Highlanders Chop Down The Maples, 40-12

 

Despite a sluggish start both offensively and defensively, the Adams JV Highlanders overcame an early deficit and rallied to dominate the Seaholm Maples on both side of the ball. 

 

After exchanging possessions to start the game, the visiting Maples scored first with a 17 play, 70-yard drive that consumed 8:06 on the clock. 

 

After a promising Adams drive that began deep in their own territory fizzled, #20 Chad Gierak’s punt pinned Seaholm on their own 14 yard line.  This time the Highlander defense stiffened, forced a “three-and-out” for the Maples and the Adams offense got the ball back on the Seaholm 45.  Six plays later, the Highlanders scored on a 25-yard run by #9 QB Tyler Martin and the game was tied 6-6 with just 1:21 left in the first half.

 

Seaholm began their next possession on their own 26 yard line and now it was time for the Adams defense to make some plays.  On first and ten, the left side of the Highlander line – #54 DE Tim Wood and #58 DT Tyler Kilpatrick – burst through and sacked the Maples QB for a 12 yard loss.  On the next play, #71 DT Mark Sicheneder teamed with Kilpatrick for another sack, pushing the Maples back another 6 yards to their own 8 yard line.  After a short run, the Maples were forced to punt and it was returned 14 yards by #3 Austin McClelland to the Seaholm 41.

 

Adams took over with just 0:32 remaining in the first half.  After two incomplete passes, a six yard run by #22 RB T.J. Trouba moved the ball to the Seaholm 35.  Facing a 4^th-and-4 with just 3 seconds remaining in the half, Martin found #7 WR Andy Morrissey in the left corner of the end zone for a touchdown as time expired.  The PAT by #14 K Marcus Dubois was good and Adams captured a 13-6 lead going into the intermission.

 

The second half opened with the Highlanders taking the ball 76 yards on just 6 plays to expand their lead to 20-6.  #25 FB Marc Benacquisto ran for 11 tough yards, Trouba added another 21 yards on a reverse and Martin found a streaking #36 RB David Addy open in the middle for a 31-yard touchdown pass.

 

Adams got the ball back on their own 47 yard line after the Highlanders defense forced the Maples offense into their third consecutive “three-and-out.”  Nine plays later, Martin connected with Trouba for a 19-yard touchdown pass, expanding the Adams lead to 26-6. 

 

Seaholm then responded with a 5 play, 71-yard drive to cut the score to 26-12.  An attempted on-side kick by Seaholm went out of bounds and Adams began their next possession on their own 48.  But the Maples recovered an Adams fumble on the first play and took over on their own 44.  The Maples were unable to capitalize on the miscue, however, as the Highlander defense forced Seaholm to turn the ball back over to Adams on downs after being able to gain only 2 yards.

 

Adams’ eighth possession of the game featured an efficient 7 play, 46-yard drive that burned more than 4 minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter.  Martin hit Benacquisto with a swing pass from the 10 yard line that he ran in for another Adams touchdown and a 33-12 lead.

 

On the ensuing Seaholm possession, McClelland intercepted a Maples pass and returned it 35 yards to the Seaholm 2 yard line.  Two plays later, #40 FB Michael Cocozzo pushed the ball in for the final Adams touchdown.  The PAT by #6 K Mickey Biebelhausen was good and the score stood at 40-12.

 

For the game, the Adams racked up 332 yards in total offense and limited the Maples to 149 yards.  The Adams starting offensive line – #53 Trevor Sheldon, #58 Tyler Kilpatrick, #60 Matt Hart, #71 Mark Sicheneder and #75 Kris Hermann – paved the way for 215 rushing yards.  Martin lead the team with 122 yards on 18 carries, Trouba added 34 yards on 4 carries, Benacquisto had 31 yards on 9 carries and #42 RB Alec Prechtel  had 17 yards on 2 carries.  Martin was 7 of 10 in the passing department for 127 total yards and 4 TDs.

 

The defense was again lead by #44 MLB Tom Roncelli who recorded a team-high 10 tackles.  The rest of the starting linebacking corps – Gierak and Benacquisto – combined for another 10 tackles.  The Adams starting defensive line – Wood, Kilpatrick, Sicheneder and #34 DE Devin Needs – spent most of the game swarming the Maples backfield and combined for 14 tackles and 4 QB sacks. 

 

The Highlanders move to 5-0 for the season and travel to North Farmington to take on the Raiders next Thursday, September 27.