Game # 4 summary: Adams vs. Southfield Lathrup Chargers (home)

“BATTLE STATIONS”

On a clear evening at Highlander Stadium the weather cooperated and the Highlander Moms looked great in their son’s white game jerseys.

Some of the Football moms gathered before the game

 To honor the Parents of the Highlander varsity players each of the players presented their Moms with a football gift. There was a tinge of nostalgia and tradition as the 2007 varsity players gave a hug to the people that have been their #1 fan over the years.

This game against two undefeated teams would give the winner a game-up on the OAA white division. Coach Patritto would not allow his team to underestimate another 3-0 team.

After Alex Verville’s kick ended up just shy of Tienken road the visiting Southfield Lathrup Chargers started at their own 20-yard line. The Charger offense completed a quick hitch-pass for a couple yard gain on 1st down. On 2nd down Seniors Jake Hienrich and “Big D” LB Muncey stuffed an off-tackle running play for a loss. An incomplete pass on 3rd down forced the Chargers to punt the ball away from inside their 20-yard line. Senior LB Aaron McNamara blew through the Charger offensive line and blocked the punt. The ball deflected into the end zone and McNamara promptly pounced on the lose ball for his first varsity touchdown.

That was an outstanding effort from the senior LB and there was no doubt that it sparked the Highlanders. Verville’s extra point conversion kick was “good”.

ADAMS 7 LATHRUP 0

Once again the senior place-kicker Alex Verville would not allow the opponent to advance a kick-off. Good stuff Alex. The Charger offense picked-up a nice gain on a sweep to move the ball to the 38-yardline. The Highlander defense rose to the occasion with outstanding plays by DL Mike Sirosky and LB Muncey. Facing 3rd and 20, LB McNamara chased down the Charger QB who threw the ball away. On 4th down the Charger QB faked the punt and attempted to run for the 1st down. He came up short and the ball went back to the Highlander offense at the 36-yard line.

The initial offensive possession for the Highlanders was efficient as well as successful. A slant pass complete to WR Cody Wilson was good for a big 26-yard gain. From the 12-yard line QB Waszak found daylight and took it to the house for the second score of the night.

Verville’s kick was “good”.

ADAMS 14 LATHRUP 0

The Charger offense started again from the 20-yard line and instituted the infamous “Battle Ship” offense. They moved the ball up near mid-field before having to punt the ball away. The Chargers were not willing to punt to the Highlander’s dangerous RB so they kicked the ball away from Josh Renel and out-of –bounds at the 27-yard line.

The Highlander offense struck again on just their second possession after big plays by Waszak, Wilson, Barterian and Renel. Their efforts accounted for 43-yards on the ground along with a pass interference call against Lathrup. From the 21-yard line Josh Renel ran the counter, followed good blocking and into the end zone for a Highlander touchdown. An illegal procedure penalty on the home team added 5-yards to the extra-point kick that just missed; wide left. With 3:09 left in the 1st quarter the Highlanders took a commanding lead.

ADAMS 20 LATHRUP 0

Juniors Andrew Johnson and Joe Reynolds made a solid tackle on the kick-off to drop the ball carrier at the 29-yard line. The Chargers didn’t waste any time on their 4th possession of the contest when their “Battle Ship” left the harbor and picked-up a huge 48-yard gain before senior DB Mike Monahan made a touchdown-saving tackle at the 21-yard line. On the ensuing play the Chargers ran up the middle of the Highlander defense for an easy touchdown. They added an extra-point conversion.

ADAMS 20 LATHRUP 7

Monahan took the kick-off and picked–up 11 yards to move the ball to the 29-yard line. A broken play resulted in a 2-yard loss. Waszak then hit WR Cody Wilson for a 32-yard reception to move the ball into Charger territory. FB Barterian picked up 7-yards on 3rd and 9 leaving coach Patritto with a 4th and 2 decision to make. Senior captain Renel got the call and picked-up the tough 1st down that moved the ball to the 23-yard line.

The 2nd quarter started with the Highlander offense threatening to blow the game wide open. On 3 consecutive running plays Josh Renel showed how good blocking by the offensive line ( Heinrich, Sanders, Reynolds, Baker, and Sirosky) coupled with hard running can move the chains and dominate a game. With the ball now spotted at the 11-yard line and a new set of downs, Barterian and Waszak teamed up to move the ball down to the goal-line.

Following senior FB Greg Ornazian’s lead block Renel took it over the goal line for another Highlander touchdown. The 2-point conversion pass was intercepted.

ADAMS 26 LATHRUP 7

With 9:16 left in the 1st half Verville’s line-drive squib kick hit a Lathrup player and deflected back into Highlander territory where junior DB Mike (Tiki) Barber quickly claimed it.

gas pedal they put the ball in Renel’s hands. He ran the ball 4 times to pick up a total of 31 yards to move the ball to just inside the 15-yard line. RB’s Conner and Barterian contributed 4 tough yards before Waszak’s pass to Wilson connected. Cody Wilson made an athletic catch and would not be denied his 1st touchdown of the season. Congratulations Cody! Verville’s extra-point kick split the uprights.

ADAMS 33 LATHRUP 7

The final possessions of the half did not produce any scoring. Lathrup utilized their “Battle Ship” running formation to move the ball downfield with success. The Chargers moved from their 30-yard line across mid-field and down to the Highlander 10-yard line. Facing a 3rd down the Highlander defenders put pressure on the QB and DB Cody Wilson provided good pass coverage as the ball sailed out of the end zone for an incomplete pass. The Chargers settled for a field goal attempt that was “no good”.

With only 2:03 left in the half the Highlander offense moved the ball quickly off the hard running of Renel, Barterian and Waszak. The half came to an end with the ball just inside Charger territory.

The 2nd half started the way the Highlanders played in the 1st half. The “Battle Ship” was taking on water. Renel returned the kick-off 28-yards to the 46-yard line thanks to great blocking by Dan Muncey and his fellow Highlanders on the kick-receive team. Waszak and Renel picked-up 9-yards to get the drive started. On 4th down WR Monahan hauled in Waszak’s pass for a nice 20-yard completion. A Highlander holding call set-up a long 3rd and 13 situation. Coach Patritto called for the middle screen pass to Barterian. The offense executed it perfectly and Beau was off to the races for a 29-yard touchdown. Gesquire’s snap, Wilson’s hold and Verville’s extra-point kick was near perfect. The kick was “good”.

ADAMS 40 LATHRUP 7

Again, the Chargers started from the 20-yard line following Verville’s booming kick. The Highlander defense allowed the Chargers to move the ball up near midfield after a couple of pass completions. But the Lathrup offense shot themselves in the foot with 2 penalties and 2 pass incompletions that turned the ball back over to the Highlanders.

With 6:20 left in the 3rd quarter junior QB Joe Reynolds took the reins of the offense. Senior RB’s Braden Conner and Cory (Bear) Colucci carried the ball on this drive but another holding penalty and an incomplete pass forced the Highlanders to punt. There was a rare Josh Patten (the punter) sighting at Highlander stadium.

The Charger offense wasn’t able to sustain their next drive as Monahan, AJ Johnson, Patten, and Adam Smith refused to let up. The ball returned to the Highlander offense.

At this point in the contest coach Patritto called on the players who work hard all week to give them valuable playing time and experience. Joe Reynolds and Mitch Weiland moved the ball well behind the ‘one man wrecking crew” blocking of sophomore Jordan Sanders.

The 4th quarter began with a 32-yard field goal attempt by senior place kicker Alex Verville.

Verville had plenty of leg as his kick, against the wind, sailed through the uprights. Great job Alex!

ADAMS 43 LATHRUP 7

Now with a running clock Lathrup’s offense abandoned the “Battle Ship” formation and went to the air. They connected for a big 34-yard gain followed by another 20-yard gain before junior DB Aaron Taylor defended a fade pass in the end zone. A tipped pass that ended up in the hands of a Charger receiver moved the ball down to the 11-yard line and a new set of downs. The Chargers went back to the fade pass and this time it was successful for a touchdown. Their extra-point kick attempt was “no-good”.

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With 5:30 left in the game Renel returned the kick-off 7-yards. Reynolds worked the clock down as far as he could before Patten came in to punt the ball away. The Charger defense obviously was pretty frustrated at this point and made no attempt to avoid the punter. They were called for a roughing the kicker penalty.

Again the Highlander offense, with junior Jason Finney at QB, wanted to run out the clock.

The Chargers did get the ball back and had to throw one more fade pass route for a touchdown. However, the Battle ship had been sunk 3 quarters ago. Their 2-point conversion attempt was “good”.

FINAL SCORE: ADAMS 43 LATHRUP 21

Congratulations to the players and the coaching staff on this victory. You now are on top of the OAA White division standings. Keep your focus and intensity where it is.

Good Luck against the Seaholm Maples. See you in sunny Birmingham on Thursday.