A spirited Lake Orion team outgunned a Highlander squad depleted by injuries and Varsity call-ups tonight as Adams lost to the Dragons 37-12. The first quarter was a hard-fought ground battle with neither team yielding, until Lake Orion scored on a fumbled Adams punt attempt. The quarter ended with the Dragons holding the 7-0 lead.

The defense continued to bend but not break in the second quarter. Key defensive plays were made by Matt Eggbert and Jason Finney to contain the run, while Mike Barber and Ryan Crocenzi broke up passes to the end zone. Anthony Johnson and Kevin Markey made one big play after another against the Dragon offense. Johnson sniffed out a flea flicker and tackled the QB for a 6-yard loss, and twice met the Lake Orion tailback head on at the QB for more lost yards. Markey was all over the field in the quarter, and saved a touchdown on an interception return late in the quarter.

The offense opened up in a big way with a Joe Reynolds to Kevin Rohner pass that gained 36 yards, and set up a Beau Barterian 30 yard scamper for the Highlanders’ first TD. The missed PAT left Adams trailing 7-6 midway through the second. Adams forced a three and out on the Dragons’ next series, with Mitch Weiland coming up to stuff the run, and Taylor Duda administering big hits and causing a fumble to stall their drive. Following an interception of a Highlander pass run back to their 17, the defense again had its back to the wall. But Jason Finney, Joel Wentzloff, and Mitch Weiland were leading the assault, and forced a field goal as time expired to give the Dragons a 10-6 lead at the half.

The third quarter opened with the faithful wondering when Barterian would break loose. The answer came on the first play from scrimmage when Jordan Parker and Joel Wentzloff opened a gaping hole in the defensive front. Beau waltzed through the hole, shook off a linebacker, and ran 73 yards to the end zone. The extra point was missed, leaving the highlanders with a 12-10 lead after only seconds had elapsed.

After a Dragon 69-yard TD run, Jason Finney got the first of his two blocked PATs. Lake Orion now led 16-12. After the Highlanders went three and out, Lake Orion again marched itself deep into Adams territory. The defense needed to create havoc – and did. A fumble caused by Alex Grady, a sack by Matt Eggbert, and touchdown passes yet again denied by Mike Barber and Ryan Crocenzi gave Adams the ball back with less than 2 minutes remaining in the quarter.

Unfortunately, the Lake Orion grinding run game began to take its toll with another Dragon TD to extend the lead to 22-12 at the end of three. Lake Orion scored twice more in the fourth to round out the scoring. The Highlanders came up short, but not for lack of heart and moxie. The final was 37-12, and represented the first loss for the Class of 2009 since joining the program last year. Adams travels to Birmingham Groves next week to resume their winning ways.