Under clear skies and crisp autumn temperatures the Rochester Adams Highlander football team started their MHSAA division 2 championship campaign. The 6-3 Royal Oak Kimball Knights were the first test for our 9-0 Highlanders. Would there be any signs of a Falcon hangover?

 The Highlanders kicked off to the Kimball Knights. Their first possession began on the 25-yard line. After a 7-yard run up the middle of the Highlander defense a holding call on Kimball brought up a 2^nd down and 8. A nice pass to a huge tight end, Josh Nims, moved the ball to the 44-yard line. On 1^st and 10, Cory Momont and Nick Benacquisto put the hammer down on the Kimball RB for a 2-yard loss. Defensive back Mike Hauser came up strong on a power sweep on 3^rd down to force the Knights to punt. Hauser fielded the ball cleanly and moved the rock up to the 20-yard line where the Highlander offense would take over.

 On 1^st and 10, fullback John Stirzinger ripped through the middle of the Kimball defense for an 8-yard gain. QB Jake Ball, Back over center after healing up for this championship run, ran for a 4-yard gain and a Highlander 1^st down.

 After 2 incomplete passes and a loss of 2-yards on a QB keeper the Highlanders had to punt. A short punt of 20-yards gave the Knights great field position at the 49-yard line. Their second possession resulted in a punt as the Highlander defense showed their mettle after a 7-yard run junior linebacker, Matt Petrusha, stuffed the Kimball RB for a loss. Then on 3^rd down defensive lineman Benacquisto came up with a big play to kill this drive.

 The Highlander offense began their second possession of the game at the 26-yard line. Slot back Josh Renel picked up 8-yards and Stirzinger added 3 more for a 1^st down. A Highlander offsides penalty presented a 1^st and 15-yard challenge. Stirzinger picked up 6-yards before Ball’s Pass to Hauser was good for 25-yards and another Highlander 1^st down. With the ball spotted at the 36-yard line, Renel ripped off 7-yards and Cory Hamilton ran for 5-yards to keep the chains moving. Now from the 21-yard line QB Jake Ball took it down to the 10-yard line after one of his patented Ball veer option runs. Sirzinger blasted his way through the Kimball defense and into the end zone to get the Highlander’s on the board. Bryan Kimball added the P. A. T. Kick.

Adams 7 Kimball 0

 With 1:59 left in the first quarter Kimball returned the kick off 21-yards to the 31-yard line. On 1^st down Kimball RB D. J. Oke ran for a 65-yard gain before Hauser and Hollett made a touchdown saving tackle. On 1^st down from the 6-yard line the Kimball QB found tight end Josh Nims alone in the end zone for a Kimball touchdown. They added the P. A. T. to tie the score.

Adams 7 Kimball 7

 While still in the first quarter with 1:22 remaining, Brian Hollett took the kick off and ran hard for 26-yards to the 36-yard line where the Highlanders would start their third drive of the contest. The Stirzinger and Ball combination was too much for the Kimball defense to handle. Stizinger’s long run of 46-yards moved the ball to the 7-yard line. Jake Ball finished off the drive as he rambled in to the end zone for the touchdown. Kimball added the P. A. T.

Adams 14 Kimball 7

 Kimball returned the kickoff 22-yards before junior Mark Hammett tackled the ball carrier. The Knights 4^th possession didn’t last long when linebacker Nick Morrin intercepted the pass and took it to the 45-yard line. The Highlander offense took full advantage of the turnover. A 22-yard pass to Hauser and a 5-yard run by Gierak set up a Cory Hamilton run for 13-yards and the next Highlander score. A bad snap thwarted the extra point attempt.

Adams 20 Kimball 7

  On the Knights ensuing kickoff kick returner D. J. Oke fumbled and Bryan Kimball recovered the ball on the 36-yard line. Yes, Kimball recovered Kimball’s fumble.

After an illegal Block in the back call against the Highlanders on 1^st down, Hamilton ran for 14-yards to the 37-yard line. Josh Renel ran for 9 more yards before Jake Ball pitched the ball to Renel who ran it down to the 15-yard line.  Renel wasn’t done with this drive as he took it to the house for another Highlander touchdown. Our Kimball kicked the P. A. T. that was good.

Adams 27 Kimball 7

 With 7:56 left in the 1^st half and the Highlanders up by three touchdowns I think it’s safe to say that this team was NOT suffering from the dreaded Falcon hangover.

 Mark Hammett again covered the Highlander kickoff. The Knights 5^th possession resulted in a punt after the defense flexed their muscle. Big plays by Chad Gierak, Tom Fedolak and Joe Bernard shut down the Kimball offense once again.

The Highlanders took over on the 43-yard line. Brian Hollett showed his quickness and power as he ran for 15-yards down to the 28-yard line. Stirzinger picked up 2-yards but an incomplete pass to Hauser on 2^nd down and a tipped pass that also was incomplete on 3^rd down brought up a 4^th down and 8. Coach Patritto called for a 43- yard field goal attempt. Kimball kick was just short.

Royal Oak Kimball’s next possession again went nowhere after Corey Momont made a nice play on 2^nd and 10 and Wayne Sanders sacked the QB for a loss on 3^rd down. The Knight’s punt was taken by Hauser and returned to the 49-yard line.

With 3:26 showing on the clock, slot back Hollett ran the counter for 9-yards. On 2^nd down and 1 Jake Ball hit senior receiver Mike Hauser for a 41-yard touchdown pass. Hauser made a nice move to get into the end zone for the score. The Highlanders went for a 2 point conversion running play using Gierak at slot back but he was stopped short of the goal line.

Adams 33 Kimball 7

 Again, Kimball’s offense just could not get into any rhythm against the Highlander defense. After our kick off went out of bounds, Kimball started at the 35-yard line. After a 6-yard run on 1^st down, DB Cameron Copacia knocked down a pass attempt. Then on 3^rd down, Wilson and Hollett combined to break up another pass attempt. Hauser fielded the punt and the Highlanders started this drive from the 28-yard line.

 Jake Wilson took over as the Highlander QB. Stirzinger picked up 14 tough yards and Wilson added 15 more to move the ball to the 41-yard line. After in incomplete pass Wilson ran for 11-yards to pick up a 1^st down. After a loss of 6-yards and facing a 2^nd down and 16, Wilson found Josh Renel in the end zone. Renel jumped up in between 2 Kimball DB’s to haul in Wilson ’s pass for a Highlander touchdown. Kimball added the P. A. T. kick. At the end of the 1^st half;

Adams 40 Kimball 7

 At the beginning of the 2^nd half, Kimball’s onside kick attempt was recovered by the Highlanders. Two solid running plays by Hamilton moved the ball to the 43-yard line. The Highlanders fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Royal Oak .

 Kimball’s 1^st possession of the half stalled after Mike Hauser made a nice play to break up Kimball’s pass attempt on 1^st down.

Hollett stopped their power sweep on 2nd down and Fedolak pressured the QB on 3^rd down to force Kimball to punt.        

Copacia fielded the punt for the Highlanders.

Our second possession of the half ended in an interception after Wilson took to the air on 3^rd and 10.  Kimball took over on the 48-yard line and moved the ball steadily to the 22-yard line.

With 5:17 left in the third quarter, Kimball ran a reverse that was defended very well by Momont, Copacia and Bernard.

On 3^rd down and 7, Benacquisto and Bernard teamed up to sack the QB for a loss of 4-yards. Kimball had to go for it on 4^th down and this time it was Geirak and Wilson who stopped the Kimball QB short of the 1^st down.

 The Highlander’s started from their own 16-yard line. Hamilton and Renel ran for a first down before an illegal motion penalty against the highlanders moved the ball back 5-yards. On 1^st and 15, QB Wilson ran back to back QB keepers to move the ball down to the 41-yard line and another 1^st down. Hamilton and Wayne Sanders took over the running duties before QB Ben Keider ran a QB sneak to get the 1^st down. RB Andrew Marshall got in the act and picked up 5-yards before Hamilton ran the rock down to the 10-yard line and another Highlander 1^st down.

On 2^nd and 11, Cory Hamilton was not going to be denied as he ran into the end zone for the final Highlander touchdown of the game. Bryan Kimball added the P. A. T...

Adams 47 Kimball 7

 There was 8:29 in the fourth quarter showing on the clock when the Highlanders kicked off once again to the Knights.

You guessed it; Mark Hammett made another tackle on the kick team. As Kimball’s offense tried in desperation to move the ball on our defense, sophomore Monahan picked off a pass to allow the Highlander offense to run out the clock in the game and on Kimball’s final season. Final score:

Adams 47 Kimball 7

A well played game by a well prepared football team.

Congratulations to the players and the coaching staff on this playoff win!

D. Renel