Once more, Mother Nature smiled upon us and gave us another beautiful day for football. Highlander nation descended upon Hurley field in Berkley for this MHSAA semi-final game against the Brother Rice Warriors.

 The Highlanders kicked-off to the Warriors and Bryan Kimball’s kick sailed into the end zone for a touchback. From the 20-yard line, the Warriors ran the ball on 1st down a senior defensive lineman Tom Fedolak stopped running back John Goebel for no gain. On 2nd down and 10, Goebel picked up 5-yards before Linebacker Ben Dahlstrom and Jake Wilson made the tackle. Facing a crucial 3rd d own and 5 situation, the Highlander defense came up big and stopped forced the Warrior’s to punt into a stiff 20 mph wind.

The Highlander offense started their first possession with great field position on the 45-yard line. On 1st down and 10, senior QB Jake Ball came out throwing and connected with slot back Chris Gierak for a 10-yard pass to pick up a 1st down. Ball picked up 7-yards and added 3 more on a QB sneak to move the chains and the ball to the 36-yard line. On the next two plays, Ball found the Warrior defense tighten up resulting in a loss of 3-yards. Facing 3rd down and 13, Ball found sophomore receiver Braden Conner open and completed a nice pass good for 16-yards. With the ball spotted at the 14-yard line, Josh Renel picked up 3-yards off a sweep to bring up a 3rd down and 7 situation. Ball’s pass to senior receiver Mike Hauser was incomplete and in came Kimball to attempt a 29-yard field goal. A low snap threw off Kimball’s timing and the kick sailed wide to the right, no good !

 The Brother Rice Warrior offense took over and went right back to RB Goebel who picked up 1-yard before linebacker Nick Morrin and cornerback Brian Hollett stopped him cold.

With the ball spotted at the 20-yard line, Cory Momont made a nice play to stop the Warrior RB for no gain. On 3rd down and 9 junior RB Joey Henry found a seem in the Highlander defense and raced 23-yards to pick up a 1st down at the 43-yard line. On 1st down, the Warriors tried to run around the right side of the defense and Fedolak, Wilson and Copacia did a great job of stringing this play out for a 1-yard gain. On 2nd down and 9, Dahlstrom and Momont stopped Henry for a short 2-yard gain. Facing a 3rd down and 7, Momont a stop to force the Warriors to punt from the 49-yard line. Momont burst through the offensive line and in an attempt to block the punt ran into the punter drawing a “roughing the kicker” penalty. The Warriors now had a 1st down and 10. Running back Goebel bust through the defensive line and could not be caught. The Warriors drew first blood and took a 7-0 lead.

Adams 0 Warriors 7

With 2:23 left in the first quarter, junior Wayne Sanders fielded the kick and was tackled on the 37-yard line. Jake Ball hit Mike Hauser for a 24-yard pass that moved the ball down to the 24-yard line. After running a play that gained 1-yard, an incomplete screen pass and Ball being sacked for a loss on 3^rd  down and 10, the Highlanders were forced to punt. The snap sailed over Kimball s head and he made an outstanding play to pick up the loose ball and kick it down to the 5-yard line.

The Warriors ran one play for a 1-yard gain and the first quarter ended. On 2^nd  down and 9 Goebel ran for a 10-yard gain and a new set of downs. From the 15-yard line the Warrior offense ran 2 running plays good for 7-yards to bring up a 3^rd down and 3. This time Joey Henry found daylight and picked up a big gain to the 46-yard line. Fullback Nick Collasanti added another huge run for 43-yards before Hollett made a touchdown saving tackle. A QB keeper moved the ball down to the 2-yard line. A false start penalty against the Warriors and a loss of a ½ -yard brought up an 3^rd down situation. A Warrior pass found a receiver in the end zone for a touchdown. The P. A. T. was good.

Adams 0 Warriors 14 

With 7:15 left in the first half the Warrior kick-off went into the end zone and the Highlanders started this next drive from the 20-yard line. Running plays by Hollett and Stirzinger produced a 3^rd down and 4 situation. Another run by Stirzinger fell short resulting in a punt.

 This next Warrior drive started from the 47-yard line. Fortunately, a pass to a wide open tight end was over- thrown for an incompletion. Henry picked up 6-yards to bring up a 3^rd down and 4. Senior defensive leaders Tom Fedolak and Ben Dahlstrom stepped up to stop the Warrior RB short of the 1^st down. The Warriors punt went into the end zone.

 With less than 4 minutes left in the half the Highlander offense started from their 20-yard line. Jake Ball found Brian Hollett open on a post route. Hollett was off to the races. Fellow receiver Mike Hauser threw a block downfield that helped Hollett get into the end zone for a Highlander touchdown.

Kimball added the all-important P. A. T.

Adams 7 Warriors 14

The next possession by Brother Rice resulted in a punt as the defense led by Momont, Dahlstrom and Benacquisto all made plays to force the Warriors to punt. Josh Renel fielded the punt and moved the ball up field for a 5-yard gain to the 26-yard line.

With only 1;42 left in the half the Highlander offense ran 2 plays before letting the time run off the clock.

The second half started with the Highlanders receiving the kick. Josh Renel ran the kick to the 31-yard line. Ball picked up 5-yards on 1^st  down before he was sacked for a loss of 3. On 3^rd down and 9, a pass to Hollett was good for a 1^st down. The next series of downs ended up in a punt. After a running play for no gain, Ball scrambled for a 6-yard pick up but short for the 1^st down.

 The Warriors first possession of the second half started at the 15-yard line. Goebel blasted his way to the 32-yard line on 1^st down. On the next series the Warriors offense again picked up another 1^st down to move the ball to the 49-yard line. The Warriors were intent on running the ball and controlling the clock. They picked up another 1^st down after the defense forced them to a 3^rd down and 7 challenge. Now from the 35-yard line, RB Goeble picked up 5-yards followed by a 1-yard gain by fullback Collasanti. On 3^rd down and 4 , the Highlander defense dug in and made a huge stop on Goebel for no gain. On 4th down and 4 the Warriors lined up in the triple “I” formation and tried to sweep around the end. This play was stopped by Hollett as well as Gierak on the defensive line.

 The Highlander’s second possession of the half started with a hitch pass to Hollett good for 9-yards. Stirzinger had his best run of the day after picking up12-yards to move the rock to the 49-yard line. A pass to Hauser who made a great catch that got the ball down to the 16-yard line. On the next play QB Ball was absolutely blind-sided by a Warrior linebacker and dropped hard for a loss.( That play was the final play in the 3^rd quarter.) Now facing  2^nd down and 18, Ball threw an incomplete pass. On 4^th down Ball was sacked so the Warriors took over on downs.

The next possession by the Highlander offense resulted in a punt.

 The Warrior offense was forced to punt in their next two possessions as well.

With 4:30 left in the game the Highlanders threw a pass to Hollett that was good for a 1^st down. Ball picked up 2-yards on a QB keeper. Another pass to Gierak again was good for another 1^st down. With the ball spotted at the 43-yard line a pass to Hollett this time picked up 13-yards. A middle screen to Stirzinger was good for 9-yards.  With 2:32 left in the contest a pass to Hauser was complete and moved the ball down to the 3-yard line. The center-QB exchange was fumbled and the Warriors recovered.

The Highlander defense was not about to give up with 1:57 showing on the clock. A big play by Momont who dropped the Warrior RB for a loss coupled with other outstanding defensive plays forced Brother Rice to punt on 4^th and 8 with 1:34 left. Their punter was lined up 5-yards deep in their end zone kicked the ball over 50-yards.

Renel ran back and picked up the ball and eluded several Warriors to return the ball to the 46-yard line.

With 1:25 showing on the clock the Highlander offense showed unbelievable resolve and heart when Jake Ball threw passes to both Hollett and Hauser to move the ball down to the 10-yard line. With 50 seconds left in the game, Ball dropped back to pass and as he was in the grasp of the defender, he tossed the ball to John Stirzinger. Stirzinger was met immediately by a Warrior linebacker and the ball was loose. The Warriors recovered.

The Final score : Adams 7 Brother Rice 14

The 2005 Highlander record: 12-1

Congratulations to the entire team and coaching staff for this incredible year. Your blood, sweat and tears will not be forgotten by all of the Highlander family.

I enjoyed covering this team all season long.

GO HIGHLANDERS !

Respectively submitted: D. Renel