last week, 20-7, over Rock Ridge.

In limiting Heritage to only two touchdowns, the Cougars were more in control than they had been in yielding 164 points in their first four games.

Seniors Chris Dyche (56) and Cory Schaffer (65) lead the Cougar defense in stopping Heritage High 26-14 on Friday night. David Pennock

Tonight’s Jefferson vs. Dominion game will be homecoming for the Cougars.

Following next week’s open date, the Cougars will host once-beaten South Hagerstown on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. Defending Class AAA state champion Martinsburg will host Jefferson at Cobourn Field on Friday, Oct. 25.

With half the 10-game schedule now played, the Cougars still maintain a mathematical chance to reach the 16-school West Virginia playoffs. There are only 29 schools in the Class AAA ranks in all of the state. Several teams with 5-5 records reached the 2018 playoffs. To reach the playoffs, the Cougars would have to defeat Dominion (1-4 record), winless Hedgesville, Washington and its two wins and then find some way to get past either South Hagerstown (a 38-0 winner over Spring Mills this past week) or unbeaten Martinsburg and its 47-game winning streak.

Jon Gidney III looks to make additional yards after catching a pass from Corbin Pierson in the second quarter of Jefferson's game in Leesburg on Friday night. David Pennock