Game time temperature: 74 degrees, clear & sunny, slight breeze

The Oakland Press Prep football prognosticator, "Kosmo,” suggested that the Highlanders need to win their remaining home games to qualify for the state playoffs. Welcome home!

A short kick by the Falcon place kicker allowed SB Adam Smith to field the Ball and pick up 10 yards. The Highlanders initial possession of the game was NOT what the doctor ordered. In his first start as the Highlander QB, Andrew Wazak no doubt was fighting off nerves as he threw an incomplete pass followed by a wayward pitch that lost11 yards. On 4th down Josh Patten’s Punt was blocked and a Grove defender returned the ball to the 1 yard line. The Falcon QB sneak on 1st down was enough to get in the end zone for a touchdown. The P.A.T was “good”. Highlanders 0 Groves 7 Josh Renel picked up 10 yards on the ensuing kick-off return and the Highlanders started their 2nd possession of the game from the 28 yard line. Running plays by FB Hamilton, SB Connor and Renel moved the ball to the 46 yard line. Workman-like effort by the Highlander RB’s and QB behind the offensive line (Heinrich, Reynolds, Hayden, Schmidt, and Boland) picked up four 1st downs to move down to the 10 yard line. SB Renel made a nice cut inside and took on 2 defenders before getting into the end zone for a Highlander touchdown. Casey’s P. A. T Kick was “good”. Highlanders 7 Groves 7 With 5:51 left in the 1st quarter, the kick team covered Verville’s boot well when Greg Ornazian tackled the Falcon RB at the 10 yard line. The Highlander defense came out swinging when junior LB Aaron McNamara recovered a fumble deep in Groves’s territory at the 5 yard line. The ball came loose after both Jake Heinrich and LB Matt Petrusha hit the RB. The Highlander offense made quick work on this possession. Senior FB Cory Hamilton blasted through the Groves defense for 3 yards. On 2nd down, SB Renel ran the jet sweep around the left end and found a seam inside to take him into the end zone for his 2nd touchdown of the contest. Casey’s P.A. T kick hit the left upright and was “no-good”.

Highlanders 13 Groves 7

On the ensuing kick-off several Highlanders had a crack at the Falcon RB but failed to tackle him until he returned the ball 76 yards to the Highlanders 19 yard line. Six plays later the Falcons scored from the 3 yard line. Their P. A. T kick was “good”.

Highlanders 13 Groves 14

Junior Michael Monahan returned the kick-off to the 45 yard line after making a quick move to cut up-field. The beginning of the 2nd quarter found the Highlander offense trying to maintain their consistency and keep the chains moving. Unfortunately, this drive would stall after 4 plays when the offense turned the ball back over to the Falcon’s on downs. Groves took over from the 39 yard line. The Highlander defense held the Falcon offense to “3 and out” after senior DB Mark Hammett and LB Aaron McNamara came up with good defensive plays. Jake Wilson returned the punt and took it to the 34 yard line. The Highlander offense didn’t allow the defense to catch their breath when Wazak’s pass was intercepted on 1st down. Groves took over on the Highlander 35 yard line. Again the defense came through and stopped the Falcon offense when they had good field position. This time is was junior DE Jake Heinrich who dropped the tall Grove QB for a 10 yard loss. Facing a 4th and 23, Groves punt was taken by and returned to the yard line. The nervousness that Wazak experienced earlier was apparently gone when he ran the QB option and sprinted 55 yards to the 35 yard line. Steady running plays by a host of Highlander RB’s; Hamilton, Renel, Ornazian, Connor and QB Wazak moved the rock down to the 1 yard line. Wazak took it into the end zone on a QB sneak for a Highlander TD. The 2-point conversion effort was successful as Waz ran the option-sweep around the right side and over the goal line. Highlanders 21 Groves 14 With 3:50 left in the half, the Falcon offense started at their 18 yard line. Once again the defense stepped-up. This time it was DL Mike Polk, DB Hammett and LB McNamara who made solid tackles to put an end to this possession. The score at the end of the half remained 21-14.

The first Falcon possession of the 2nd half consumed 6:30 and 95 total yards. The Highlanders were called for 3 penalties, 2 of them for pass interference. Groves was called for 4 penalties. When it was all said and done, the Flacons scored on a 6 yard pass completion. The P.A.T. was “good” Highlanders 21 Groves 21

Monahan returned the Grove kick-off to the 33 yard line. Renel picked up 3 yards and Hamilton found no room on 2nd down. Facing 3rd and 7, a halfback pass by Braden Conner was intercepted by Groves. The Highlander defense answered back by forcing Groves to punt after their “3 and out” drive. Josh Renel fielded the punt and ripped-off 10+ yards before being thrown out of bounds, literally. Groves was hit with a costly 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Again the Highlander offense ran hard behind good blocking from the offensive line. Conner showed that he can run “smash-mouth” with the best of them. Renel reeled-off runs of 3, 22, and 6 yards before he took it hard into the end zone from 5 yards out. Casey’s’ P.A. T. attempt was “good”.

Highlanders 28 Groves 21

With 11:55 left in the game, Groves had good field position from the 32 yard line. McNamara again knifed through the OL and tackled the Falcon’s for a 5 yard loss. A questionable “roughing the passer” penalty on the Highlanders was called. The Falcons worked the ball down the field running a well-executed draw play that picked up 20 yards. From the 20 yard line the Falcon QB threw a pass that was well covered by DB Mark Hammett. With one hand wrapped up due to a broken bone in his hand, Hammett intercepted the pass. The Highlander offense took over from the 20 yard line. After a series of running plays did not gain a 1st down, the Highlanders promptly punted the ball back to the Falcons. Patten’s punt was returned to the 45 yard line. The Highlander defense stood tall and wouldn’t allow the Falcon offense to get a 1st down. The last Highlander possession of the game was exciting. From the 10 yard line they lost 4 yards on 1st down. On 2nd down, Wazak’s pitch to Renel was at the goal line. He made a nice play to scoop it up and race down the sideline for a huge gain of 50+ yards. With the clock ticking down Conner picked up 8 yards on 2 carries. FB Hamilton ignited up the middle for 22 more yards. Wazak then attempted a sweep around the left side of the line and was met hard just outside the end zone. The ball came loose in the end zone and there was a mad scramble for the ball. None other than sophomore receiver Cody Wilson was on the bottom of the pile deep in the end zone for as touchdown. The P. A. T. was “good”.

Highlanders 35 Groves 21

The last gasp from the Falcons was inconsequential. There would be no last minute heroics from this visiting opponent. There would be no ambulances or injuries. This was parent’s day. This was Highlander football. Welcome home! I want to thank Tim McNamara, Matt Renel and Joe Colucci for taking the notes that made this summary possible. I had the privilege of being an honorary coach on the sideline. (now 2-0) Let’s get the “Highlander Zone” fired up at the legendary Wisner Stadium for the Pontiac Northern game. Be there…