Playoff game #2: Rochester Adams Highlanders vs. Brother Rice Warriors (home)
(Game time weather: 51 degrees, clear skies, 5-10mph wind, perfect football weather)
3- MINUTE FRIED RICE
Cooking instructions: take Bros. Rice out of their coveted home field container. Remove division 1 athletic wrapper and discard immediately. Add Highlander seasoning and heart and hold on until you finally believe in these young men. Remove rice from playoff contention. Consume fried rice and smile.
On a beautiful clear fall evening the Highlanders faced a storied foe in the Warriors from Brother Rice High School. The stakes were very high as the winner would be district champions and the loser would be done for the year. The winner would then advance to the regional-final match-up. The host, UNBEATEN Highlanders had the 8-2 Warriors on their turf and on their terms.
The Rochester Adams stands were filled to capacity and beyond with the Highlander faithful and local football fans that came out to support this team.
Senior place-kicker Alex Verville got things started as the Highlanders kicked-off to the Warriors who returned the ball to the 25-yard line where A.J Johnson and Cory Colucci where there to make the tackle. The Warriors wasted no time as a series of well conceived passes moved the ball down inside Highlander territory. With the ball spotted at the Highlander 35-yard line facing 3rd down and 2, Warrior RB Caulton Ray picked-up 6-yards and a 1st down. On the ensuing play, seniors Jake Heinrich and LB Aaron McNamara (Mac Attack) teamed-up to sack the Warrior QB for a loss of 10-yards. On 2nd down and 20, The Warriors ran their all-to- familiar draw play and RB Ray blew past the Highlander defense and into the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown run. That is NOT what coach McFarland wanted to see. Their extra-point kick was ok.
ADAMS 0 RICE 7
The Warriors kick was fielded by Josh Renel who picked-up 10-yards to move the ball to the 21-yard line where the Highlander offense took over. Senior FB / LB Mac Attack-McNamara blew through the Warrior defensive line and picked-up 19-yards to open the Highlander offensive volley. McNamara filling at fullback for the injured Beau Barterian, picked-up another 10-yards and a 1st down on consecutive running plays. From midfield, QB Andrew Waszak ran the option/keeper for a solid 5-yard gain followed by a 9-yard gain by RB Braden Conner to move the rock to the 38-yard line.
A short gain on 2nd down by Waszak led to a 3rd down and 5 for the Highlander offense. With Renel in jet-motion, Waszak found a wide-open Braden Conner with a nice touch pass. Braden caught the ball and took it to the house for the 1st Highlander touchdown of the game. Tom Casey’s all important P.A.T. kick was “good”.
ADAMS 7 RICE 7
With 5:31 left in the 1st quarter Verville’s kick traveled 61-yards and into the end zone for a touchback. This next Warrior possession started with a Caulton Ray pick-up of 10-yards on 1st down. A couple of short 3-yard gains by the Warrior QB Lentz and RB Ray led to a 3rd down and 4 situation. Lentz’s pass was incomplete and the Warriors were forced to punt the ball for the 1st time in the contest. The Warriors chose not to punt the ball to Josh Renel and the punt went out-of-bounds at the 30-yard line.
With 3:21 left in the opening quarter the Highlander offense could not find any rhythm and ended up in a 4th and 20 predicament. Josh Patten’s punt was returned to the 46-yard line where Adam Smith (Smitty) made a solid tackle on the ball carrier.
The Warriors third possession of the game started with excellent field position and they executed a solid drive that included a pivotal 4th and 1 that the Warriors were awarded by the nose of the ball. From the 46-yard line the warriors went back to the draw play to RB Caulton Ray who was off to the races until Safety Renel ran him down and pushed him out-of-bounds at the 8-yard line. Two plays later Warrior RB Henneghan ran off the right tackle and into the end zone for a touchdown. The extra-point kick was alright.
ADAMS 7 RICE 14
The Warriors short “chip-shot” kick-off was fielded by “Smitty” who returned the ball along the far sideline very well, to the 40-yard line. This Highlander drive, their 3rd of the contest, started ominously with an offsides penalty setting-up a 1st and 15 situation. An incomplete pass followed by a QB scramble by Waszak that resulted in and 3rd down and 10 for the Highlanders. A miscommunication between Waszak and WR Wilson resulted in an errant pass that was fortunately dropped by the Warrior DB. Josh Patten’s punt went to the 38-yard line with no return by the Warriors.
The Warrior offense was held to their first “3 and out” when LB’s “Big-D” Muncey and “Mac-Attack” McNamara manned-up to stop a dive for a 1-yard gain followed by DB “Smitty” who came up big to stop the passing attack of the Warriors. This all-OAA DB was demonstrating why he’s so important in the Highlander secondary. Facing 4th and 4, the Warrior punt was fielded by Renel. Renel’s nice punt return efforts were negated by a costly “block-in-the-back” penalty.
The Highlanders 4th possession of the showdown started back at the 20-yard line. QB Waszak picked-up a quick 8-yards on 1st down and FB McNamara blasted his way through the Warrior defense for a huge 9-yard gain. Senior FB/LB Aaron McNamara was running like a man possessed. Like many of his Highlander teammates, his stature doesn’t speak to the “heart” that he plays with. When “Mac Attack” is rockin the Highlanders are rolling.
From the 38-yard line with 6:51 left in the 2nd quarter, a pass to Conner was good for 5-yards and a late-hit flag against the Warrior DB tacked on another 15-yards. Renel and Conner teamed-up to pick up a combined 10-yards and a new set of downs. With the ball in Warrior territory, you could sense the confidence building in the Highlander offense. A short gain by Conner on 1st down was followed by another big run by “Mac-Attack” that picked-up another 1st down. From the 21-yard line All-league QB Waszak ran back-to-back option / keepers for good yardage only to have his efforts nullified by another holding penalty.
Faced with 2nd down and 12 Waszak threw a bullet to senior co-captain Renel who caught the ball and was immediately hit by the Warrior safety. Renel’s legs flew over his head and he landed hard. The pass reception was good for a huge 12-yard gain and another Highlander 1st down. Renel got the call again in the red-zone and rocked for 9-yards to get the ball down to the 1-yard line. From there Waszak Followed his offensive line blocking and crossed the goal line for the touchdown. Casey’s P.A.T. kick was “good” because Gesquire’s snap and Code’s hold were very good. With 2:56 left in the 1st half the score was tied at:
ADAMS 14 RICE 14
The Warriors took over from the 29-yard line and Co-Captain DL Jake Heinrich blew up the draw play that threw the RB for a loss of 4-yards. After an incomplete pass the Warriors faced 3rd and 14. They went to the air again and Adam Smith’s text book coverage was mistaken for pass interference according to the official. With a new set of downs, the Warriors went right back to their draw play that Muncey and Emery teamed-up to stop for a short gain. Heinrich came through to stop the run after another short gain followed by an incomplete pass that finished the drive. Renel returned the punt for 5-yards.
The Highlander offense took a knee to end the 1st half.
The Highlander offense started with the ball at the 27-yard line following a fair catch by Braden Conner. Waszak ran the option keeper on 1st and 2nd downs for a net gain of 5-yards to bring up 3rd and 5. Renel ran the counter off the left side of the line and took his “shake and bake” style for a big gain and 1st down. From inside the 40-yard line of the Warriors, Waszak picked-up 5 tough yards but a holding call on the offense negated the gain and it was now 2nd down and 10. FB “Mac-Attack” picked-up where he left off in the 1st half and ran the ball some 30-yards down to the 10-yard line.
Renel would take the ball down to near the 5-yard line on the next play but again a penalty on the Highlanders for holding would kill the play and make it 1st down and 21. McNamara picked-up 4 yards and a WR reverse that went for loss of a few yards turned into a 4th and long situation. The Highlanders called on Alex (robo-leg) Verville to attempt a field goal. Verville’s kick was a low line-drive boot that split the uprights- “GOOD!
ADAMS 17 RICE 14
With 6:54 left in the 3rd quarter the Highlander defense slowed down the Warrior attack to limit them to one 1st down. McNamara, Muncey, Wilson stepped up to make key plays to force the Warrior offense to punt the ball away. The Warrior punt was downed at the 24-yard line after no return by the Highlanders.
This next Highlander drive of the 2nd half would showcase “Mac-Attack” and “shake and bake’s” running the ball hard and picking up 35+yards combined. With the ball spotted at the 46-yard line an offsides penalty and an incomplete pass put an end to this drive. Josh (Big Foot) Patten’s punt was downed at the Warrior 1-yard line by Steve Emery. Nice punt Josh and great effort Steve!
The Warriors had their backs to the end zone and the Highlander defense would keep the pressure on limiting them to one 1st down. This time junior DL Zach Trumble made a nice tackle on RB Ray to limit him to a 3-yard gain. A toss sweep to the left side offensive line was strung out nicely for a minimum 2-yard gain followed by an incomplete pass that brought up 3rd down and 8. RB Caulton Ray could not escape the Highlander tacklers this time and was brought down after a 4-yard gain to force the Warriors to punt once again.
Renel fielded the punt just before a Warrior defender could get a hand on him and spun away from him for a 10-yard return.
With the ball spotted near mid-field the Highlander offense was not able to take advantage of the good field position and went “3 and out”. Patten’s punt was a good one and pinned the Warrior offense back at their 13-yard line.
Now early in the 4th quarter the Warrior offense went on an 87-yard drive that took nearly 6:30 off the clock before the Warriors scored a touchdown. It was 3rd down and goal from the 12-yard line when RB Ray scored off the dreaded draw play. They added the extra point kick and with 3:12 left in the game the score was:
ADAMS 17 RICE 21
This next Highlander drive was one that won’t be forgotten for years to come. With the game in the balance Adam Smith returned the chip-shot kick-off to the 30-yard line.
Renel picked-up 8 tough yards on 1st down and FB McNamara blasted his way to a 1st down. From the 41-yard line and the clock ticking, a quick pass to Renel was good for a quick 3-yards. On 2nd down and 1:59 showing on the clock, Waszak scrambled to his left and found senior RB Braden Conner who slipped pass the Warrior DB. Waszak’s pass to Conner was good for -yards and a HUGE 1st down.
With the ball now spotted at the 29-yard line a counter to Renel was blown-up by the Warrior defensive line. On 2nd down and 1:46 left in the game Waszak hit WR Cody Wilson on a well executed slant pass to move the chains and the ball down to the 13-yard line.
Mac-Attack moved the rock down to the 10-yard line. With 1:02 left Josh Renel got the call and ran the ball off the left side of the offensive line and was tackled at the 2-yard line.
After a Highlander time out to know doubt allow the offense to gather themselves and allow the Highlander faithful to breath in some oxygen the Highlanders lined up at the 2-yard line.
With 1:00 showing on the clock, Josh Renel went in motion and took the hand-off from Waszak and found a slight seem in the defensive line and willed his way into the end zone where he was promptly met by a host of Warriors. Josh broke the plain of the goal line for a touchdown as the couple thousand Highlander fans, parents, and students in attendance erupted in joy. Tom Casey’s P.A.T kick was money and with: 57 left in the game the score read: ADAMS 24 RICE 21
The next 57 seconds felt like an eternity. Verville’s adrenaline induced kick-off went into the end zone for an important touch back to spot the ball at the 20-yard line. An incomplete pass on 1st down led to a screen pass good for a 6-yard gain on the ensuing play. Another incomplete pass led to a 4th down and 4 situation. With just :32 left in the game the Warriors got the 1st down off a completed pass but could not stop the clock from this point on as they were out of time-outs.
A completed pass near the sideline was ruled in bounds as Steve Emery made sure the Warrior WR would not be able to stop the clock by going out of bounds. With just 8 clicks left in the game another incomplete pass led to the last dash play of the game for the Warriors. QB Lentz went down the middle of the field where safety Joe Reynolds was waiting. Reynolds interception sealed the deal for the Highlanders. GAME OVER!
The Highlander players, coaches and students swarmed the field when Reynolds hit the turf. What a sight. What a game!
FINAL SCORE: ADAMS 24 BROTHER RICE 21
Congratulations to the players and coaching staff on winning the district Championship!
It was well deserved. It’s a game that will live in the hearts and memories of all who witnessed it for a long time. Now we turn our attention on to the regional game against an improved Farmington Hills Harrison team.
For the seniors it will be your last game you will play on your home field and in front of the home fans. Go out a winner!
Players: With two walls of your house firmly in place, set your sights on the challenge of adding the more difficult third wall. This particular wall may appear to be a repeat of previous structures you’ve built. Don’t be fooled by the appearance of this wall as it will prove to be every bit as difficult as your last effort.
Each wall from this point forward increases in weight so DIG DEEP. Collectively you can accomplish your mission.
Best of Luck!
GO ADAMS!
(Thanks to my spotters: Mac, Big Bear and Matt man)
