Highlanders Pull the Plug on Chargers with 28-6 win

It was the battle of the unbeatens in Southfield Thursday night, but by the end of the game everyone on the field and in the stands knew only one team deserved to stay that way. The Adams JV football team played their best all-around game of the season in a 28-6 thumping of the Lathrup Chargers. Adams improved their record to 4-0 while Lathrup fell to 3-1.

The game started on the right note for Adams when Lathrup fumbled the opening kickoff and it was recovered by #12 Alex Clark at midfield. But the offense couldn’t cash in and turned the ball over on downs.

Lathrup moved the ball into the red zone but the Adams defense would not budge. On 4th and 6 from the 15, #54 Tim Wood tackled the Charger runner in the backfield to end the scoring threat and give the ball back to Adams.

The offense found its rhythm on this possession as runs by quarterback Tyler Martin and running backs David Addy and Marc Benacquisto moved the ball into Charger territory as the second quarter began. With 1st and goal on the 1, #9 Martin bulled his way over the goal line. Marcus Dubois kicked the PAT and the Highlanders were up 7-0 with less than a minute played in the second period.

Adams got the ball back a few seconds later with an interception by #42 Alec Prechtel. But again Adams could not capitalize on the gift. After an exchange of punts, the Highlanders had the ball on their own 28 with 4:24 left in the half. Martin decided to take advantage of the way his offense line was dominating, and followed the blocking of his backs for a series of runs that moved the ball to the Lathrup 31 with two minutes until halftime. On 3rd and 4, Martin pulled a perfect fake handoff that fooled the defense and lofted a pass into the end zone that was caught by a leaping Alec Prechtel. The PAT failed, and the Highlanders took a 13-0 lead to halftime.

They didn’t have to wait long. David Addy recovered a Lathrup fumble on the Adams 41 yard line. On 3rd and 5 at the 47, QB Martin bounced off of several would-be tacklers for an 18 yard gain. After a 5-yard run by Dan Park, the offense faced 3rd and 5 from the 30. Martin pulled the same play that scored the 2nd touchdown out of the playbook. He faked the handoff up the middle and launched a pass into the end zone that found the waiting hands of #7 Andy Morrisey. #14 Dubois kick was good and the Highlander had broken the game wide open with a 28-0 lead with 3 minutes left in the third quarter.

Lathrup was playing for pride and did not want to get skunked on their home field. They got the ball into the Adams red zone on one 56-yard pass play. They scored on the first play of the last period thanks to a 1-yard quarterback sneak. The PAT failed, but the Chargers finally lit their side of the scoreboard.

Now it was Lathrup who could not take advantage of a turnover after recovering a fumble and punted the ball to the Highlanders with 5:35 left in the game. It was a great time for a clock-consuming drive.

And that is exactly what the offense did. The O-line knocked the Chargers on their heels snap after snap. Austin McClelland was now at quarterback and kept the clock ticking and the chains moving thanks to a 3-yard run on 4th and 3. The drive finally was stopped and Adams punted, but by now there was only 21 seconds left in the game. Justin Hawes interception on the last play of the game was a fitting ending to a dominating performance by the Highlanders.

The 4-0 JV team is back home next week for a game against Seaholm on Wednesday, Sept. 19.

Rob Minton