Adams Highlanders vs. Birmingham Maples (away) Sept. 20, 2007

Game-time weather conditions: 78 degrees, sunny, slight breeze.

ROAD RALLY

The Highlander Zone battled their way through rush hour traffic and closed roads to get to the Seaholm Maple stadium in Birmingham. The school busses that transport the players, coaches and cheerleaders could have used a GPS navigation system as two of the three busses got lost.  I’m sure that getting to the game later than usual had to make the coaching staff’s blood pressure spike a bit.

  Playing a well coached 2-2 team on the road and on a Thursday night would prove to be a challenge to our 4-0 Highlanders. The Maple RB, Trevor Stapleton returned the ball out to the 21-yard line before Dan Muncey and tripped up the ball carrier and junior Ryan Crozenzi finished him off. LB Josh Patten and DE Jake Heinrich teamed-up to stop the Maple RB for no gain on 1^st down.  Senior DB Mike Monahan had outstanding coverage on a slant pass that was incomplete on 2^nd and 10. On the next play Monahan “jumped the route” and intercepted a pass at the 26-yard line.

 The Highlander offense did not take advantage of their excellent field position after an illegal motion penalty negated a sweet Waszak to Wilson pass completion.  Beau Barterian picked-up 3-yards before Waszak’s pass to a well-covered Mike Monahan was intercepted by a Maple defender.

 Now it was the Maples that had the good field position at the 41-yard line. LB Aaron (Mac Attack) McNamara stopped the Maple RB Stapleton for a 1-yard gain. The Highlander DB’s left a Maple receiver wide open on the ensuing play that fortunately was over-thrown and incomplete. Facing 3^rd and 9 the Maples screen pass was incomplete. With the Seaholm punter standing on the 26-yard line the Highlander defensive front blew through the offensive line and got a hand on the punt. The ball went a few yards downfield and into the hands of a Highlander LB where he attempted to catch the punt.  The ball was not caught and consequently the Maples recovered the ball at the 44-yard line.

 Early on in the contest, the Highlanders we being way too generous with the turnovers and miscues. A fired-up Maple offense took possession near midfield but was not able to move the ball effectively after McNamara, Big D Muncey and Jordan Sanders stepped up and forced the Maples to punt once again.  This time it was a roughing the kicker penalty that gave the Maples a 1^st down and 10 at the Highlander 40-yard line.

LB “Big D” Muncey stopped the Maple running play for no-gain on 2^nd down. On 3^rd and 10 the Maple QB Jack Nobles found a wide open WR Max Klindt who dropped a sure touchdown pass. Whew! The Maples punt went into the end zone for the touchback.

 With 5:36 left in the 1^st quarter, Waszak picked up a 1^st down after 3 consecutive running plays that moved the ball out to the 30-yard line. RB’s Braden Conner and Barterian moved the rock out near mid-field off of hard running. The potent junior tandem of Waszak and Wilson connected again for the 1^st Highlander touchdown of the game. Waszak’s pass was on the money and there was no catching Wilson after this reception. Verville’s kick was just off the mark and the extra-point kick was not successful.

ADAMS 6 MAPLES 0

With the 1^st quarter winding down juniors Mike Barber, Aaron Taylor and Mitch Weiland teamed-up to make the tackle on the kick-off.  Following a hitch pass that was good for 5-yards and a running play that went for a 4-yard gain, the Maple offense picked up a 1^st down on the 3^rd and 1.  After the Maples took a time-out their QB Nobles found a wide open WR Klindt down the sideline for a huge 70-yard touchdown pass. The extra-point kick was “good”

ADAMS 6 MAPLES 7

 Senior RB Josh Renel returned the kick-off 30-yards before the Maples could stop him. Barterian added a huge gain of 27-yards to move the ball across mid-field and down to the 42-yard line.  Barterian and Renel added 6-yards on consecutive running plays before Waszak hit Wilson on a well executed screw route for big 1^st down.  From the 12-yard line the Highlander offense could not muster enough cowbell after 3 plays that left a 4^th and 13 situation.  Not to panic, senior place-kicker Alex Verville’s 32-yard field goal attempt sailed through the uprights.  With 10:08 left in the exciting 1^st half the score was:

ADAMS 9 MAPLES 7

 The Maples next possession started from the 25-yard line after Josh Patten dropped the RB hard on the kick-off. Their drive was a quick “3 and out” after great pass coverage by senior DB Adam Smith on 3^rd and 8 forced another Maple punt. There was no chance for a punt return as the ball went out-of-bounds at the 40-yard line.

 This Highlander possession would showcase the offensive firepower this team has. Conner, Renel and Barterian all contributed with great efforts to move the ball deep inside Maple territory.  The offensive line was starting to open holes for the running backs on a tough defensive line.

 On 2nd and 9 from the 30-yard line junior WR Cody Wilson made another spectacular catch off of Waszak’s bullet pass to move the chains and pick up the 1^st down.   Josh Renel took the counter inside the Maple defense for a 9-yard gain. Barterian blasted his way for a tough 2-yards and another 1^st down. From the 6-yard line QB Waszak found Wilson for his second touchdown pass reception of the game.  Can you say; WEAPONS?

Alex Verville’s extra-point kick was “good”.

 ADAMS 16 MAPLES 7

Verville’s kick looked like it was shot out of a cannon and ended up almost out of the end zone for another touchback.  The Maple offense was looking to get a solid drive going but the Highlander defense would not cooperate. LB’s Josh Patten and AJ Johnson came up with strong plays to slow the Maple ground game.  On 1^st and 10 from the 34-yard line Nobles pass to their WR down the middle of the field was defended well by the referee with some assistance by DB Smitty.  After a fumbled snap that the Maples recovered left them with a 3^rd and 14 dilemma.  The Maples pass attempt was covered very well by DB Wilson.

The Maples punt went into the end zone for a touchback.

up big gain down to the 21-yard line.  Great effort Braden!

With time running out in the 1^st half Barterian picked-up 6-yards to move the ball to the 15-yard line. Waszak found Monahan with a pass reception that was called back for illegal motion. On 3^rd and 1 Barterian found no room up the middle and lost a yard to bring up a 4^th and 2 situation. Renel got the call on the counter off the left side of the offensive line but the Maple defender stopped him just short of the intended goal.

The ball went back to the Maple offense with just 25 clicks left in the half. They wisely took a knee and the half ended.

The Seaholm Maples took a calculated risk and attempted an on-side kick. Senior captain Jake Heinrich recovered the ball just inside the 49-yard line. QB Waszak scampered for an 11-yard gain and a new set of downs. On the ensuing play WR Cody Wilson demonstrated why he is among the best receivers in the OAA when he made an acrobatic one-handed catch along the near sideline and was driven out-of bounds at the 9-yard line.  From the I-formation Josh Renel ran the ball behind the blocking of senior FB Greg Ornazian. He picked-up 4 tough yards before Ornazain blasted his way down to the 1-yard line. On 4^th and goal from the 1-yard line Ornazian got the call and cleared the goal line for his first varsity touchdown. Congratulations Elvis!

Verville’s extra-point kick was “good”.

ADAMS 23 MAPLES7

"Big D" Muncey leveled the Maple RB Stapleton at the 14-yard line during the kick-return. The Maples 1^st possession of the 2^nd half ended abruptly when  Cody Wilson recovered the ball for the Highlanders.

The potent Highlander offense got the ball deep inside the Maple’s territory and didn’t take them long to capitalize on the opportunity. A pass to Renel in the end zone resulted in a pass interference call on the Maples. With the ball now at the 5-yard line senior RB Conner took the jet sweep into the end zone for a Highlander touchdown.

Holder Cody Wilson made a nice job of placing the football on the tee as the snap was a bit low and away. Verville’s kick split the uprights.

ADAMS 30 MAPLES 7

The next Maple drive started from the 24-yard line. They completed 2 passes to move the ball to the 35-yard line when senior DB Monahan broke up a Maple pass attempt on 1^st down. A beautifully thrown pass by Maple QB Nobles to WR Klindt went for a big 65-yard touchdown reception. A bad snap on their extra-point kick thwarted their conversion attempt.

ADAMS 30 MAPLES 13

The Highlanders 3^rd possession of the 2^nd half featured big plays by Barterian who ran for a 27-yard gain and Conner who’s second effort picked-up 16yards on 3^{rd and} 14. From the 33-yard line Barterian and Conner ran for 7-yards combined to bring up a 3^rd and 3 situation. Waszak’s pass was intercepted.

The Maples went to the spread formation to test the Highlanders pass defense. Senior DB Adam Smith had good pass coverage on 1st and 2^nd down that didn’t allow the Maples to complete a pass. On 3^rd and 15 it was Monahan that came through with good pass defense.

Trailing by 17 points the Maples went for it on 4^th down and threw a deep pass down the middle just out of Josh Renel’ reach and into the hands of the Maple receiver at the 1-yard line. The Maple offense ran the ball in for a touchdown and added the extra-point kick

ADAMS 30 MAPLES 20

With 1:35 left in the 3^rd quarter the Highlander offense started from the 20-yard line and Waszak and Conner combined for enough yards to get the 1^st down and move the ball to the 31-yard line.  The 4^th quarter got underway and Waszak, Barterian and Renel ran for a total of 26-yards to move the ball across midfield and down to the 46-yard line. With a new set of downs Waszak found an open Braden Conner who took it to the house for another Highlander score.  The extra-point kick was “good”.

ADAMS 37 MAPLES 20

Down by 17 the Maples had to make something happen on this drive but the defense led by McNamara, Smitty and DL Zach Trumble stepped up and forced the Maples to give the ball back to the Highlander offense.

Once again the Highlander offense would take full advantage of great field position from the 27-yard line. Renel picked-up 11-yards to move the ball to the 16-yard line and a 1^st down.

Conner ran hard for a 5-yard gain to bring up 3^rd and 5. From the 11-yard line Josh Renel made a few nice moves off the left side of the offensive line and took it in to the end zone for the final touchdown of the contest. Verville’s kick was “good”.

ADAMS 44 MAPLES 20

AJ Johnson and Mitch Weiland teamed-up to make a nice tackle on the kick-return. On their 1^st play from scrimmage the Maples attempted a double pass that was intercepted by junior DB Mike Barber.

The Highlander offense led by Jason Finney took the field and Ornazian, Colucci and Weiland ran the ball to keep the chains and the clock moving. Eventually the ball went back to the Maple offense with 2:28 left in the game but the game was at hand.

Congratulations to the players and coaching staff on the win. A special Congratulations to Coach Jack Beale on his 100^th win as an Adams Highlander football coach.  In your 13 years as a coach you have no doubt touched the lives of many of our young men. May you coach for 100 more victories.

Next up we host the North Farmington Raiders on September 28^th.

 GO ADAMS!

(Thank you to my spotters; Joe Colluci, Tim McNamara, and Matt Renel)