Adams JV @ Harrison H.S.
Aug. 30, 2007
Persistence Pays off for JV Highlanders
per•se•vere: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in
spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement
The Adams Highlander junior varsity football team displayed an
important trait in their game against the Harrison Hawks –
perseverance. And it served them well in what ended up as a
convincing 36-13 win.
The Highlanders overcame the discouragement of penalties, a less
than crisp offense in the first half, and a scrappy and speedy
opponent to notch their second straight win of the season.
The game certainly started on a high note, with Andy Morrissey
taking the opening kick-off 80 yards for a touchdown. The PAT
failed, but Adams had the lead before most fans had a chance to get
the ketchup on their hot dog.
There would be no more scoring by either team until less than a
minute in the half, but there were plenty of opportunities. In fact,
the Highlanders were in the red zone twice in the first quarter and
could have blown the game open, but came up with zero points. Adam’s
best chance came with under two minutes in the first quarter. The
drive started with a great run by #9 quarterback Tyler Martin,
scampering around left end for a 50-yard run down to the Hawks 2
yard line.
But that’s when the “counterinfluences” started to pile on. With
2nd and goal from the 1, #22
TJ Trouba was tackled for a 5-yard
loss. QB Martin had to leave the game because of a cut on his arm,
and was replaced by #3
Austin McClelland. Then Adams was whistled
for an illegal motion penalty, making it 3rd and goal from the 11.
The yellow hanky came out again on the next play, this time for an
illegal man downfield, resulting in a loss of down. Now facing 4th
and goal on the 11, #32
Dan Park was tackled for a loss, turning the
ball over to Harrison on downs.
That type of defensive stop can often fire up an offense, but the
Highlander “D” would have none of it, and Harrison was forced to
punt.
And what a punt it was, a 46-yarder rolling all the way down to
the Adams 2 yard line. With 3:39 left in the half, Adams had the
ball and their backs against the end zone. On 2nd and 8 from the 4,
Harrison caused a fumble that fortunately rolled forward and
David Addy recovered it on the 14 yard line for a first down. Two plays
later D.P. flashed his speed ripping off a 37-yard run to the Hawks
47. An 11-yard pass from Martin to #7 Andy Morrissey moved the ball
to the 36, but another motion penalty meant the Highlanders had to
deal with 1st and 10 on the Hawks 41 yard line, with just one minute
left in the half. That’s when #25 Marc Benacquisto had his first of
what was to be several electrifying runs. He took the handoff and
ran untouched up the middle for a 41-yard TD. He then ran for the
2-point conversion, putting Adams up 14-0 with 43 seconds left in
the half.
On the ensuing kickoff, Harrison fumbled the ball and it was
recovered by #11
Chris Clark. The Highlanders had a great
opportunity to score right before half, which would have really put
the Hawks on their heels. But three successive penalties dashed any
hopes of a score before half-time.
The third quarter was scoreless for both teams, but the
Highlander defense really started to dominate. Even though the game
was still in doubt, you just had a sense that Adams was one big play
from breaking it open. And then it happened.
Adams had to punt on 4th down to open the fourth quarter.
Chad Gierak
(#20) unleashed a boomer that was downed on the Harrison
6-inch line. Now it was the Hawks who had their backs against the
wall, and you had the sense that if the Highlander could hold them,
the tide of the game could turn. After an incomplete pass on first
down, #75 Kris Hermann tackled the ball carrier in the end zone for
a safety, putting Adams up 16-0 with 11:22 left in the game.
Adams got the ball on the free kick, and had good field position
thanks to a 17-yard return by Austin McClelland. And the Highlanders
wasted no time putting points on the board. On the first play from
their own 47, Martin found TJ Trouba wide open over the middle – I
mean ‘no one within 10 yards of him’ open. TJ caught the ball on the
Hawks 20 and ran in for the touchdown, putting Adams up 22-0, and
only 15 seconds after scoring the safety.
The Highlanders offensive execution in the 2nd half – while not
perfect – was worlds better than the 1st half. But now it was the
defense that was fired up, sensing the chance to put the game away.
But perhaps they got a little too keyed up, because on the Hawks
first play, their speedy tailback ran left, then cut right for a
72-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 22-7 with just under eleven
minutes remaining.
Harrison tried an onside kick, but it was recovered by Dan Park
on the Adams 43. It was an opportune time for the offense to mount a
long, clock-consuming drive. And that’s exactly what they did.
Tyler Martin ran several quarterback keepers for good gains,
thanks to the offensive line that just started to dominate Harrison.
The backs found success running off tackle, and #36 David Addy and
Benacquisto also had nice runs, moving the ball to the Hawks 25.
