With the game time temperature hovering around 70 degrees you would have thought this game was being played in early September instead of early November. We’ll take it.

 The Hazel Park Viking brought there 10-1 record into Highlander country with the division 2 district championship on the line. The Vikings received the kick off and Matt Petrusha along with Chris Gierak stopped RB Greg Lewis on the 25-yard line. Running backs Chris Lange and Greg Lewis tested the Highlander defense as they moved the ball to the 40-yard line on two running plays. After a 5-yard run by Lewis, the defense faced a 3^rd down and 2 at the 48-yard line. Senior defensive lineman Nick Benacquisto stopped the Viking RB for a 1-yard gain and forced Hazel Park to punt.

 The first Highlander drive of the game began on the 30-yard line. After fullback John Stirzinger picked up a 3-yard gain, QB Jake Ball found daylight on a QB keeper and picked up a nice gain before he fumbled trying to squeeze out one more yard. Hazel Park recovered on the 48-yard line. Viking RB Greg Lewis left the game with an injury to his knee.

 The Highlander defense, coached by Mark Macfarland, Tim Mullins, Trevor Potts and Pat Cavanaugh came up with big plays. Linebacker’s Cory Momont and Matt Petrusha each made a big play this series to force the Vikings to punt. Their punt went into the end zone and the Highlander offense started their first possession from the 20-yard line.

 Following a loss of 4-yards when Ball was sacked on 1^st down, a 24-yard pass to Brian Hollett moved the ball to the 40-yard line. Two running plays by Stirzinger brought up a 3^rd down and 8 situation. Senior receiver / slot back Hollett made an outstanding one hand catch on Balls nice pass for a 52-yard touchdown.

Kimball added the P. A. T. Kick.

Adams 7 Hazel Park 0

 After Kimball’s kick went into the end zone for a touchback, the Vikings started this possession on the 20-yard line. Following a 13-yard pass completion, LB Nick Morrin stopped the Vikings QB as he scrambled for a 4-yard gain. On 2^nd down, Defensive end Tom Fedolak sacked the QB for a big loss of 13-yards to bring up a 3^rd down and 19 predicament. Fedolak showed his athleticism when he made a tackle downfield to force the Vikings to punt once again.

 The Highlander’s third possession of the game demonstrated the various weapons this team has on offense. Four different players and great blocking by the offensive line moved the ball from the 24-yard line across the field and into the end zone. Josh Renel reeled off two runs of 11 and 20-yards to move the rock to the 44-yard line. Stirzinger picked up 1-yard and Ball ran for 7more to bring up a 3^rd down and 2. Jake Ball then picked up the 1^st down on a QB sneak. On 1^st down and 10, Ball was sacked again for a loss of 10-yards. Facing a 2^nd down and 20, Ball started up field on a QB keeper. Weaving his way in and out of defenders, Brian Hollett laid the wood to a Viking player to allow Ball to pick up21-yards and a 1^st down.

 With 10:02 remaining in the 2^nd quarter a holding call negated Renel’s 7-yard gain. On 1^st down and 16, slot back Josh Renel ran for 24-yards to the 1-yard line.

Ball finished off the drive by getting into the end zone for a Highlander touchdown. Mr. Reliable, Bryan Kimball added the P. A. T. Kick.

Adams 14 Hazel Park 0

Hazel Park started their 4^th drive of the contest on their 20-yard line thanks to Kimball’s excellent kick into the end zone.  The Vikings tried a reverse on 1^st down and 10 that DB Cameron Copacia stopped for a 1-yard gain. Nick Morrin ran down the QB as he scrambled out of the pocket to force another punt. Mike Hauser returned the punt up field for 6-yards to give the Highlander offense the ball at the 44-yard line.   

 This next Highlander possession fell short after an incomplete pass, A QB sack for a 3-yard loss, and a wayward screen pass attempt for another loss of yardage. Punter Bryan Kimball boomed punt 41-yards to turn the ball back over to the Vikings with 7:18 left in the first half.

  Hazel Park picked up 22-yards on a nice running play before Hollett made the tackle. With the ball spotted at the 47-yard line, the Vikings pass attempt was picked off by senior DB Mike Hauser who was tackled at the 20-yard line.

 The Highlander offense went to work on their 5^th possession of the game and slot back Chris Gierak picked up 3-yards running the ball. On 2^nd down, Ball’s pass was nearly picked off by the Vikings. Facing 3^rd down and 7, John Strizinger picked up 9-yards to pick up a key 1^st down. Nick Morrin got in the act on offense and ran for 7-yars to move the ball down to the 40-yard line. After an incomplete pass, Jake Ball executed his patented QB keeper for a big 23-yard gain. Mike Hauser made an outstanding catch on Ball’s pass to pick up 10-yards and a Highlander 1^st down. From the 23- yard line, Josh Renel ran hard for a 17-yard gain to get the ball down to the 5-yard line. Fullback Strirzinger blasted into the end zone for another Highlander touchdown. Mr. Reliable added the extra point kick.

Adams 21 Hazel Park 0

 For the 3^rd time in the game Kimball’s kick went into the end zone for a touchback. The Viking’s started at their 20-yard line and picked up a first down after three running plays. After a gain of 8-yards followed by a false start penalty, the Vikings picked up 17-yards off RB Lang’s hard nose run. On the next play, Petrusha and Gierak stopped the QB after a 4-yard gain to bring up a 2^nd down and 6. The Viking offense then picked up 5-yards to bring up a 3^rd down and 1 from the 34-yard line. With the less then 30 seconds left in the half the Viking’s picked up a 1^st down. The offense ran for another 7-yards with only 11 seconds left. For some unknown reason the clock stopped at 4 seconds to allow Hazel park to get their field goal unit on the field. The 39-yard field goal attempt was wide to the right and the half came to a close.

 The Highlanders offense wasn’t finished. Josh Renel took the second half kickoff and returned it 48-yards to give the offense great field position. A 20-yard pass to Hollett moved the ball to the 21-yard line and a 1^st down. Chris Gierak ran hard for 10 more yards to move the ball down to the 10-yard line and another first down.

After a running play for no gain Ball hit Hauser in the end zone for the Highlander touchdown. Kimball made the P. A. T. kick.

Adams 28 Hazel Park 0

The first possession of the second half for Hazel Park gave their fans little hope for a come back. The offense did move the ball to the 35-yard line before Beneacquisto stuffed the running back for a 1-yard gain. On 2^nd down and 9, Brian Hollett stepped up one more time and intercepted the Viking pass. What a game for this senior captain.

 The offensive juggernaut was not finished. With Jake Wilson at the helm, he ran the QB keeper for 19-yards down to the 28-yard line. Cory Hamilton reeled of 27-yards to bring the ball down to the 1-yard line. Stirzinger took it in from there for the touchdown. Kimball added the P. A. T kick.

Adams 35 Hazel Park 0

The Vikings took over at their 20-yard line. Several players checked in on defense for the Highlander’s. Mark Hammett, Renel, Monahan and Crocenzi were in playing the defensive back positions. A Viking pass good for 10-yards and a sweep good for 6-yards allowed the Vikings to move the ball to the 40-yard line. A nice run for 20+yards before Hammett made the tackle moved the ball down to the 30-yard line. A short gain and an incomplete pass brought up a 3^rd down and 8. This time Hammett and Renel combined to stop the RB after 4 –yards to force a 4^th down situation. Junior Mike Gansser recovered a Viking fumble and the Highlander offense took over at the 29-yard line.

 With the beginning of the 4^th quarter, several offensive players were able to run the ball. Marshall picked up10-yards on a nice counter run. Morris ran for 6-yards on a jet sweep while Hammett went for 14 more yards. Ben Keider checked in the game at quarterback and ran the QB keeper. His fumble was recovered by Nick Krystyniak. The Highlander’s turned the ball over on downs.

 This Viking possession finally put points on the board. A long run that covered 60+yards before Gansser made a touchdown saving tackle, moved the ball down to the 28-yard line. Another big play moved the ball down to the 3-yard line before the Vikings scored their first and only touchdown of the game. Their P. A. T. kick was good.

Adams 35 Hazel Park 7

 With only 2:03 left in the game the Vikings went for the onside kick. It was covered by Josh Renel at the 42-yard line. The Highlander offense ran out the clock. Final score:

Adams 35 Hazel Park 7

Congratulations to the Highlander player and coaching staff on this victory as well as the winning the OAA district championship.

Respectively submitted by: Dan Renel