Adams Highlanders vs. Lake Orion Dragons –game #3 summary (Game time temperature; 79 degrees, sunny & breezy)

The Highlander faithful gathered alongside Greg & Barb Parson’s mobile “Highlander zone” RV in a secluded area in Dragon land. Fans and parents lamented on just how would the Highlanders corral a team ranked 7th in the state? Would the re-tooled defense hold up against a very potent offense?

The Lake Orion Dragons started from the 20 yard line thanks to Alex Verville’s Kick-off that went into the end zone for a touchback. After a 6-yard gain on 1st down, followed by 2 incomplete passes the Dragon’s were forced to punt. RB Josh Renel fielded the ball cleanly and picked up 8 yards on the return. The initial drive of the Highlanders started at the 49 yard line. A pass from QB Jake Wilson to receiver Braden Connor was good for a solid 10 yard gain.

An incomplete pass and a QB keeper, set up a 3 and 9 situation. Wilson hit receiver Cody Wilson on a well executed slant pass who then beat the Dragon DB and took it to the house. The Highlanders drew first blood. Place kicker, Tom Casey added the extra point kick. Highlanders 7 Dragons 0 The Highlanders kick-off team was led by Braden Connor, who made a nice tackle at the 29 yard line. The defense would not back down. After a series of well executed passes, Defensive ends, Jake Heinrich and fellow junior, Greg Ornazian came up with big plays to stop the running game.

Faced with 3rd and 11, a pass to 6’ 6” receiver Cole Moore, moved the ball deep into Highlander territory for a 1st down. With the ball spotted at the 9 yard line, Dragon QB Chris Lum found receiver Moore again, this time in the end zone. The extra point kick was good. Highlanders 7 Dragons 7 After Renel returned the kick-off to the 18 yard line, QB Wilson was off and running, literally. Wilson ran for 42 yards on 3 QB option/ keepers. A penalty against the Highlanders for “delay of game” and 2 incomplete passes killed this drive. Josh Patten’s punt attempt was blocked and the Dragon’s recovered the ball in excellent field position. The early momentum the Highlanders had seemed to disappear. Giving the Dragon offense the ball at the 48 yard line is not recommended.

The Dragons acted swiftly and once again found Moore who ran a slant pass good for another Dragon touchdown. The extra point kick was good. Highlanders 7 Dragons 14 With 2:20 left in the 1st quarter, the Highlander offense wanted to maintain some offensive attack. It would not happen on this drive. After Renel returned the ball out to the 21 yard line, QB Wilson was sacked for a loss of 6 yards. Wilson gained the 6 yards right back w/ another hard-fought run. The running play on 3rd down gained 4 yards that forced the Highlanders to punt. Patten’s punt was a good one and the Dragon’s were called for an “illegal block to the back” penalty.

The Highlander defense needed to stop the Dragon offense to keep this game in check. The Lake Orion Offense just had too many weapons. As the 1st quarter came to a close, the Dragon’s passing game struck again and hit a big gain on a wheel route that got the ball down to the 14 yard line. After a coupe of running plays, the ball was spotted inside the 1 yard line. From the “power I” formation, RB Aaron Allen blew into the end zone for the touchdown. The extra-point kick was “good”. Highlanders 7 Dragons 21

The Highlanders 4th possession of the contest would not prove to be fruitful. A loss of 1 yard on 1st down followed by a pick up of 4 yards by FB Cory Hamilton, led to a 2nd and 6 situation. Unfortunately, another “delay of game “penalty moved the ball back 5 yards to make it a 3rd and 11 for the Highlander offense. Wilson’s pass attempt to senior receiver Austin Wilson was incomplete as the Dragon DB laid a well-timed lick on Wilson.

As the LO defense celebrated the hit on Wilson the officials were not equally impressed. An “unsportsmanlike" conduct penalty ensued. With the ball now spotted at the LO 34 yard line, Jake Wilson tried to find some running room along the interior of the LO defensive line. After 2 plays and a 1 yard gain, Wilson’s pass to A. Wilson was incomplete and the Highlanders once again were forced to punt. With 7:22 left in the half, the LO offense started from decent field position. A sweep around the left side picked up 10 yards and a 1st down. LB Petrusha and DE Ornazian teamed-up to stop the Dragon RB after a 4 yard gain. On 2nd and 6, Lum’s long pass was intercepted by junior DB, Adam Smith. The Highlander offense could not find any room to run the ball during this next possession. With the ball on the 3 yard line, Josh Patten lined up with his heels only a foot from the back of the end zone.

Thankfully, LO was called for “offsides” and Patten was able to find more room to hit a very good punt. Junior LB / safety, Steve Emery made a fantastic open-field tackle to bring down the Dragon RB. With 3:35 showing on the clock, The LO offense once again made quick work out of this possession and hit a pass good for 20 yards on 1st down. Another huge gain of a sweep around the left side brought the ball down to the 4 yard line. This time it was a pass to senior receiver David Wurst on a fade route for the Dragon touchdown.

Highlanders 7 Dragons 28

The Highlander offense showed some sign of life during this next drive. Both QB Wilson and FB, Cory Hamilton, picked up 10 yard gains on consecutive running plays. A pass to Conner brought the ball down to the 30 yard line. A fumbled snap that was recovered by the Dragons put an end to this promising drive. With 1:02 left in the half the LO offense completed 2 more pass plays that moved the ball to the 30 yard line. Another completed pass got the ball to the 2 yard line with only .02 seconds showing on the clock. Lake Orion’s 15 yard field goal attempt was “no good”. The score at the end of the half remained 28-7.

The 2nd half of this game would basically mirror the play witnessed in the 1st half. The offense struggled against the Lake Orion defense. Our Highlander defense had trouble keeping the Dragons out of the end zone. Senior safety Jake Wilson intercepted Lum’s pass and returned some 45 yards to the 15 yard line. After a gain of 6 yards by SB Renel on 1st down, FB Hamilton blasted his way into the end zone for a touchdown. Casey added the extra point kick.

Highlanders 14 Dragons 28

The Lake Orion offense continued to move the ball on the defense. They started from the 15 yard line where Cory Colucci dropped the Dragon RB on the kick return.

The Dragons broke a running play that was a sure touchdown until junior DE, Greg Ornazian made the touchdown saving tackle at the 11 yard line. The next play the Dragons ran an off-tackle play into the end zone for another touchdown. The extra point was “good” Highlanders 14 Dragons 35 Renel took the kick off from the goal line out to the 25 yard line. It was a quick “3 and out” for the offense. The Dragon offense scored their final touchdown of the game when RB Aaron Allen ran a series of plays that moved the ball deep into Highlander territory. Their QB took into the end zone for the score. The extra-point was “good”.

Highlanders 14 Dragons 42

Renel returned the Kick-off to the 16 yard line. From there, QB Andrew Waszak took control of the offense and engineered a drive that included some good QB keepers as well as both a pass complete to Connor and a sweep/option good for a first down. FB Hamilton and SB Renel got in on the act as well and the moved the ball to the 16 yard line. Junior SB, Adam Smith took it around the end on a sweep and into the end zone for his first varsity touchdown. Casey added the extra point. When the final seconds ticked off the clock the final score was Highlanders 21 Lake Orion 42

(season record 1-2)

Dan R.