Game # 6 summary- Adams Highlanders vs. North Farmington Raiders (home)

Game time weather conditions: 69 degrees, clear skies, slight breeze.

"Da Raidas"

On another beautiful Fall Friday night at the friendly confines of our home field the 5-0 Highlanders hosted the 0-5 North Farmington Raiders. The Oakland press prognosticator, Kosmo’s tongue-in-cheek prediction had the Highlanders winning by 300 points.  I had it closer at 161 points.  Hence the challenge for the now highly-rated Highlanders to remain focused and not lose their edge mentally or physically.

 As a side note, this writer was privileged to act as an honorary coach which allowed me to be part of the varsity coaching staff for this game. What I experienced is difficult to summarize in words alone. You feel the strong bond between the coaching staff and the players. You see the look in the eyes of the players when coach Patritto delivers his pre-game talk in the locker room. It’s quite moving and very inspiring. It’s what makes being a Highlander football player a privilege and an honor whether you play on the first team or play as a back-up.

 This coaching staff demonstrates a certain synergy that the players feed off of that translates into their confident play on the field. Speaking of play on the field…

 The North Farmington Raiders took the opening kick-off out to the 20-yard line before “Big D” Dan Muncey made the tackle. Dan Muncey has consistently made outstanding plays on the kick-off team game in and game out.  Keep up the good effort Dan.

 The Raiders picked up a 1^st down before DB Smitty made a nice play on a quick hitch pass completion to corral the Raider WR for no gain. On the next play the Raider’s completed a screen pass that was good for an 8-yard gain. On 3^rd and 2 another screen pass was defended nicely by junior DB Cody Wilson for no gain. The Raider offense was forced to punt and RB Josh Renel returned the ball for a 21-yard gain.

 The Highlander offense went to work from the     -yard line and on the 1^st play from scrimmage QB Andrew Waszak hit senior WR Mike Monahan in stride for a     -Yard reception.  After two running plays that ended up in a net-loss of 7-yards, FB Beau Barterian reeled off a big 22-yard run for an important 1^st down.  With the ball spotted at the 7-yard line, Waszak found Cody Wilson on a slant route that was caught for the first of many Highlander touchdowns of the night.  Alex Verville’s PAT was “good”.

ADAMS 7 RAIDERS 0

 On the kick-off Cory (Bear) Colucci and Aaron Taylor combined to drop the Raider ball carrier.  The Raider’s second possession didn’t move the chains after DB Smitty and LB “Big D” Muncey teamed-up to stop a sweep attempt followed by Cody Wilson out-dueling the WR for ball on a 3^rd down pass attempt.

 Renel’s fair catch near mid-field set up the second Highlander possession of the contest. Barterian picked-up 4-yards before Renel caught Waszak’s pass that was good for 3-yards. On 3^rd down Renel ran for 2-yards off the counter and came up a yard short of the 1^st down.

Going for it on 4^th and 1, Waszak ran the option around the right side of the line and all the way into the end zone for a 43-yard touchdown scamper. The Highlanders P.A.T. attempt featured a fake that had Alex Verville taking a toss from the holder and running for the end zone. The play was called dead sighting a penalty that had the coaches a bit upset with the ruling.

ADAMS 13 RAIDERS 0

Once again senior Cory Colucci, the one-man Highlander hit-stick, was relentless on the kick-off unit and made the tackle on the Raider ball carrier.  Again, the Raider offense could not maintain a productive drive when senior captain Jake Heinrich sacked the QB for a loss of 3-yards. DB Monahan made a nice play on 2^nd and 13 after a pass completion to bring up a 3^rd and 12 situation. After a pass incompletion on 3^rd down “Big D” Muncey blew through the Raider offensive line and blocked the punt attempt. Junior DL Christian Babini scooped-up the loose pig skin but was promptly tackled by a Raider at the 32-yard line.

 The next Highlander possession stalled after a dropped pass, a screen pass that was well covered by the Raider defense and another pass that went incomplete. The ball went back to the Raiders as the 1^st quarter came to an end.

 Again, the Raider offense sputtered after getting one 1^st down. Junior DB Joe Reynolds played the screen pass well and stopped the RB for a loss of a yard. Senior LB Josh Patten stopped a sweep attempt for no gain followed by an incomplete pass that Reynolds defended well. The Raider’s punt was returned for a nice 20-yard pick-up by the shifty RB Josh Renel. No doubt the coach that was responsible to line him up at the proper distance on punt returns had a lot to do with that return…..

  Starting from inside Raider territory, at the 32-yard line the Highlander offense would pounce on the opportunity. QB Waszak ran the option followed by Renel’s run that moved the ball down to the 3-yard line. From there it was senior FB Greg (Elvis) Ornazian who rumbled his way across the goal line for the next Highlander touchdown. Verville’s P. A. T. kick went wide right, “no good”.

ADAMS 19 RAIDERS 0

 Junior DB Ryan Crocenzi got in the act on the kick-off and made a nice tackle to down the ball carrier.  The Raider offensive possession was limited to “3 and out” after LB Aaron McNamara, DB Wilson and DE Heinrich came through to limit them to negative 3- yards. The dangerous punt–returner Renel was back to receive near mid-field when he picked-up the line-drive punt off the turf and took it down the near sideline for a huge 31-yard gain.  As much as this may appear biased, I don’t think there’s a more exciting kick/ punt return RB in all of Oakland co. than # 28 for the Highlanders.  Nice job Josh!

 The high-octane offense struck quickly after WR Cody Wilson nearly made one of his circus-like receptions but the linesman ruled he was out of bounds at the 3-yard line. One the ensuing play Josh Renel took Waszak’s handoff and thanks to a nice block by Orno, ran 25-yards for a Highlander touchdown. Verville’s P. A. T kick was on the money-“good”.

ADAMS 26 RAIDERS 0

I’m not sure what the record is for tackles made on the kick team for one game but Bear-Colucci has to be close to it as he made another (his third) tackle on the Raider ball carrier.

 It was more of the same for the Raider offense when LB AJ Johnson and DE Mike Sirosky took down the scrambling QB.  Facing 3^rd and 9, the Raiders running attempt ended up in a loss of yardage.  Renel was getting a good workout in just returning punts. This time he reeled-off a solid 21-yard return.

 A quick interception of a pass to well-covered WR gave the ball right back to the Raider’s.  Again, it was “3 and out” for the Raider offense. DE Sirosky just wouldn’t allow the Raiders to run on his side of the field. Nice work Mike.

Renel laced-up his track cleats again and returned this punt 14-yards to the 22-yard line.

 From there FB Barterian found daylight and showed good speed as he ran the ball hard before a Raider defender got hold him just short of the goal line. In an effort to break the plane of the goal line, the ball came loose where Renel quickly claimed it in the end zone. Touchdown Highlanders!

Give credit to Beau for the great run to get the ball to the goal line. Give credit to Renel who trailed the play and made sure Barterian’s efforts were not in vain.

Verville’s P.A. T. kick was “good”.

ADAMS 33 RAIDERS 0

 The Raider offensive possession didn’t last long as senior LB Josh Patten intercepted the pass attempt at the 23-yard line.

 Waszak ran for a 5-yard gain off a QB sneak followed by a 7-yard run by Renel that was good for a 1^st down.  Waszak threw a beautiful pass to senior WR Scott Walbrun who laid out and made a big-time reception at the 16-yard line.  Great effort Scott!

From there RB Renel ran for 16-yards and a Highlander touchdown on 3 consecutive plays. This time is was senior Tom Casey who kicked the P.A. T. kick through the uprights.

ADAMS 40 RAIDERS 0

 Verville’s leg had to be getting tired after doing 7 kick-offs before the 1^st half was over but Dan Muncey wasn’t showing signs of being tired. He absolutely smoked the Raider RB near the near sideline on the kick-off.

 The Raider offense couldn’t get anything going as junior DL Zach Trumble recovered a fumble just before the end of the 1^st half.

Renel took the kick-off and picked-up 10 yards to move the ball out to the 25-yard line. Junior QB Joe Reynolds showed speed and good vision and ripped-off a huge 50yard gain off the option.  From the 25-yard line junior Mitch Weiland ran the ball and picked-up a good 5-yards. Ornazian blasted his way towards the goal line before he got the call again from the 5-yard line. The big senior FB took it in from there for his 2^nd touchdown of the game.  Casey added the P. A. T kick.

ADAMS 47 RAIDERS 0

 Muncey made the tackle on the kick team again. Between Muncey and Colucci there must be a friendly wager going on. Either way the Highlanders win.

 DB Aaron Taylor made a nice play to break up a pass and senior DL Mike Polk stuffed a running attempt to force another punt. The ball was downed at the 47-yard line.

 Ornazian, Reynolds and junior RB Mike (Tiki) Barber ran the ball to move into Raider territory. From the 20-yard line Barber showed good speed as he crossed the goal line for his 1^st varsity touchdown. Congratulations Tiki!

Casey split the uprights for the P.A. T kick.

ADAMS 54 RAIDERS 0

 With a running clock for most of the 2^nd half, many of the Highlanders were able to get some valuable playing time. I know many of the parents and friends of these players enjoyed seeing them play and be part of this team.

 From deep in their own territory the Raiders pass was picked–off by junior DB Crocenzi who made a nice leap to catch the ball. He then ran down the near sideline some 28-yards before being forced out-of bounds at the 3-yard line.

 From there junior Nick Montes took it into the end zone for his 1^st varsity touchdown.  Congratulations Nick!

Casey added another good P.A.T kick that was “good”.

ADAMS 61 RAIDERS 0

Before the game ended senior RB Adam Courville ran the ball well picking up 40-yards and senior Nate Garcia pounded the ball down to the 2-yard line before the Highlanders took a knee to end this contest.

Coach Patritto told the team before the game that it doesn’t matter who you play you must play with emotion and passion “ALL THE TIME”. Congratulations to the team and the coaching staff on this victory.

 Thank you coach Patritto for the opportunity to be part of your staff and to be part of this game. The memories that I have of sharing those moments with my son and his team mates on the sidelines are priceless and will be with me forever.

Let’s show the Farmington fans how the Highlander Zone rolls this Friday! Until then….

(A special thank you to Matt Renel who graciously stood in for me to take the notes necessary to compile this summary. His spotters were: Tim McNamara and Joe (Big Bear) Colucci.