ROCHESTER HILLS—It was the Clash of the Titans in Rochester Hills Thursday, as the unbeaten Troy Colts and also unbeaten Rochester Adams freshmen football teams squared off for supremacy on the gridiron. And despite falling behind early and committing costly penalties and turnovers, the Highlanders trounced the Colts in an offensive explosion, 50-28.
The Colts literally came galloping out of the chute, with Robert Pardun returning the opening kick all the way down to the Adams 10 yard line. On third and nine, the Colts scored on a touchdown pass, but the point after failed. With less than two minutes gone in the game, Adams was down 0-6.
The Highlander’s first possession started on their own 37. On third and six, #23 TJ Trouba took the handoff and scampered 59 yards for what appeared to be the tying touchdown. But the Highlanders were called for holding on the play – the first of three touchdowns in the game that were negated because of penalties. After moving the ball down to the Colts 15, the Highlanders faced a third down and 12. Quarterback Tyler Martin stood patiently in the pocket until he spotted #42 Alex Prechtel in the end zone for the score. He then connected with Andy Morrissey for the PAT, and Adams had an 8-6 lead – a lead they would never relinquish.
On Troy’s next possession, Morrisey made an outstanding play, wrapping up a Troy receiver after a reception, causing the ball to come loose, and recovering the fumble. The offensive took over on the Troy 30. Marc Benacquisto got them halfway home with a 16-yard run, and Prechtel scored his second TD moments later, this time running through a huge hole made by his big offensive line. The PAT failed, but Adams had a 14-6 lead with 4:16 left in the quarter, and they had confidence that they could move the ball against the Colt defense.
At the start of the second quarter, the Highlanders had advanced to the Troy 9 yard line. On third and three, Tyler Martin hit Andy Morrissey on a slant pattern for the touchdown. A razzle-dazzle reverse play on the PAT resulted in Alec Prechtel scoring, and the Highlander lead grew to 22-6.
The Colts tried to get their running game going by testing the middle of the line, but the vaunted Adams “D” would have none of it. After thwarting a fourth and four try, Adams took over on their own 21 with 9:18 left in the first half. Two plays later, Martin hit a streaking Morrisey down the sideline for a 70-yard gain. He then found Trouba for a pass to the one yard line. On the next play Marc Benacquisto waltzed untouched for the score. He then did the same thing on the PAT, and the Highlanders were cruising 30-6 with more than half of the second quarter still to play!
After recovering an Adams fumble, Troy got the ball on Adams’37. Colt QB Robert Wunderlick found his rhythm, completing a 23-yard pass before hitting Martin Hella in the end zone for a 16-yard score. The two-point conversion was good, and Adams’ lead was now 30-14. But not for long.
With just under three minutes until half, Martin heaved a pass to Conor Boyle for a 35-yard TD, and the lead at half time stood at 36-14.
Both teams’ defenses came out to play in the third quarter. And while the ball moved up and down the field quite a bit, neither side could crack the goal line. Adams hurt themselves when a 40-yard run into the end zone by Tyler Martin was called back because of a penalty.
But on the first play of the final period, the Adams scoring machine got back in gear. After the nullified touchdown, runs by Martin and Benacquisto ended the third quarter with Adams sitting on the Colt three yard line. Martin tossed a strike to a wide-open Alec Prechtel in the end zone, and the PAT made it Highlanders 43, Colts 14.
Troy wasted little time responding. QB Robert Wunderlick threw a 74-yard touchdown bomb that drew the Colts closer 43-20, but with only 10 minutes left in the game.
After losing another fumble, Adams defense was back out on the field at the Troy 39 yard line. Wunderlick again went to the air, but this time Conor Boyle made a highlight-worthy play, intercepting the ball with one hand and returning it down to the Troy 14. Quarterback Austin McClelland was at the helm now and gained 8 yards on a keeper to the Troy 6. On third and four, Luke Nicholaou took the handoff and tasted paydirt for the first time this season with an eight yard scoring run. The two-point conversion was successful, and the Highlanders hit the half-century mark, leading 50-20 with 6:11 left.
But the Colts didn’t roll over, and they methodically moved down the field, culminating with a 13-yard TD run by John Chang. The two-point PAT would cap the scoring for the game and the Highlanders remained unbeaten after a convincing 50-28 victory.
Rochester Adams (6-0) next game is at home Thursday, Oct. 12 at 4:30 pm vs. Harrison.
