Game # 7 summary- Adams Highlanders vs. Farmington Falcons (away)
(Game time weather conditions; 79 degrees, warm and no wind)
Hold the Malaise
Welcome to the first of the Falcon triumvirate. For the balance
of the Highlander’s regular season the Highlanders will play the
Falcons. First up, the 0-6 Farmington Falcons. The challenge remains
for the still UNBEATEN Highlanders to play with intensity, focus and
execution. The Highlander-Zone faithful made their way across town
to gather in the unseasonable October heat to support their team.
It’s unprecedented for a team to qualify for the playoffs two weeks
in a row but that’s exactly what’s occurred. Because of the
unfortunate circumstance of having to forfeit the victory over
Southfield in week #1, last weeks apparent 6th win over North
Farmington and playoff qualification was fleeting. The situation
only served to further galvanize the already battle-tested squad.
Whether it was the 1995 Chicago Bears or the Farmington Falcons,
someone was going to pay. When the un-official mayor of Rochester
Hills, Ken Mirch, took his seat in the Highlander Zone, it was game
time. Alex Verville’s kick resulted in a touchback so the Falcons
started from the 20-yard line. The Falcon offense picked-up a 1st
down before senior LB Dan (Big D) Muncey, DL Michael Polk, and Rob
Reynolds put an end to the initial drive. With the Falcons punting
from deep inside their own territory, senior DB Adam (Smitty) Smith
blew through the offensive line and blocked the punt. The ball was
recovered at the 3-yard line. Junior FB, Beau Barterian wasted no
time when the offensive line (Heinrich, Reynolds, Baker, Sirosky and
Sanders) opened the door to the end zone for the 1st Highlander
touchdown of the night. With less than 4 minutes into the contest,
senior place kicker Tom Casey split the uprights for the P. A. T
kick. ADAMS 7 FALCONS 0
Verville’s strong leg once again forced the opponent to start
from their own 20-yard line. The Highlander offense would not allow
the Falcon offense to move the ball after senior LB Aaron McNamara
(Mac Attack) and Sirosky teamed-up to stop the ball carrier for a
1-yard loss on 1st down. On the next play “Big D” dropped the QB for
an 8-yard loss to bring up 3rd and 19 for the host Falcons. After a
5-yard gain the Falcons were forced to punt again from deep inside
their end of the field. Senior co-captain Josh Renel returned the
punt 9-yards to the 36-yard line where the Highlander offense took
over. Junior QB Andrew Waszak threw a bullet of a pass to senior WR
Mike Monahan who made a great catch to pick-up a big 19-yard gain.
On 1st down Waszak found his familiar target, WR Cody Wilson wide
open in the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown strike. Trust me when I
tell you I’m not sure how the P.A.T kick was “good”, but it somehow
found its way over the crossbar. ADAMS 14 FALCONS 0
The Falcons 3rd possession of the game fared no better then the
last two after gaining a 1st down to move the ball out to the
30-yard line. A series of incomplete passes forced the Falcons to
punt once again. Josh Renel fielded the punt cleanly and picked-up a
big gain that was called back to the 32-yard line because of a
clipping penalty. The Highlander offense led, by QB Waszak who found
WR Monahan again for an outstanding 17-yard reception. After 2
incomplete passes, Waszak scrambled for a 1st down to keep the drive
alive. Barterian got the call again and found the end zone for a
12-yard touchdown run. With less than 1 minute left in the 1st
quarter the Highlanders jumped out to a commanding 21-point lead.
ADAMS 21- FALCONS 0
Braden Conner and “Big D” Muncey combined to stop the Falcon RB
at the 27-yard line on the kick-off. Cody Wilson made an outstanding
play from his defensive back position when he cracked the Falcon WR
just as his hands touched the ball. The pass was incomplete. On
ensuing play the Falcons threw a 47-yard pass to a wide open
receiver to move the ball to the 25-yard line. The Falcons connected
on another pass that was good for their first and only score of the
contest. Their P.A.T kick was “good” ADAMS 21 FALCONS 7
With 11:53 left in the 2nd quarter Smitty covered the kick-off
and picked up additional 3-yards to move ball to the 38-yard line
where the Highlander offense took over. RB Renel ran for 25-yards on
3 carries to move the ball across mid-field and into Falcon
territory. A quick pass to Wilson that was good for a 9-yard gain
along with an 18-yard strike to senior RB Conner moved the ball down
to the 12-yard line and a new set of downs. QB Waszak ran the QB
keeper for a 2-yard gain before Renel got the call. Josh ran into
traffic around the 5-yard line and did his spin-move that set him
free and into the end zone for another Highlander tally. Senior
kicker Tom Casey’s P.A. T was “good”. ADAMS 28 FALCONS 7
Junior DB Aaron Taylor made a nice tackle at the 21-yard line on
the ensuing kick-off. Mike Monahan covered the Falcon WR like a
blanket when the Falcons came out throwing to start their next
possession. After a short gain on a QB keeper, DB Smitty dropped the
WR after a 3-yard hitch pass reception on 3rd and 8 to force the
Falcons to punt once again. The Highlander defense led by senior
Adam Smith who blew through the offensive line and blocked the punt
attempt. The ball was recovered at the 12-yard line. Nice work guys!
The Highlander offense took full advantage of their field position
and struck quickly. Junior QB Andrew Waszak showed good patience
when he waited for RB Renel to get open in the end zone and hit him
for a 12-yard touchdown pass. The Highlander QB is having a
fantastic season and a big reason why this offense is so potent and
dangerous to defend against. Keep up the great work Andrew! ADAMS 35
FALCONS 7
With 6:40 left in the 1st half the Falcon offense facing a 3rd
down and 8 situation attempted a pass that the tall, athletic DB
Monahan made a leaping catch for an interception. The ball was
spotted at mid-field and the Highlander offense moved swiftly after
Waszak scrambled for 15-yards along with a pass interference penalty
on the Falcons that moved the pig skin to the 15-yard line. Waszak
then hit senior Mike Monahan on a come-back route at the 2-yard
line. Monahan would not be denied the end zone for his 1st varsity
touchdown. Congratulations Mike! The extra-point kick was blocked.
ADAMS 41 FALCONS 7
The next possession for the Falcons was another quick “3 and out”
after co-captain DE Jake Heinrich and DL Zach Trumble put a big-time
hit on the RB for a loss of 2-yards. DE Sirosky came up with a nice
play when he ran down the Falcon QB for another loss of 4-yards on
3rd down and long. The Falcons punt went into the waiting arms of
the dangerous punt/ kick return man Josh Renel at the 41-yard line.
Following the good blocking of Heinrich, Monahan and the other
defensive team mates, Renel rambled towards the end zone like a
mouse chasing cheese. Looking like he might be tackled around the
10-yard line, Josh emerged
