Game #3 summary AHS vs. Lake Orion (away)
Game time weather: 74 degrees, gusting winds, partly cloudy
and under a tornado watch
Flashbacks to August 24th were reminiscent to the Highlander
faithful when tornado warning sirens sounded during the pre-game
tailgate gathering around 6:00pm outside Lake Orion’s field. This
time it wasn’t heavy rain and lighting but rather ominous skies,
strong winds and a brief rain. The start of the game was delayed 20
minutes as the center of the storm passed through Oakland County.
Nonetheless, Highlander fans once again filled the away stands for
this storied rivalry.
The Highlanders kicked-off with the wind and Alex Verville’s kick
sailed out of the end zone almost into Oxford. The Lake Orion
Dragons first possession began from the 20-yard line and resulted in
a punt after the Dragons moved the ball to the 30-yard line and was
shut down by the Highlander defensive unit. Senior Captain Jake
Heinrich and Linebacker (LB) Dan Muncie dropped the QB for a loss on
2nd down and 11. Senior LB Aaron McNamara and Muncey pounded the
Dragon RB for a loss of a yard.
Josh Renel wasn’t able to advance the punt return as the Dragon
defenders blew past the Highlander blocking scheme to stop the
dangerous RB. From the 34-yard line the offense got off to a good
start when junior FB Beau Barterian picked-up 8-yards and QB Andrew
Waszak ran the option across mid-field and down to the 46-yard line.
Senior RB Braden Conner, Renel and Waszak combined to move the ball
to the 38-yard line and a 1st down. After a blocked pass attempt on
3rd and 4, the Highlanders settled for a 55-yard field goal attempt.
Verville’s kick was not successful and the ball was turned back to
the Dragon offense at the 20-yard line.
The Dragon offense was not able to generate momentum due to big
plays by DE Heinrich, LB McNamara and DT Trumble. Lake Orion’s 2nd
punt of the game was booted 45 yards in to the wind and over Renel’s
head. The ball was downed at the 44- yard line.
The Highlanders 2nd possession of the game did create momentum
and a score. Senior RB Braden Conner picked-up 27-yards off of great
blocking by offensive lineman Reynolds, Sanders and Sirosky. Conner
carried the ball again on the ensuing play and reeled off another
5-yard gain. A QB option / keeper by Waszak that picked-up 4-yards
and a QB sneak was good for a big 1st down.
From the 20-yard line Renel and Conner combined to move the rock
deep into Dragon territory, down to the 4-yard line. Senior Captain
Josh Renel took the jet sweep around the left end and into the end
zone to draw fist blood. Braden Conner’s block secured the corner
that allowed Renel to spin over the goal line. Verville’s extra
point kick split the uprights.
ADAMS 7 LAKE ORION 0
With the 1st quarter coming to an end the Lake Orion offense
needed a strong series to answer the Highlander’s touchdown. Senior
Kicker Alex Verville once again showed his strong leg as he would
not allow the Dragon’s to advance the ball on the kick-off. Nice Job
Alex.
From the 20-yard line the Dragon offense moved the ball effectively
after two pass completions that moved the ball to mid-field. A QB
sneak that caught the Highlander defense by surprise picked-up 10
yards and a new set of downs. The 2nd quarter started and a beast of
a fullback # 33, blasted through the middle of the defense for
5-yards. Senior LB Dan Muncey along with Heinrich blew-up the next
play for a loss of 2-yards. An incomplete pass on 3rd and 9 brought
up a 4th and long situation. The Dragon’s faked the punt and threw a
pass down the middle that LB Muncey tipped just outside the grasp of
the receiver. Nice job Muncey!
The Highlander offense took over from the 39-yard line The senior RB
tandem of Conner and Renel again showed their running ability and
moved the ball past mid-field to the 48-yard line and a 1st down. QB
Waszak ripped-off a nice veer option /keeper on the next play
however this promising drive came to an abrupt end after a tipped
pass to Conner was intercepted by the Dragons.
The Highlander defense once again stepped-up after big plays by
Captain DE Jake Heinrich and sophomore DT Jordan Sanders who blocked
a pass attempt on 3rd and 7. The Dragon punter boomed a wind-aided
60-yard punt that Renel let get into the end zone for a touchback.
The Highlander offense looked like they were on their way again
after running plays by Conner, Waszak and outstanding gain by
Barterian. From the 38-yard line another untimely turn-over put the
brakes on this drive.
With 5:35 left in the 1st half, the Dragon offense took over from
the 35-yard line. Their FB blasted his way to a 6-yard gain. LB
Muncey made two big plays to slow down the Dragon offense on 2nd and
3rd down. On 4th and 1, the Dragon offense picked-up 2 yards and a
1st down From the 23-yard line a QB keeper gained 7-yards before
junior LB AJ Johnson came up with a big play to stop the RB for a
2-yard gain. Now with 2:38 left on the clock the Dragon’s offense
found daylight and picked-up 8 tough yards. LB Muncey stuffed the
next play before the Dragon’s took it into the end zone for their
1st score of the contest. They added the extra point.
ADAMS 7 LAKE ORION 7
Most teams with 54 seconds left in the half would be satisfied to
run a play or two and head the locker room. Not this team. After two
consecutive penalties on the kick-off team the Dragon’s kicked from
the 30-yard line. Josh Renel fielded the kick and the
exciting-to-watch RB didn’t disappoint us. He ran the kick-off back
42-yards to give the offense great field position.
With 37 seconds left in the half Waszak’s pass to Renel was complete
at the 22-yard line. Barterina pick-up 4-yards and another pass to
Renel near the far sideline moved the ball down to the 12-yard line
and stopped the clock with 20 seconds left. Again it was the
composed QB Waszak who hit Renel to move the ball to the 7-yard
line. The clock showed just 6.6 ticks when Renel took the counter
off the left side of the offensive line. He would not be denied as
he willed his way over the goal line for a huge touchdown.
That was an impressive drive by the entire Highlander offensive
unit. Verville’s kick was “good”.
ADAMS 14 LAKE ORION 7
The 2nd half started with a 20-yard kick return by Josh Renel. On
the first play from scrimmage and the ball spotted at the 34-yard
line, Waszak found Braden Conner wide open and delivered a strike to
him. Conner caught the pass and it was off to the races and into the
end zone for Conner’s 1st touchdown of the season.
Verville added the finishing touch and his kick was “good”.
ADAMS 21 LAKE ORION 7
The Highlander defense stood tall again and forced the Dragon’s to
punt the ball away. The offense got on a roll again after Barterian,
Waszak and Renel ran the ball well. Jordon Sanders blocked well for
Barterian and Beau picked-up a solid 7-yard gain. From the 17-yard
line facing a 4th and 1 the Highlanders fumbled the ball again and
it was recovered by the Dragon defense.
The Dragon offense gave the ball to their big FB who nearly broke
free until senior DB Mike (formerly known as “no sox”) Monahan made
a good tackle past mid-
