Game # 6 summary vs. West Bloomfield Lakers

Another faultless fall evening was on tap as the Adams Highlander faithful filed into West Bloomfield territory. Game time temperature was 70 degrees with sunny skies.

The Lakers received the opening kick- off at their 25-yard line. On 3rd and 11, linebacker Ben Dahlstrom and Joe Bernard stuffed the Laker running back to force them to punt. The Highlander’s first possession of the game started with good field position at the 48-yard line. Quarterback Jake Ball was sacked for an 11-yard loss setting up a 3rd down and 12 situation.

A pass interference call gave the Highlanders a first down. Senior receiver, Mike Hauser caught a Jake Ball pass good for 24 yards moving the ball to the 12- yard line. A field goal attempt by Kicker Bryan Kimball was blocked by the Laker defense. West Bloomfield’s second offensive possession ended as their 3rd down pass attempt was incomplete. The first quarter came to a score-less conclusion after both teams traded uneventful offensive possessions.

In the second quarter, the Highlanders offense showed signs of life with a first down run by fullback Cory Hamilton and a 30-yard pass to Mike Hauser. On 3rd down and 7, another Jake Ball to Hauser pass was complete for a first down. With the ball spotted at the 7-yard line senior wing back Brian Hollett rambled to the 2 –yard line. On third down, Ball’s pass attempt was incomplete setting up the second field goal attempt by the Highlanders. Again, the offensive line could not adjust to the Laker’s defensive line rush resulting in the second blocked field goal of the game. As the West Bloomfield defender scooped up the loose football and started to run up field, the Laker player attempted to lateral the ball to another teammate when it was fumbled. Nick Benacquisto recovered the ball for the Highlanders. What happened next went from disbelief to bizarre.

The head referee signaled that West Bloomfield would retain possession of the ball. As fans, players and coaches tried to understand the ruling on the field, coach Patritto wisely called for a time out. After a lengthy discussion with his crew and both head coaches, the referee’s call was correctly reversed. The Highlanders took possession on the 41 -yard line. Whew….

When play finally resumed, a great catch by senior Mike Hauser moved the ball to the 15- yard line. On 3rd and 10, a pass interference penalty on the Lakers moved the ball to the 8-yard line and a Highlander first down. An incomplete pass attempt on 3rd down set up yet another field goal attempt. This time the offensive line made up of; John Trucksis, Ben Dahlstrom, Peter Schmidt, Joe Bernard, Corey Gowman, Grant Boland, Nick Benacquisto, Dan Harris and long snapper Bryan Ruehle, held off the Laker defensive line surge to allow place kicker Bryan Kimball to boot a 22-yard field goal for the Highlander’s first score of the game.

Adams 3 West Bloomfield 0

The next Highlander offensive possession followed a three plays and out stand by the Laker offense. With the ball spotted on the 35-yard line a Jake Ball run for a first down, and a 4-yard run by Sophomore Josh Renel followed by a pass to Hauser went for another 4 yards set up the first Highlander touchdown. A pass to Brian Hollet from Jake Ball on 2nd and 6 was good for the score. A fierce West Bloomfield defensive line rush blocked the P. A. T. again.

Adams 9 West Bloomfield 0

The second half started with the Highlanders receiving the kick-off. After a first down run by QB Jake Ball and a 6-yard run by Cory Hamilton the Highlanders were forced to punt. The Laker’s first possession of the second half resulted in a punt after a nice play by Joe Bernard on 3rd and 6. The next offensive possessions by both teams resulted in punts. The Highlander offense kicked into gear on their third possession of the half when Mike Hauser made a beautiful catch good for a 22-yard gain. Fullback Hamilton added a 20-yard run as well as a 9- yard run. After a holding call on the Highlanders it was 3rd down and 20-yards for a first down. Another great effort by Hauser on a well-thrown pass by Jake Ball was good for 31-yards to move the ball down to the 12-yard line and a first down. On the next play Jake Ball ran one of his patented QB keepers into the end zone for an apparent touchdown. Unfortunately, Cory Hamilton’s fake was to good and one of the referee’s blew the whistle while Ball was running into the end zone. The touchdown was nullified and the 6-points was removed from the scoreboard. The stunned Highlander offense could not pound the ball in and West Bloomfield took over the ball on the 1-yard line.

Justice was restored promptly by the Highlander defense when Nick Morrin, Ben Dahlstrom and Nick Benacquisto stuffed the Laker QB in the end zone resulting in a 2-point safety.

Adams 11 West Bloomfield 0

The 4th quarter the Highlander offense and defense continued to play hard. With 7:23 left in the game the offense put together another well-executed drive with running plays by Hollett and Ball. On 2nd and 1 from the 7-yard line it was Jake Ball again taking in for the final score of the game. Kimball added the P. A. T.

The Highlander defense didn’t allow the Lakers to get on the board in the final minutes of the game. Jake Wilson, who seems to be always coming up with big defensive plays, came up with a fumble recovery. Brian Hollett added an interception with 2:25 left to close out the last gasp from the Lakers.

I guess one could say it wasn’t pretty but under the circumstances with inadvertent whistles, etc, the Highlanders are 6-0. Congratulations to the players and coaching staff for qualifying for the playoffs once again.

Final score; Adams Highlanders 18 West Bloomfield 0

Submitted by: D.Renel