Summary by Rob Minton -- Photos by Jill Olmack
| ROCHESTER HILLS—The Highlander freshman football
game against Birmingham Groves reminded one of a typical James Bond
movie – it didn’t take long for the action to start!
But unlike a Bond film, most of the action happened in the first 12 minutes. Rochester Adams was unstoppable in the first quarter and broke out to a 29-0 lead before cruising to a 35-0 win against the overmatched Falcons. The victory ran the Highlanders record to a perfect 4-0. The Adams offense has had a knack of scoring early all season, and the fans were barely settled into their seats when Marc Benacquisto took the handoff and scampered 79 yards for the touchdown on Adams’ first offensive play of the game. |
 |
 |
The point-after was good, and the score was Adams 8, Groves 0
with just barely two minutes off the game clock.
On the Falcons’ next possession, quarterback Sean Kostic was intercepted by #10 Eric Hyde, who returned the ball 29 yards to the Groves 1 yard line. On Adams’ next play – only their second offensive play of the game – QB Tyler Martin hit Andy Morrissey in end zone. TJ Trouba’s conversion run was successful, and the Highlanders enjoyed a 16-0 lead with 7:58 to play in the first quarter.
|
| After a 3 and out by Groves, Adams took possession of the ball on their own 45 yard line. On fourth down and four, Tyler Martin ran a QB keeper for 23 yards to keep the drive alive. Alec Prechtel picked up 12 yards on a nifty run, moving the ball to the Falcons’ 12-yard line. On 2nd and 10, Marc Benacquisto took the handoff and ran untouched up the middle for his second touchdown of the young game. The PAT failed, but Adams had a commanding 22-0 lead – and there was still over three minutes to play in the first quarter! Three possessions, three scores. |
 |
| The Falcons fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and the
ball was recovered by #53
Trevor Sheldon
on the Groves’ 37 yard line. The Highlanders had great field
position, and made it four possessions, four touchdowns when QB
Martin found #84 Andy Morrissey wide open in the end zone for a 22
yard scoring play. The kick was good and the lead was now 29-0 with
still over two minutes to play in the first quarter.
Hard to believe, but the entire second quarter went by with no scoring, and Adams took a shut out into half time.
|
 |
 |
The second half started with Groves getting the ball on their own 35 after the kickoff. But their offense must have been washed away with yesterday’s rain, and after 3 downs of going nowhere, they punted to the Highlanders, who took over on their own 22. Once again, the Highlanders showed that first-play magic. Marc Benacquisto then completed his hat trick, taking the handoff and running 78s yard for his third TD of the game. It is the second consecutive week he has scored 3 TDs. The PAT failed, but Adams now had a significant 35-0 lead with 10 minutes in the third quarter. The 35-0 lead was significant because under high school rules, a 35-point lead in the 2nd half means the clock runs continuously. It was welcome news for those fans who -- after the prolific (and long) first quarter -- were wondering if they were going to have to hit the late night drive-thru window for dinner. |
| Groves had their best offensive drive on their next
possession, penetrating down to the Adams’ 25 yard line. But the
Highlanders weren’t about to let the Falcons sniff the end zone, let
alone taste it, and Groves’ best chance to end the shutout stalled
on the 26-yard line at the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was scoreless, but not meaningless. A lot of Highlanders got important playing time and on-field experience that could pay off later in the season. The freshmen will take their unbeaten record to West Bloomfield H.S. on Thursday, Sept. 28. Game time is 4:30. Given the way the Highlanders score early and often, you better get there on time!
|
 |
 |
 |
