Highlander Football 2018 - Hard Work

Rochester Adams Highlanders
2018 Football Game Reports with Photos
Photos By Amy Patton and Dave McCoy

Highlanders narrowly escape upset bid against RHS Falcon QB Malinowski hit Drake Reid on a
stop route for 4 yards, Sr DB (2) Nick Kania
in the opener, win 28-27 in double OT made the stop. Patritto brought down the HB
Liebzeit after 3 to set up 3rd-4 from the
CLASS OF 2011
Rochester 42. Falcon HB (6) Gabe Szafran
took the pitch around left end for 5 yards before
Nico Jackson knocked him down. 1st-10 at
the 47. Sr DE (78) Connor Hess and Sr DB (7)
Ethan McCoy brought down Liebzeit after a
gain of 3. Malinowski tried to hit Reid on a
short slant that fell incomplete. On a 3rd and 7
the Falcons appeared to benefit from a catch
and fumble ruling on an incomplete pass. WR
Reid only took one step after securing the ball
before Highlander DB Anthony Patritto knocked
the ball free. But it was close, and they let it
go as a catch, a fumble, a recovery, and a first
down gain of 11 to the Highlander 39. A
Rochester holding call nullified a 10 yard gain
by Liebzeit. On 2nd-20 Nick Kania had good
1st Quarter coverage on Reid deep down the right side,
Adams kicker Sr. (18) Ben Patton sent the opening kickoff into the end incomplete. On 3rd-20 Rifenberg dropped
zone, and the Falcon offense took over at their own 20 yard line. Sr. DE Liebzeit for a one yard loss, but gave an
(79) Reed Vogt caught RHS QB (12) Owen Malinowski in the backfield unnecessary push getting off the pile, and
for a 5 yard loss. Sr. LB (9) Ryan Rifenberg and Sr. LB (55) Daniel French was called for a personal foul. Instead of
stopped Falcon starting RB (20) Cam Liebzeit, an all-league transfer from punting it away, the Falcons had 3rd-4 on the
Walled Lake Northern, after a gain of 1. On 3rd and 14, Liebzeit ran a Adams 33. Malinowski hit Reid on a stop
sweep left and was tackled after 4 yards by Sr DB (1) Reece Collins and Sr route and he got 11 on the play before Nick
DB (21) Nico Jackson. Kania brought him down. A holding penalty
was called to move the Falcons back to their 29
After a 22 yard punt, the Highlanders started on a short field at the for 1st-17. Daniel French and Reed Vogt
Falcon 42. Jr. QB (10) Carter Farris kept it on read-option left but tackled by combined to stop transfer RB (5) Nick Grabke,
the crashing Falcon DB (4) Drake Reid after a yard. Carter’s helmet was from Troy Athens, after a gain of one.
ripped off by a tackler, no penalty called. Jr QB (6) Jerry Garrett came into Rifenberg tackled Grabke for a one yard loss to
to take the snap while Carter got his helmet back on, and handed it to set up 3rd-17 from the 29. Ethan McCoy blew
fullback Ryan Rifenberg, who split the blocks of trapping G Reed Vogt and Jr up the next play, crashing off the edge to force
C (65) Tim Anderson for a gain of 6 up the middle. Jr HB (3) Anthony an early throw trying to get to Liebzeit on a
Patritto was stopped for no gain on 3rd and 4 from the 36. The delay in the flat, incomplete. On 4th-17
Highlander pass attempt from Farris to Sr WR (5) Jack Bishop was too long Malinowski found with a nice pass over the
on 4th down and the Falcons took over at their 36. defense to Reid on a go route down the
right sideline for 28 yards down to the
Highlander one. On 1st-goal from the 1 yard
line, Rifenberg and McCoy stuffed Liebzeit
for no gain. On 2nd down, Sr DT (77) Cole
Mitchell, Rifenberg, and Vogt stuffed the QB
sneak for no gain. On 3rd down, Mitchell
pancaked his man and got help from Vogt and
Rifenberg to on a 1 yard loss. On 4th and
goal from the two, the Falcons cashed in
when Malinowski found motion-man TE (13)
Ryan Noble on a well-executed rub route for
the 2 yard touchdown pass. After the PAT
was good, the home team Falcons had a 7-0
lead.
Adams started their 2nd possession on
their 35. Sr HB/WR (4) Collin Weeks got it on
the jet sweep right and followed blocks off
Rifenberg and Hess for a 4 yard gain. Carter
Farris looked for Jackson up the seam, but it
was well covered, deflected, and almost picked
off before falling incomplete. Farris missed
long to Jack Bishop streaking deep down the
right sideline on 3rd down, incomplete. Farris
quick-punted, and a beauty, 58 yards to pin the
Falcons at their own 3.
RHS made a change at QB, (17) Payton
Youngblood, a transfer from Stoney Creek,
took over behind center. He handed it to Gabe
Szafran and Ryan Rifenberg and Cole Mitchell
combined to bring him down after a gain of
one. It was Rifenberg and Patritto teaming up
for the stop of Grabke for no gain on 2nd down;
the last play of the quarter.
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Rochester went back to Payton Youngblood for this series at
QB. Szafran got the carry and Rifenberg and Vogt tackled him
after a yard. Youngblood then passed complete to Gabe Szafran
out of the backfield in the right flat for an 11 yard pickup, Jackson
bumped him out of bounds. Hess and Vogt teamed to tackle
Youngblood for a 1 yard loss on the next play. On 2nd-11,
Youngblood threw complete to Szafran again, this time he lined up
in the left slot and caught it on a slant over the middle for 10 yards;
Nico Jackson made the tackle. Liebzeit found room on the right
side and ran it for 11 yards before Jr. LB (27) Logan Sayre brought
him down. Youngblood tried to hit Drake Reid on a fly route down
the left sideline and Reece Collins was stride for stride and in
position to make an interception. Reid made a nice play to break it
up, and it fell incomplete. Nick Grabke found room around the
left and picked up 11 before Ethan McCoy brought him down.
Collins defended Noble on a go route down the left sideline,
incomplete. Then Liebzeit took the handoff running around the left
to the short side. The Highlanders lost outside contain and he got
free for 15 yards down the sideline before Jackson bumped him
out of bounds at the Adams 24. French and Sayre dropped
2nd Quarter Liebzeit for a 5 yard loss, but Adams was flagged for a facemark
on the play, setting up Rochester 1st-10 at the Highlander 14.
On 3rd-10 from their own 4, Youngblood missed Szafran on a slant Hess and French tackled Grabke after a 2 yard gain. Then Grabke
route, and the Falcons punted, 39 yards by Malinowski. Anthony Patritto found a crease over right guard, Sayre saved the touchdown with
returned it 14 yards. a tackle at the 3 after a 9 yard gain that set up RHS with first and
goal from the 3 yard line. The Highlander defense rose to the
The Highlanders 3rd drive started at the Falcons 30. Carter Farris ran occasion. Rifenberg stopped Grabke up the middle for no gain.
read-option left, faked to Rifenberg and followed the wide path graded by Then Rifenberg and Sayre knocked Cam Liebzeit out of
6’5” 240lb. Jr. T (64) Bob Anderson for a pickup of 7. Anthony Patritto was bounds at the 2 yard line after he tried to sweep it in on the
stopped for no gain on 2nd down trying to run off left tackle. Patritto got left side. On 3rd-goal from the 2, Collins defended a back
the ball again on the jet sweep to the short side and followed pulling shoulder throw to the left, incomplete. On 4th-2, Cole Mitchell
guard Cole Mitchell and seal blocks of Ethan McCoy and Nico Jackson provided pressure and forced an early throw by Youngblood who
to find paydirt from 23 yards out. Patton hit the PAT and it was tied 7-7 with tried to hit Liebzeit on the right out of the backfield. Rifenberg on
10:32 left in the half. the coverage, incomplete. RHS had marched 80 yards on the 16
play drive, but the Highlanders turned them away on downs at the
RHS went back to Malinowski behind center for the next drive, and he 2 yard line.
was dropped for a 2 yard loss by Connor Hess on first down. Malinowski
Cole Mitchell got the carry and fumbled, but Carter Farris dove
threw incomplete on a stop route to the right, defended by Nick Kania. They
on it to save the possession for the Highlanders on their own 1.
ran the same play again, incomplete, and the Highlanders forced a 3 and out.
Farris threw the quick pass to Patritto who carried it for 4 up to the
Malinowski punted 33 yards and the Highlanders took over with 9:44 left in
5 yard line. Adams got the big play they needed as Farris hit
the 2nd.
Jack Bishop on the deep post for 65 yards to the Falcon 30
yard line. Patritto followed blocks by pulling guard Cole Mitchell,
1st-10 from their 47, and Rifenberg rumbled up the middle for 8 behind
Nico Jackson, Bob Anderson, and Collin Weeks on the edge to
good blocking. The trapping Daniel French, the brothers Anderson, and Reed
gash Rochester for 8 yards off left tackle. Rifenberg pounded the
Vogt provided the space. Reece Collins got it on the pitch going around the
middle for 3 yards to pick up a first down at the Rochester 24.
left for a gain of one. Then big Cole Mitchell lined up next to Rifenberg in a
Then Carter Farris found Collin Weeks on a 24 yard scoring
two-back set and got the carry, he pounded it for 5 behind Tim Anderson and
strike. Weeks ran a go route down the left side and Farris
Daniel French for a first down to the Falcon 39. Carter Farris ran read option
threw a strike. Patton added the PAT and with 32 seconds in
left, faked to Rifenberg and got around the right behind the seal blocks of
the half, the Highlanders took a 14-7 lead.
Connor Hess and Anthony Patritto. He cut up the middle and broke tackles
for 21 yards, but as he carried tacklers and fought for extra yards at the end Rochester ran one play before the half, Cam Liebzeit carried for
of the run, a Falcon defender ripped the ball loose and fell on it. Huge 6 yards; Sr DT (44) Logan Kania made the tackle with help from
defensive play for Rochester to give it back to them on the Falcon 18. Jack Bishop.

3rd Quarter
Adams started the half with the ball at their 24. Carter Farris ran read option left, faking to Rifenberg and picking up a yard. Same play on second
down, but to the other side, this time good for 8 yards behind blocks of right tackle Connor Hess and halfback Anthony Patritto. On 3rd-1, it was Farris
keeping again for 2 more and a first down between good drive blocks of Reed Vogt and Daniel French. A holding call nullified a 9 yard carry by Patritto and it
was 1st-25 at the 19 yard line. Rifenberg got two yards up the gut, then Farris hit Reece Collins on an out route for a gain of 10 to make it 3rd-13 at the 29.
Farris then threw a dime to the streaking Jack Bishop who hauled it in for a 43 yard gain along the right sideline. 1st-10 Highlanders at the Falcon 28.
Anthony Patritto got it going around the left side seal blocks of left tackle Bob Anderson and halfback Nico Jackson to pick up 8 yards. Jackson carried it for
a yard around the right side. On 3rd-1 from the 19, again as it looked like Adams was going in for a score, Farris ran read-option left between the path
created by Reece Collins and Anderson, he picked up 6 yards, but the Falcons made another play on defense. DB Nick Grabke made the tackle and
put his helmet right on the ball, it popped out and RHS recovered the ball on their 18.
The Falcons got the run game going without big Cole Mitchell in the game at DT, who was out with an injury. Owen Malinowski was back at QB for
Rochester, and would remain there for the rest of the game. Liebzeit ran for 7 before Logan Sayre and Patritto brought him down. He got 10 more on the
next carry, Nico Jackson pulled him down with help from Ryan Rifenberg. Then Rifenberg stopped Gabe Szafran after a gain of 4. On 2nd down, Liebzeit
again got loose, this time for 12, Sayre and Rifenberg on the tackle. Rifenberg got kicked in the facemask making the tackle and his helmet came
off. He had to leave the field for a play. Grabke took the next handoff and showed impressive burst up the middle, splitting the defensive secondary as he
angled to the left corner for a 48 yard touchdown that ignited the Falcon faithful. 14-14 game after the PAT. 7:04 in the 3rd.
The Highlanders got a 15 yard return

from Reece Collins and benefitted from a
Rochester penalty to start their second drive
of the half at their 40 yard line. Nico
Jackson got it on a jet sweep right for a
yard. Then a 35 yard catch by Bishop
down the right sideline was ruled caught out
of bounds. His right foot was in bounds
when the ball hit his hands, his next step
with the left foot was out of bounds; the ball
never moved in his hands. It appears the
Falcons benefitted from the call.
Incomplete. Rifenberg took a swing pass
from Farris going left, but Drake Reid make
a nice play, closing fast in space and
knocked Rifenberg down after only a yard.
On 4th-9 from their 43, Adams went for it,
but their was some miscommunication on
the route as Farris’s pass fell incomplete.
He threw a deep out, but no receiver was
there.
The Falcons took over at the Highlander
43 with 4:31 left in the 3rd, but the Adams
defense responded. Daniel French and
Conner Hess dropped halfback Cam
Liebzeit after 3 on first down. Then Bob
Anderson and Logan Kania dropped him for
a loss of 2. On third down Malinowski tried
to go deep down the right sideline, but Nick
Kania was on the coverage, incomplete. 3
and out. Malinowski got off a 43 yard punt,
into the end zone for a touchback.
1st-10 Adams from their 20, 3:41 left in

the 3rd. Carter Farris ran the read-option
left for 10 yards, 7 came after contact
through the hole created by Bob Anderson,
Reed Vogt, and Reece Collins. Rifenberg
ran it for 4 yards right up the middle on
first down. He got 4 more on second
down behind great blocking by center
Tim Anderson, guard Reed Vogt, and Sr G
(67) Jake Tobiczyk. On 3rd and 2,
Rifenberg carried for the third straight play,
this time for 6 yards behind the same trio of
interior linemen. Anthony Patritto ran a jet
trap left for 5 on first down. It was
Rifenberg for 3 more on the last play of the
quarter.

4th Quarter
With 4:00 left in the game, Rochester
took the ball at their 20 with a chance
On 3rd-2, Farris only got 1 on the keep to make it 4th-1 from the Falcon 47. Farris faked the give to Rifenberg, then followed him through the hole for 2 yards
to win the game. The Adams defense
to move the sticks again. Rifenberg pounded the middle for 2, Patritto carried for 2 more. Farris then turned in his best running play of the night, he rolled
wasn’t having it. Connor Hess and Jr.
right to pass and found no one open. Connor Hess seal blocked the edge and Farris got around him and cut back into the middle to daylight. He
LB (16) Caden Ebinger brought down
made two defenders miss and dragged tacklers down to the 16 for a 25 yard gain. Unfortunately, Adams was called for an illegal block behind the play,
Liebzeit after a 3 yard run. Malinowski
then the bench was penalized for 15 more yards, and the ball moved all the way back to the Highlander 44. 40 yards in penalties on one play to make it 3rd-25.
completed a short slant for 11 yards;
Carter Farris got 24 of the 25 on the next play, he threw a strike to Jack Bishop on a deep slant route for a 24 yard gain to make it 4th-1 at the Falcon 36.
Nico Jackson on the tackle. Liebzeit
Farris was shook up on the long running play, and he had to come out after the 3rd down pass. Jerry Garrett came in to take the 4th-1 snap and he faked the
carrried for 9 yards; Reed Vogt and
hand off and burst through right tackle between blocks of Hess and Tobiczyk for a first down. Collns got the next carry for 3 yards on a jet trap right. Garrett
Ethan McCoy combined on the stop.
gained one on read option left. Carter Farris re-entered the game to take the 3rd-6 snap from the Falcon 29. He threw a dart to Jack Bishop on a 10
On 2nd-1, Hess, Bob Anderson, and
yard out route to the short side, Bishop hauled it in for 11 yards and a Highlander first down at the 18 yard line. Rifenberg hammered it up the middle for
Daniel French teamed up to bring
3 yards, Collins rambled for 4 more, but Adams was flagged for holding to make it 2nd-13 from the 21. Collin Weeks ran jet sweep left for a yard, then
down Liebzeit for no gain. On 3rd-1
Farris looked to pass but had to scramble for another yard to make it 4th-11 from the 20. Ben Patton came in to try a 36 yard field goal, but it was no good.
RHS snapped it early and Malinowski
The 21-play drive took 11 minutes and 41 seconds off the clock, but mental-mistake penalties killed it, and Adams came away with no points.
went down; Bob Anderson touched
him first for a 4 yard sack and loss.
4th-5 from their own 37, and the
Falcons elected to punt it away.
Malinowski punted it 37 yards.
Adams started their last drive of the

quarter with 1:51 left to play at their
own 26. Farris rolled right, but threw
it away after finding no one open,
2nd-10. Farris had Bishop on a slant,
but he couldn’t haul it in, incomplete.
On 3rd-10 Farris threw a strike to
Collin Weeks who broke open on a
deep-in route, Weeks broke tackles
and made a great run for 20 yards
after the catch; 33 yard gain to the
Falcon 41. Farris tried to get it to
Bishop on an out-route; incomplete.
On 2nd-10, Farris had to scramble for
4 yards after the pocket broke down.
On third down, Carter Farris found
Reece Collins on a crossing pattern
over the middle, and he carried it for
a 21 yard gain to the Rochester 16.
Farris clocked it to stop the clock at 43
seconds. The next play looked like it
salted the game away, unfortunately a
bad call on a holding penalty nullified
it. Patritto carried it around the left
side for 14 yards and was knocked
out of bounds, apparently giving
Adams first and goal from the 2.
Bob Anderson, the left tackle,
manhandled his man on the play,
bull dozing him 15 yards down the
field. The defender, unable to
escape the drive block, extended
both hands in the universal “help me
ref, he is holding me” gesture after
the play passed him by and drew a
flag. Instead of first and goal at the 2
with time for 3 shots at a TD, Adams
was pushed back to the 18. Falcon’s
Gabe Szafran came on a blitz and
blew up the next play for a -4 yard loss
before Farris could hand it off. On
third down, Farris tried to hit Bishop in
the end zone; incomplete. So with
6.3 seconds remaining, Ben Patton
came on for the 35 yard field goal.
The kick looked good. Adams
photographer Dave McCoy was
under the posts, he signaled good.
The Adams kids behind the posts
who caught the ball were
celebrating, they thought it was
good. The refs signaled no good.
No indication of which side it
missed on. The game headed to
overtime.

1st Overtime
Rochester ball first, overtime rules, at the Adams 10 yard line. Bob Anderson and Luke Kania combined to stop Liebzeit after 2 yards. On second down, a
sign of things to come, they tried to throw a short flat-route to the halfback. A wideout came crashing down to block the linebacker to free the receiver,
clearly offensive pass interference / illegal contact. Pass was incomplete. No call on obvious offensive interference, but a hold was called on the Falcons on
the opposite side of the field to make it 3rd down from the 22 yard line. Malinowski tried to hit Noble down the left sideline, incomplete, Reece Collins on the
coverage. On 4th and 22, they decided to go for it instead of attempt a field goal, and it worked out for RHS. Gabe Szafran ran a post pattern in the
middle of the field and his legs got tied up with the defender, who went down. Szafran stayed upright and caught it for the 22 yard scoring strike to
bring the house down in the home bleachers. PAT was good and it was 21-14 Falcons.
Adams ball on the Falcon 10. Two incompletions, intended for Bishop on the right sideline, then for Patritto in the right back corner, set up 3rd-10. A delay of
game made it 3rd down at the 15. Collin Weeks came up clutch again, getting open on a post-corner route and Farris threw a strike to him for his
second TD catch off the night. TD Highlanders, 21-21 after the PAT by Patton.
2nd Overtime
Adams lined up in a two-back set. Patritto on the left Rifenberg on right, Farris under center taking a direct snap. He pitched right to Patritto who
followed the lead block of Rifenberg and blocks by Bishop and Hess to gut Rochester for 8 yards. 2nd-goal from the 2. Patritto got it again for a
yard, then a third time for paydirt. French, Hess, Bishop, and Rifenberg drove the defense back, and it was 28-21, but not without drama on the PAT.
On the attempt, Adams false started to move the ball back 5 yards. Then Patton was absolutely blown up by a defender running into him and was knocked
him down hard. The kick was no good, but there should have been 3 flags on the field. There was none. After almost 30 seconds of deliberation, they finally
threw the laundry. Of course, this upset the home crowd, as it was one of the latest calls you will ever see. But again, the better question was why there were
not multiple flags to begin with. Embarrassing for this group of officials, who seemed to struggle all night. Patton got a second chance and banged it through.
RHS ball on the AHS 10. Falcon QB Malinowski made a nice scramble run around the left side,
gaining 6 yards before Reece Collins knocked him out. Daniel French met Liebzeit in the hole, and
got help from Hess and Rifenberg to drop him for no gain. On 3rd-4, Malinowski found Noble on a
nicely executed slant out of trips-right for the score. Rochester decided to line up for 2 to try to win it
outright. Again, RHS ran the rub route / pick play. Noble motioned across to the right, Nico
Jackson followed him in coverage. On the snap, the slot man on the right, Grabke, crashed down and
hit the coverage man, Jackson, helmet in the center of his chest, to free up Noble. This should have
been an easy call; obvious illegal contact / offensive interference penalty. No flag. Fortunately for
Adams, the football gods didn’t like it either; Noble was unable to make the catch and the game ended
28-27 Adams.
The Highlanders survived after quite a scare from a vastly improved Rochester football team who
played a great game. Bad mental-mistake penalties, two fumbles in Falcon territory, a couple of
missed field goals, and the loss of Cole Mitchell for the second half all combined to turn what should
have been a comfortable win into a nail-biting near catastrophe. Adams out-gained Rochester in total
offense, 470 yards to 273 yards. Carter Farris was 11-22 for 253 yards and 2 TDS, he also ran it 12
times for 98 yards. Anthony Patritto carried 10 times for 58 yards and 2 TDs. Ryan Rifenberg rushed
10 times for 41 yards. Jack Bishop led the receivers with 4 catches for 143 yards. Collin Weeks
caught 3 balls for 72 yards and 2 scores. Reece Collins had two receptions for 33 yards. On defense,
Ryan Rifenberg was in on 14 tackles, 3 of them tackles for loss. Connor Hess had 8 tackles, 2 for loss.
Reed Vogt had 7 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 tackle for loss. Daniel French had 7 tackles, 1 for a loss.
Logan Sayre had 6 tackles, 1 for loss. Nico Jackson had 6, Ethan McCoy had 5, Bob Anderson had 4,
including 1 sack and a tackle for loss. Patritto had 4 tackles, Logan Kania and Cole Mitchell (first half
only) had 3 each. For the Falcons, Owen Malinowski was 8-16 for 94 yards passing with 2 TDs.
Payton Youngblood was 2-7 for 21 yards passing. Cam Liebzeit rushed 22 times for 82 yards, Nick
Grabke carried it 9 times for 72 yards and a score, Gabe Szafran had 4 carries for 11 yards and caught
3 passes for 43 yards and a score. Drake Reid caught 4 passes for 54 yards.

Adams wins on the road at Bloomfield Hills 24-21 First down from their own 8 yard
line. Again, it was Patritto for big
Rochester yards. Reed Vogt and Bob Anderson
created a wide opening on the left;
Patritto shot between them, then
bounced to the right. He caught seal
blocks from Rifenberg, right tackle
Will Myers (70) and WR Jack Bishop
(5) and burst up the right sideline in
front of the Blackhawk bench where
he was bumped out at the 50 after a
42 yard gain. Rifenberg was stopped
for no gain on first down. Then Farris
took the shotgun snap and looked to
pass but scrambled out of the pocket
and into space for a 13 yard pick up
down to the BH 37. Patritto gained 2
on first down. Then Rifenberg picked
up 5 on second down between the
blocks of Tim Anderson and Jake
Tobiczyk. Ebinger came into spell
Rifenberg, and he got the carry for 2
yards to set up 4th and 1. Only a yard
to gain, the 27 yard line. Rifenberg
1st Quarter looked like he got there with a half yard
Adams survived a scare on the kickoff as the ball was not caught in the air. Fortunately, they recovered on their 21 yard line. Fullback Ryan Rifenberg (9) to spare, but ball was placed back at
took the first handoff up the middle and pounded his way for 8 yards behind the blocking of center Tim Anderson (65), left guard Reed Vogt (79) and left tackle the 26 and a half. Inches short on the
Bob Anderson (64). On second down, slotback Anthony “Twan” Patritto (3) found the edge around the left side. Pulling right guard Jake Tobiczyk (67) measurement. Bloomfield benefitted
sealed off the defensive end and down field blocking by Ethan McCoy (7) and Nico Jackson (21) led the escort as Patritto reeled off 46 yards all the way from the favorable spot and took over
down to the Blackhawk 35. On first down, QB Carter Farris (10) kept it for a gain of 2. Caden Ebinger (16) carried for 2 more, but Adams was called for a on downs.
personal foul, which moved it back to their 44 and made it 3rd-19. Farris fired it a bit too far for slotback Reece Collins (1) who went deep on a go route up Blackhawk QB Barash attempted to
the right hash. 4th and long, but Adams would go for it on the Bloomfield side of the field. Farris passed to Rifenberg in the flat, but he was limited to 8 find Ward on a stop route, incomplete.
yards by good Blackhawk pursuit, and Bloomfield took over on downs at their 36. Coverage by Reece Collins. They tried
it again and this time Ward came up
Bloomfield Hills ran their workhorse tailback, Jacob Gasso (31) up the middle for 1 yard before Ryan Rifenberg brought him down. Then Rifenberg caught with the catch for 12 yards before
wideout Alec Ward (17) in the backfield on an end-around for a 2 yard loss to make it 3rd-11. Collins was called for a pass interference working against Ward Collins dropped him. Bloomfield Hills
on a stop route. Unfortunate for Adams, as Collins appeared to provide good legal coverage. Film confirmed nothing remotely close to resembling PI on the was flagged for holding on the next
play. The Highlander D buckled down from there. Rifenberg got help from nose-guard Forrest Dufresne (50) and LB Daniel French (54) to down Gasso after 3 play to make it 1st-19 at the 30.
yards. After an incompletion on 2nd down, OLB Jack Bishop (5) brought down Bloomfield QB Andrew Barash (6) after a 2 yard gain on 3rd down, and Again, they looked for the Jr speedster
Bloomfield got off a 43 yard punt. Alec Ward on a fly-stop route. Collins,
in 1-on-1 coverage with the speed
burner with no safety help, had to
respect the deep threat of Ward. In
such a situation, a well thrown stop
route is almost impossible to defend,
and Barash put it right between Ward’s
numbers for a 9 yard gain. They tried
to set up a middle screen to Ward on
2nd down, but pressure by DE Jake
Schuler (14) and DT Tim Anderson
forced an early throw. Patritto hit Ward
as he tried to haul it in, incomplete.
3rd-10. Again, Barash looked for Ward.
This time trying to steak past Collins
down the left sideline, but the ball was
a bit under-thrown. Collins made a nice
play to stop and defend the ball at its
high point and force the incompletion.
Bloomfield Hills got off a nice 50 yard
punt.
Highlander ball on their own 10.
Farris got caught in the backfield for a
loss of 5. Then Rifenberg was stopped
for no gain on a draw play. On 3rd-15,
Farris found wideout Jack Bishop (5) on
an out-route for 12 yards. Adams had
to punt it away, and Ben Patton (18)
came on to do it. 38 yards to the
Blackhawk 45.
Bloomfield Hills mishandled the

shotgun snap. Daniel French made
first contact, then cornerback Nick
Kania (2) got help from Bishop and
Patritto to bring down Barash for no
gain on the last play of the quarter.
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The Blackhawks got pushed back to the 6 for 1st-16 after a holding
call. Gasso ran it to the right for 5 yards; McCoy and Patritto
stopped him. He got 4 more before Rifenberg, French, and Patritto
teamed to bring him down. On 3rd-5, he picked up 9; French and
Jackson on the tackle. 1st-10 from the 24. Again, they threw to
Ward on the stop route to the left side in front of the Highlander
bench. The low throw ricocheted off Ward's chest to the ground as
he fell on it; appeared to be a trap. The Adams coaches voiced their
disagreement and were rewarded with a 15 yard penalty, which
placed the ball 1st-10 at the Blackhawk 48. The next play showed
why Bloomfield Hills continued to try to get the ball into the hands of
#17. Barash threw a nice 22 yard back-shoulder ball to the streaking
Ward down the left sideline. He stopped to catch the ball at the 30,
as he did so, the Adams defender lost his feet and went down. Ward
stayed upright, hauled it in, then angled across the field towards the
right corner pylon. It looked like a chasing defender might have
slowed down anticipating a cutback or a back-side tackle from the
opposite side cornerback who was closing down to cut Ward off.
But a bad backside pursuit angle couldn’t contain Ward, make him
cut back inside towards help, or even force him to break stride.
Ward hit the after-burners and outraced 3 Highlanders untouched to
the pylon all the way across the field for the go-ahead TD. If it was
flag football, they still wouldn’t have got him. 7-0 after the PAT to
send the home field crowd into a frenzy.
The Highlanders started at their 38 with 34.7 seconds to play in

the half and demonstrated how fast Carter Farris, and the
Highlander offense under his command, can strike. On first down
Farris found Nico Jackson on a 12 yard quick post pattern up the
middle. The speedy Jackson caught it in stride and turned on the
jets, split two defenders, and raced for a 40 yard gain before he
was brought down by his shoulder pad collar, which tacked on
penalty yards. 1st-10 from the Bloomfield Hills 11. The next play,
Farris found Anthony Patritto, same pattern on the opposite side
of the field, touchdown Highlanders. 7-6 ballgame after a missed
PAT on the two play drive that took less than 12 seconds off the
clock.
BH kneeled on the ball to end the half.
2nd Quarter
Barash missed Ward on a post pattern up the middle. Patritto and Nico Collins (21) on the coverage. Nick Kania made the stop on 3rd-10 after a 5 yard in-
route, and Bloomfield punted, 30 yards. Patritto fair caught it.
Adams ball 1st-10 from their 20. Nico Jackson was brought down for no gain. Farris threw complete to Bishop for 8 yards on a stop route to the right.
On 3rd-2 Rifenberg pounded the rock for 4 yards and a first down behind the blocks of Tim Anderson, Jake Tobiczyk, and Reed Vogt. Rifenberg was dropped
for a 2 yard loss on first down. Patritto could only pick up a yard a second down short out route. Pass intended for Ethan McCoy on 3rd-11, incomplete on
the intermediate out-pattern. Farris quick punted it, 44 yards.
The Blackhawks took over at their own 25. French got help from Dufresne and Rifenberg to bring down Jacob Gasso after a gain of 6. Then BH was
called for a hold to set up 2nd-7 from their 26. Adams made a big play on D. Bloomfield HIlls attempted a reverse flea-flicker. The tailback Gasso took
the pitch going right, but handed off to a wideout reversing back to the left. Rifenberg hit him as he tried to pitch the ball back to the QB and forced
the loose ball. QB Barash was able to pickup the bounding pigskin, but Nick Kania closed quick to wrap him up for a sack and a 16 yard loss. On 3rd
and long, they tried the hitch and go to Ward deep down the left side, but Kania was in position and the ball was thrown deep and outside, incomplete. The
Blackhawks punted it out of their own end zone.
After a 38 yard punt and 5 yard return by Anthony Patritto, the Highlanders started at the Blackhawk 44. Carter Farris faked to Rifenberg and kept it read-
option left. Tackle Bob Anderson sealed the edge, Farris ran through two linebackers, then split nice downfield blocks of Will Myers and Jack Bishop for 17
yards up the middle. 1st-10 at the BH 27. Nico Jackson got caught in the backfield for a loss of 3. Farris then tried to get it to Bishop down the right
side but it was slightly under thrown and the speedy Alec Ward was right there to intercept it at the goal line for the home team Blackhawks. He
returned it to the 12 yard line.
3rd Quarter
Bloomfield Hills got the ball to start the 2nd half. Ryan
Rifenberg dropped Jacob Gasso after a first down gain of 8
on a pitch sweep left. After a false start made it 2nd-7, they
faked the pitch to Gasso left and gave it on an inside
hand-off to a slot back going back right who gained 9
before Forrest Dufresne and Anthony Patritto stopped
him. Rifenberg hammered Gasso down for no gain on the
next dive play. Then it was Ethan McCoy and Patritto who
got to the QB in the backfield. They got help from
Rifenberg and French on the 3 yard tackle for loss. On
3rd-13, the Barash to Ward connection struck again, this time
on a 12 yard stop pattern. Barash put it on the numbers and
Ward slipped a tackle and gained 10 more before Reece
Collins could lasso him. 22 yard gain to make it 1st-10 at the
49. Rifenberg knifed into the backfield to drop Gasso for
a loss of a yard as he tried to get off right tackle. Then it
was Schuler and Rifenberg taking down Gasso after only 1
yard. Bloomfield Hills was called for holding and on 3rd-20,
French and Rifenberg sacked Barash for a 5 yard loss.
Bloomfield punted it away.
After a short punt, Adams set up shop at their 47. Farris was
stopped for no gain. Then he found Patritto on a short out
to the right for 4 yards. On 3rd-6, Farris completed it to
Collin Weeks (4) on a stop route for 8 yards and a first down.
A holding penalty put them back at midfield for 1st-17.
Farris was sacked for a loss of 6 to make it 2nd-23. The 2nd
down pass was incomplete, Weeks had it for a big gain but
#4’s normally sticky hands couldn’t bring it in the thigh-high
ball in space. 3rd-23. The Highlander QB then hit Patritto
in stride with an 18 yard laser on a deep post route.
Patritto spun off a tackle, then burst outside to the left
sideline for 30 more. Another 40+ yard gain by the
explosive Patritto, his third of this game, this one good for
48 to setup Adams 1st-goal from the 8. Patritto and
Rifenberg lined up in a two back set. Patritto got it and
followed a lead block by Rifenberg to seal the defensive
end around the right side for a gain of 6 yards down to
the 2. Carter Farris pounded it in on the next play for the
TD. They went for two. Rifenberg took the hand-off off
left guard, and was hit at the line of scimaage, but fought
through tackles and got a good push from tackle Bob
Anderson to convert on the 2 point try. 14-7 Highlanders.
Blackhawks got it back on their 20. Incomplete on a stop

and go route; Collins with good coverage. Then Daniel
French and Patritto stopped Gasso after a gain of 4. On 3rd
down, you guessed it, #17 Alec Ward caught the short pass
on an in-route. Nick Kania was there with help from Anthony
Patritto to down him after a first down gain of 8. Rifenberg
brought down Gasso after 5 on the next play. Then it was
Patritto and McCoy on the stop after Gasso picked up
another 6 and moved the chains again. A holding call,
then a delay of game on BH moved them back to their 27 for
1st-27. Reed Vogt and Forest Dufresne made the stop on
Gasso after 2 yards.
Bloomfield Hills got it back on their 32 with the
4th Quarter momentum on their side, but the Highlander defense took
care of business. 3 and out. All incomplete passes. In
2nd-24. Pass incomplete, they tried to get a screen pass to Gasso, but heavy pressure by Dufresne and Jake Schuler made him throw it early and wide. On large part due to the pass rush of junior LB Logan Sayre
(27). The 6’4" Sayre provided pressure off the right edge;
3rd and long a deep pass down the left sideline was well covered by Collins and overthrown. Bloomfield punted it away.
a big hit on the QB on 2nd down as released it. Then he
got pressure again on 3rd down to force another early
After a 45 yard punt and a good 17 yard return by Anthony Patritto, Adams started from their 48. Rifenberg got the 1st down carry and shot through a throw. The Blackhawks punted it away.
hole created by center Tim Anderson and pulling guard Reed Vogt. Guard Jake Tobiczyk and both tackles, Will Myers and Bob Anderson, all got blocks
on linebackers. Rifenberg made a safety miss, picked up a downfield block by Nico Jackson and was pulled down after 18 yards to move the sticks Adams ball 1st-10 from their 30 up 3, 17-14. Time for a
down the to Blackhawk 34. On second down, it was Reece Collins on the jet sweep right. He cut under the block of Jackson who cleared the outside big play by the Highlander offense. Nico Jackson took
linebacker and followed the pulling Reed Vogt. Bob Anderson and Jack Bishop held their blocks downfield and Collins gained 9. Rifenberg pounded it the hand off on a jet trap right. Reed Vogt pulled and he
and Patritto got kick-out blocks on the right edge.
for 2 yards, good for a 1st down to move the sticks to the 23. After Patritto carried for gains of 1 and 2, and a pass to Weeks netted just 3 yards, Adams
Jackson cut under them into space. Senior right tackle
brought in Ben Patton for a 33 yard field goal attempt. The senior kicker was on target and the 3 pointer moved the score to 17-7 with 8:02 to play. Will Myers (70), starting in place of injured senior Connor
Hess (78), first screened a linebacker to slow him up, then
Bloomfield Hills started at their 17 and a personal foul crack-back block was called to push them back to their own 6. After a tight end dropped a slant continued downfield to seal off the safety pursuing from
pattern over the middle, Alex Ward again showed why he is one of the most dangerous wideouts in Oakland County. On 2nd-21, Barash took the the inside who would have otherwise made the tackle.
shotgun snap and threw a 20 yard back shoulder pass to Ward down the left side. Adams had good coverage. The corner was there to front Ward and Jackson shot around him like a cruise missile. Ethan
he made a play on the ball, which somehow got past his arm into the hands of Ward. The corner lost his feet as Ward made the catch and the closing McCoy made sure the corner didn’t have a chance.
Untouched for 70 yards, Nico Jackson, to The House.
safety must have thought the ball was going to be incomplete. He basically stopped at point-blank range and didn’t flatten Ward when he had the
24-14 Highlanders after Patton tacked on the PAT and the
chance. Then, once Ward had a half step of separation, it was all-she-wrote down the left sideline. 94 yard dagger in front of the shocked Adams Highlander faithful thought incorrectly they had this game
bench for the touchdown. 17-14 after the PAT and again, the home crowd went crazy with 7:32 to play. wrapped up.
After a nice 34 yard return, Adams started at their 39 yard line. Farris
tried to hand to Collins on a jet sweep left, they couldn’t execute the
exchange. They dodged a bullet as Farris recovered; no gain. Bob
Anderson, Reed Vogt, and Collin Weeks all had good blocks to free up
Patritto for 12 yards around the left side. First down at the Blackhawk
49. Rifenberg found 3 yards up the middle. Then Farris kept it on read-
option right for 4 more. On 3rd down, Adams was whistled for a
personal foul which negated a 12 yard run by Nico Jackson and pushed
them all the way back to their own 37 yard line to set up 3rd-24.
Farris hit Jackson on the quick post for 14 yards to make it 4th-10 from
the BH 49. They tried the quick punt, but it went off the side of Farris’s
foot for only 17 yards.
The Blackhawks were not done. On their first down play they ran the hook and lateral with perfect execution. Barash threw a strike to the wideout on a
hook-route. The tailback Gasso followed the pass out of the backfield and took the lateral from the wideout 8 yards down field and burst down the right
sideline for 46 more yards. 54 yard gain before he was bounced out by Weeks. First down Bloomfield Hills at the Highlander 26. After two incompletions,
Alec Ward continued his huge night, catching a 12 yard out-route pass on the right sideline for a first down. An 8 yard gain to #10 made it 2nd-2 from
the Adams 6. Jacob Gasso took it in off left tackle for the score and with 2:40 left in the game, it was a 3 point game. 24-21.
The onside kick attempt was recovered downfield by Bloomfield Hills after a big scrum, but it was clear that Adams front line defender Jake Schuler was
illegally blown-up before he had a chance to play the ball, well before it had gone 10 yards. The call was early touch by the kicking team. The home crowd
didn’t like it, and the Blackhawk bench would be penalized arguing the call. But film would confirm that a Bloomfield Hills player touched it before it went 10
yards. It also confirmed the illegal contact on the defender, Schuler. Two confirmed penalties on the play by the kicking team. The refs got it right.
Exciting, but hardly controversial, in spite of what the local paper headlines would say. Adams ball on the Bloomfield 49. Patritto got it around left tackle
and gained 8 behind blocks of Jackson, Bob Anderson, Collin Weeks, and Reed Vogt. Rifenberg was stopped for 1. On 3rd-1 Rifenberg got it again and
took it behind big Bob Anderson for 6 yards and first down that put the nail in the coffin. Two carries by Patritto and another by Jackson for short gains
were enough to run the clock out, and the Highlanders had a hard-fought OAA-Red road victory, 24-21.
The Highlanders out gained the Blackhawks 435 to 334 yards on offense. QB Carter Farris was 10 of 14 for 153 yards through the air. HB Anthony Patritto
had 3 catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. HB Nico Jackson caught 2 passes for 54 yards. WR Jack Bishop caught 2 for 20, WR Weeks 2 for 11, FB
Rifenberg 1 for 8. Adams averaged 7.4 yards per rush on their way to 282 rushing yards. HB Patritto led the way with 127 yards on 12 carries. HB Jackson
had 3 carries for 68 yards including the 4th quarter 70 yard touchdown run. FB Rifenberg carried 12 times for 47 yards, QB Farris had 8 carries for 27, HB
Collins 1 for 9, FB Ebinger 2 for 4. The Blackhawks QB Andrew Barash was 11 of 26 for 242 passing yards. Almost all of those yards to WR Alex Ward, who
kept them in this game. He caught 8 passes for 221 yards and 2 touchdowns. Hard-running TB Jacob Gasso was held to 15 carries for 59 yards for all his
attempts other than the hook and lateral. The 46 he gained on that play allowed him to finish with a nice 16 carry, 105 yard, 1 TD night.
On defense, Adams was led again by LB Ryan Rifenberg, who was in on 11 tackles. LB Daniel French and DB Anthony Patritto had 7 stops. DB Nick Kania
registered 5. DT Forest Dufresne had 4, LB Jack Bishop, DB Reece Collins, and DB Ethan McCoy all had 3. DE Jake Schuler and DB Collin Weeks had 2 each.
Adams loses to Lake Orion in home opener, 28-24
1st Quarter
Lake Orion started with the ball.

DE (78) Connor Hess and LB (27) Logan
Sayre stopped the first down run after 2
yards. LB (14) Jake Schuler and DE
(79) Reed Vogt teamed up for the next
stop after a 1 yard gain. On 3rd-7 from
the Dragon 23, Lake Orion QB (2) Blaze
Lauer found WR (11) Mitch Howell on a
crossing route, but DB (1) Reece Collins
and DB (3) Anthony Patritto hauled him
down after 4 yards. 3 yards short of the
first down, and Lake Orion punted for 34
yards.
Adams first drive of the game
started on their 49. QB (10) Carter
Farris carried on first down for 6
yards. FB (9) Ryan Rifenberg got the
next carry for a 3 yard gain. On 3rd-1, it
was Farris carrying for 2 and picking up a
first down at the Dragon 40. FB (16) Adams got it back at the 37 but gave it back
Caden Ebinger was stopped for no gain. right away after a great defensive play by Lake
On 2nd-10 HB Reece Collins got it Orion DE (15) Ari Curtis. Curtis got his left
going around left end. Pulling guard hand on the ball as Nico Jackson tried to sweep
(77) Cole Mitchell and HB (21) Nico right, and forced a fumble. Curtis then
Jackson had the key blocks to spring recovered the fumble at the 35 and after a rugby
him loose. Collins made the safety scrum pushed him forward for a 10 yard return,
miss and burst up the left hash for a Lake Orion got it back at their own 27 and Lake Orion was set up on a short field at the
big 28 yard run down to the Dragon 12 once again, the Highlander defense stopped Highlander 25.
yard line. Nico Jackson gained 2 on them 3-and-out. LB (9) Ryan Rifenberg and Lauer got pressure off the edge from Jake
first down. Then Carter Farris ran read LB (54) Daniel French stopped Dragon Schuler and had to escape the pocket to the right
option left. After the ball fake to tailback (40) Kobe Manzo after a gain of 4. and throw it away. On second down, Manzo
Rifenberg, he cut under the block of On second down, it was CB (2) Nick Kania carried for 4 yards before French brought him
tackle (64) Bob Anderson and ran and Reed Vogt teaming up to stop WR (1) down. On third down Lauer made a good pass
through tackles for 9 yards to set Sam Staruch for no gain on an end-around to to Mitch Howell on a quick slant over the middle
Adams up for 1st-goal from the 1. HB the right. On third down, Lauer threw and he broke a tackle and took it into the north
Anthony Patritto punched it in on the next incomplete, intended for WR (81) Branden end zone. 21 yard touchdown pass. After the
play, and after the (18) Ben Patton PAT, it Robinson deep down the middle, coverage by successful PAT, it was tied 7-7 with 2:35 left in the
was 7-0 Highlanders. 8 play drive, all Nico Jackson. Lake Orion punted again, this 1st.
running plays. time for 32 yards. Adams next drive started at their 29. Rifenberg
gained 3 up the middle. HB Anthony Patritto got
it off tackle left. He cut under a nice seal block
by Reece Collins and split downfield blocks of
center (65) Tim Anderson and his twin brother
Bob Anderson to pick up 9 and move the sticks
to the 41. Rifenberg was stopped after 1 on first
down. Patritto got good blocks from Cole Mitchell
and Reece Collins and picked up 6 around left end
to set up 3rd-3. Carter Farris found Patritto on a
short out-route on the right good for 4 yards and a
first down at the Lake Orion 48 on the last play of
the quarter.
Page 21 | 2018 Highlander Football | Hard Work Lake Orion Lake Orion | Page 22
2nd Quarter
Reece Collins found 5 yards around the left side, then Rifenberg was stuffed for a loss of 1 to set up 3rd-4. Again Carter Farris was accurate on a third
down pass. Again the receiver was Patritto who ran up the seam on the right hash for a 13 yard reception to move the sticks to the Dragon 31. After
Rifenberg took it for 2 up the middle, an incomplete pass and a mysterious holding call in the backfield that negated a completion to Reece Collins moved Adams
all the way back to the 47 for 3rd-26. On the third down play, Patritto hauled in this third catch of the game and gained 7 before Dragons safety (27) Jack
DeBrincat put his hat on the ball and popped it loose. For the second straight drive, Adams had turned it over, and Lake Orion recovered at their 42.
A 9 yard carry by Manzo was stopped by Nick Kania, then he carried again for 3 before Vogt hauled him down. 1st-10 at the Highlander 46. Vogt got help
from Rifenberg to stop Manzo for 2. After an incompletion, in a sign of things to come, QB Lauer ran a bootleg left on 3rd-8. Adams lost contain and Lauer
scampered for 10 yards and a first down. ruled he was hit out of bounds, and the personal foul penalty moved Lake Orion to the Adams 19 for a first down. DT
(44) Logan Kania got help from Cole Mitchell to bring down Manzo after a gain of 2. Mitch Howell got around contain on the right side for 8 yards and a
first down at the Adams 9. Michell and Logan Kania made the stop on Manzo after a 1 yard gain. Then, in another sign of things to come, Lauer found running
back Manzo out of the backfield for an 8 yard touchdown pass after a coverage breakdown left him wide open in the right flat. After the PAT, Lake Orion had a
14-7 lead with 5:41 left in the half.
Highlander ball on their own

17. Nico Jackson found 7 yards
around the left side. After a
false start and an incompletion,
Adams faced 3rd-8, but Farris
was sacked for a 4 yard loss
and Ben Patton came in to punt
it back to the Dragons. 38 yard
punt.
Lake Orion was flagged for a

personal foul on the punt, so
they started on their own 38.
Logan Sayre sacked Lauer for
a 7 yard loss and Lake Orion
was flagged for another
personal foul, 1st-28 from their
44. After Logan Kania sacked
Lauer for a huge 14 yard loss,
Lake Orion was faced with
2nd-42 from their 30. After a
low pass was hauled in by
Manzo and he went down for a
loss of 6 more, it was 3rd-48.
Manzo gained 12 back on third
down before Patritto make the
tackle, and a 39 yard punt gave
the ball back to the Highlanders.
1st-10 from the Highlander 34.

Farris found Collin Weeks for
a 9 yard pass play. Then
Farris hit Patritto for a gain of 4
more. After a defensive hold
moved the ball down to the
Dragon 32, Farris was sacked
for a loss of 6. With less than
a minute to play in the half,
the Highlanders appeared to
strike with a big play, but a 31
yard pass and catch by
Anthony Patritto was negated
by an illegal man downfield
penalty. Adams would have
had it first and goal at the six
with time for a field goal or
one shot at a touchdown, but
instead they were moved
back to the 43. A slot
receiver lined up on the line
instead of off the line and was
covered up by the wideout.
The call was correct. Again
Adams had shot themselves
in the foot. An incomplete
pass was the final play of a
mistake-filled half.
3rd Quarter
Colin Weeks returned the kickoff 24

yards to set Adams up at the 34. Reece
Collins gained 4 off right tackle. Then
Carter Farris kept it read option left for 7
yards and a first down at the Adams 45.
Anthony Patritto knifed around the left
side and carried it for 25 yards down to
the Dragon 30. After a false start moved
them back 5, Farris carried for a gain of 4.
Farris found his favorite target on the
night, Anthony Patritto, who hauled in the
pass up the seam for a gain of 12. Farris
lost 3 on first down, then threw incomplete
to set up 3rd-13 from the 22. Reece
Collins found room around the right
side for 8 yards. They decided to try a
field goal instead of going for it on 4th-5
from the Dragon 14, much to some fans Adams answered with an 8 play, 80 yard drive, all runs, 5 of which would go for 8 yards or more. Patritto started it off, ripping off 9 yards around the left end
dismay. Ben Patton banged through a 31 behind pulling guard (67) Jake Tobiczyk, tackle Bob Anderson, and slot back Reece Collins. FB (24) Maurice Swain Jr got then next carry and he went for
yarder to make it 14-10 with 8:22. 10 yards up the middle. Tim Anderson, Tobiczyk, Reed Vogt, and Connor Hess all with good blocks. Carter Farris gained 4 on first down. Then Patritto ripped
off 8 more. On 1rst-10 from the Dragon 49, Reece Collins got it going around the right side. He got good seal blocks from Connor Hess and Anthony
Patritto and found the edge up the Adams sideline. Nick Kania occupied the corner, and Collins was able to reel off 20 yards down to the 29. Swain
The Dragons started their first drive of took it for 3, then Patritto for 5 more, then a Dragon offsides penalty made it 1st-10 from the 16. Anthony Patritto took it in from there. Cole Mitchell pulled
the half on their 20. Rifenberg, Vogt, and left and hit the defensive end, Collin Weeks blocked the left corner, and Patritto raced 16 yards around the left sideline and dove into the pylon in the
Patritto teamed up to stop Mitch Howell south end zone for the score. The Lake Orion lead was down to 4, 21-17 after Patton tacked on the PAT.
after a gain of 2. French, Vogt, and
Schuler brought down Manzo after 4. A Lake Orion got it back on their 36. Manzo was stopped for 2 yards by Cole Mitchell on first down.
3rd down incompletion appeared to result
in another Highlander 3-and-out stop, but
a flag was on the field. Personal foul,
roughing the passer. Conner Hess
protested the call and film confirmed why.
Hess went airborne to block the pass and
his momentum carried him into the QB.
There was no helmet contact, and he
didn’t hit him late. Horrible call that
extended the drive; should have been a 3-
and-out. It would turn out to be one of the
crucial plays in game. Jack DeBrincat
came in at tailback and he carried for 4
before Patritto corralled him. DeBrincat
carried for 5 more; Mitchell got help from
Shuler and Rifenberg to bring him down.
Mitchell got help from Logan Kania to stop
him for no gain to make it 4th-1, but QB
Lauer was able to sneak it for 2 yards
to move the chains. Sayer stopped
Lauer after a 2 yard run, then Rifenberg
shot in to drop DeBrincat for a 2 yard
loss after Schuler penetrated to slow
him down. A Dragon personal foul
moved them back to their own 35 for
2nd-27. Again, Lake Orion took
advantage of Highlanders biting on
bootleg action and being unable to cover
their running backs out of the backfield.
Lauer faked the handoff, boot-legged to
the left, and hit Manzo on a delay route
for 14 yards before Jackson knocked him
down. On 3rd-13, Lauer faked the give
and bootlegged to the right and hit slot
man (4) Matt Freeman on a delay route in
the right flat. He turned it up the east
sideline for a gain of 22, and the Dragons
had a first down at the Highlander 22.
French dropped Freeman for a loss of 1
on first down. Then, again, Lauer faked
the pitch left, and ran bootleg action to
the right. Manzo ran a short out to the
right, caught Lauer’s pass, and rambled
23 yards up the right sideline and into
the north end zone for the Lake Orion
touchdown. 21-10 Dragons after the
PAT.
4th Quarter
A Dragon false start made it 2nd-13 from their 33. Then Lauer tried to hit a streaking Mitch Howell on a deep post, but Patritto had good coverage, and
the throw went long. On 3rd-13 Mitchell pressured the QB who had to evade to the left and throw it away. The Dragons punted, 32 yards.
A good kickoff and good coverage pinned Adams at their 8, a huge blow
Highlander ball on their 35. Reece Collins was held to 2 yards before Patritto ripped off 8 for a first down at the 45. Swain carried for 5, then a false start
to the Highlanders comeback chances. After an incompletion, Farris found
moved them back for 2nd-10 from their 45 yard line. Adams finally hit on a big passing play. Carter Farris hit Reece Collins on the quick slant up the
Patritto for 17 yards on a crossing pattern. After another incompletion,
middle. He hauled the pass in at the Dragon 42 in stride, split defenders, and took it to the house for a 55 yard touchdown. Adams led 24-21 after the
Farris found Patritto again, this time for 14 yards on a quick slant into the
Patton extra point.
middle of the field. 1st-10 from their 41. Farris had to scramble to gain 1
yard, then he hit Reece Collins for a 7 yard gain to the 49 but he was unable to
Patton kicked off and made a great tackle at midfield on the Dragons return man (25) Sanai Pillot, who returned it 42 yards to set Lake Orion up on a short
get out of bounds with less than a minute to go. Adams hurried up to the line
field. Nico Jackson tripped up Matt Freeman after a 2 yard gain on a short reception, then two incompletions resulted in another 3-and-out by the Adams
and got the play off, another completion to Collins for 9 yards on a short out,
defense. A 26 yard punt gave it back to the Highlanders.
and he go out of bounds at the Dragon 42 with less than 30 seconds left.
Farris had to roll right and tried to get it to Patritto down the right sideline
Two false start penalties moved Adams back to their own 12 yard line for 1st-20. Carter Farris got taken down for a 3 yard loss to make it 2nd-23 from
on an out-and-up pattern, incomplete. Then he tried to hit Weeks on a
the 9. Maurice Swain Jr ripped off another good run up the middle for 12 yards. 3rd-11 from the 21. Farris rolled right to evade pressure, but kept his eyes
post-corner to the left, also incomplete. With less than 10 seconds to go on
downfield and found Reece Collins for 18 yards and a first down at the Adams 39 yard line. Three short runs, 2 yards by Farris, 3 yards by Patritto, and 4 yards
3rd-10, Farris was unable to get the ball away, took a sack for a loss of 7, and
by Collins set up a 4th-1 at the Highlander 48. Patritto and Rifenberg lined up in a 2 back set. Patritto got the pitch left. Both the left guard and left
the clock expired before they could run another play.
tackle on the play side pulled, leaving a huge gap for the middle linebacker who had an open lane into the backfield and forced Patritto outside to
evade instead of being able to cut it upfield when he wanted to. The receiver on the play side couldn’t slow down the corner, who knifed in and
Devastating loss for Adams. They out-gained the Dragons 390 to 197 in
knocked Patritto off his pins for no gain. A game changing play for the Dragons, who took it over on downs at the Highlander 48.
offense yards from scrimmage and had 19 first downs to Lake Orion’s 9. But
Lake Orion won the battle in penalty and return yards and smartly continued to
Nico Jackson hald Howell to a yard on the first down reception. Then they ran bootleg action to the right and again hit their back out the backfield
hit on bootleg action and throws to backs out of the backfield when the
on the short out. Again, the Highlanders failed to cover it, and Kobe Manzo made the catch and run for 19 yards down to the Adams 28. Manzo
Highlanders failed repeatedly to stop it. For the Dragons, QB Blaze Lauer
carried twice for short yardage. Jake Schuler stopped him after 2, then Hess and Rifenberg teamed up for a stop after 4. Then Schuler and (7) Ethan McCoy
completed 9 of 17 passes for 102 yards and 3 scores, and rushed 7 times for
dropped Lauer for a 2 yard loss to set up 4th-5 from the 24. Again, bootleg action fooled the Highlander defense. Lauer faked the handoff to the right
11 yards. RB Kobe Manzo had 15 carries for 61 yards and caught 5 passes
and boot-legged left. Nothing but open space to that side, no contain, no one there. Lauer ran 10 yards untouched for the first down up the left
for 58 yards and 2 touchdowns. RB Jack DeBrincat carried 5 times for 11
sideline to the Adams 14. French stopped Manzo after he rumbled for 6, then French and Schuler took him down after a gain of 4 made it first and goal from
yards and a touchdown. WR Mitch Howell carried 3 times for 11 yards, and
the 4. Jack DeBrincat who got the next carry and scored from 4 yards out. 28-24 after the PAT, and with less than 2 minutes to play, Lake Orion had taken the
caught 2 passes for 25 yards and a score. WR Matt Freeman had two catches
lead.
for 19 yards.
The Highlanders Carter Farris finished 12 of 20 for 170 yards passing and
a touchdown. He ran it 13 times for 12 yards. RB Anthony Patritto carried 10
times for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns and caught 7 passes for 82 yards. RB
Reece Collins carried 7 times for 71 yards and caught 4 passes for 89 yards
and a score. FB Maurice Swain Jr carried 4 times for 30 yards. On defense,
LB Ryan Rifenberg was in on 7 tackles. LB Jake Schuler, DE Reed Vogt, and
LB Daniel French all had 6 tackles. DT Cole Mitchell had 5, DT Logan Kania
and DB Anthony Patritto had 4 each, LB Logan Sayre, DB Nick Kania, and DB
Nico Jackson had 3 each.
Highlanders get beat at Clarkston 30-8
1st Quarter
Clarkston took the ball first, from their 20 yard line. DE Connor Hess (78) made the stop on an end-around by WR Keagan King (3); gain of 8. A block in the back
penalty on the Wolves negated a long TD run by RB Jake Billette (16). On 2nd-7 from the 23, RB Jake Honstetter (9) gained 8 yards before DB Nico Jackson (21) took
him down. A holding penalty pushed them back to the 21 for 1st-20. QB Jake Jensen (6) passed for a 9 yard gain to WR Matt Miller (7). Jake Billette reeled of 7
before LB Jake Brown (2) made the stop. On 3rd-4 it was Billette again gashing Adams for 10 more yards before Jackson and DB Anthony Patritto (3) teamed up for
the tackle. Conner Hess and LB Logan Sayre (27) stopped the next Billette carry for 4. Sayre, LB Daniel French (54), and LB Ethan McCoy (7) brought down Billette after
5 more yards. Jack Honstetter got the carry on 3rd-1 and gained 5 before Patritto brought him down. Clarkston’s big offensive line was winning the battle up front
and the “two Jakes”, Gillette and Honstetter, were demonstrating good vision and burst through running lanes. Adams would struggle to contain the Clarkston
rushing attack all night. Honstetter ripped off 13 more yards before Patritto and DT Cole Mitchell (77) knocked him down. King was stopped by Hess after 4 yards.
Then Honstetter found room for 7 before Daniel French brought him down at the Highlander 15. Patritto and Sayre teamed to stop Honstetter after 5 yards,
then after Sayre set the edge on a sweep and allowed Hess and Patritto to limit Honestetter to only a yard, they gave it to Billette on 3rd and 4. Ethan McCoy
made the TD saving tackle on the 3 yard line after a first down gain of 6, but Billette took in in from 3 yards out on the next snap. After the PAT, it was 7-0. A
statement-making 17 yard opening drive by the Wolves.
The Highlanders took the ball from their own 20 and Anthony Patritto found room around the left edge for a gain of 12 yards. FB Maurice Swain (24) was stopped for
no gain. After defensive holding set up Adams with a first down, QB Carter Farris (10) and Swain had problems with the handoff, the ball hit the carpet, and
Clarkston recovered. In a game where Adams couldn’t afford any mistakes, they had just made a big one.
1st-10 at the Highlander 48 for Clarkston. After DE Jake Schuler (14) batted down a Jensen pass, Jake Billette carried for 6 yards before Conner Hess made the stop.
Daniel French brought down Billette after he gained 7 more and moved the sticks to the Adams 35. A 3 yard completion from Jensen to WR Max Nicklin (5) was
stopped by Nico Jackson. Sayre and DE Reed Vogt (79) limited Jensen to 2 yards on the next play. On 3rd-5 Jensen was accurate on a stop route to WR Joey Steger
(4) who made the catch for 16 yards; tackle by DB Nick Kania (2).
Page 29 | 2018 Highlander Football | Hard Work Clarkston Clarkston | Page 30

2nd Quarter
1st-10 from the Highlander 14, Cole

Mitchell and Logan Sayre teamed to
bring down Honstetter for a loss of 2
after initial penetration by Reed Vogt
slowed him down. Patritto stopped
Honstetter after another 2 tough yards.
Then on 3rd-10, Jenson put a perfect
pass on the hands of Matt Miller
after a nice post-corner route got him
a step behind the Adams defender.
14 yard TD pass and catch. 13-0
after the PAT attempt failed.
Clarkston took over on their 45. After an incompletion,
Adams second possession started from Patritto and French combined to drop Billette after a
their 20. Patritto picked up 5 yards, gain of 7. Billette got it again and picked up 3 more
the Farris gained 2, then Swain gained before Patritto brought him down. Sayre and Kania
2 more to make it 4th-1 from their brought down King after a gain of 9. French and
own 29. The Highlanders made Sayre dropped Billette after 2 yards, but it was enough
good on a gutsy call, handing it to for a first down at the Adams 32. Cole Mitchell and
Anthony Patritto, who took it around Daniel French dropped Billette for a 6 yard loss to make
left end behind great blocks of T Bob it 2nd-16 from the 38. French and Sayre sacked Jensen
Anderson (64), HB Nico Jackson, and for a 2 yard loss, then an incompletion made it 4th-14
WR Collin Weeks (4) for a 21 gain to from the 40. Clarkston attempted a 58 yard field goal,
midfield. After an incompletion, and it was well short.
Swain burst through a hole made by
C Tim Anderson (65), G Cole Mitchell, Adams took over at their 20 yard line. Carter Farris
and T Conner Hess for 13 yards to found WR Collin Weeks (4) open on an out-route for
set up 1st-10 at the Wolves 37. a 12 yard completion. Then Maurice Swain ripped off
Swain got the carry again, this time for an 8 yard gain up the middle. Again Farris found
a gain of 4. Then HB Reece Collins (1) Weeks, this time for 11 yards on a stop-route, he got
got the carry and picked up 5 yards. out of bounds at the Clarkston 49. It was Farris to
Swain was stopped for no gain on 3rd-1 Weeks for the third time on the drive on the next play,
and on 4th-1 from the Clarkston 28, this one good for 8 yards to the Wolves 41. On 2nd-2,
Adams elected to go for it. Collins got Farris was flushed left of the pocket, was hit, and
it on a jet sweep left, but a blitzing fumbled. Clarkston recovered. The 2nd huge
linebacker pushed the tackle back into mistake / turnover of the half by Adams, this one as the
the lane and blew up the play. Collins Highlanders were moving into the red zone.
tried to reverse course after he had no
chance left edge, but ended up going Clarkston took over with less than a minute to go in the
backwards and was dropped for big half at their 47 yard line. Jensen threw complete to
yards. The Highlanders went 58 yards Miller for a gain of 9 on first down. After an
in 10 plays, but gave back 17 on the incompletion, Jensen scrambled for a 7 yard gain down
4th-1. Turn over on downs. the the Highlander 37. After a 1st down incompletion,
Jenson was on target again, this time for 12 yards to
King to the Adams 25 to allow Clarkston to attempt a
42 yard field goal. K Tristan Mattson (1) nailed the
kick and Clarkston took a 16-0 lead into the locker
room.

3rd Quarter
The Highlanders got it first in the second half and would march 65 yards in 9 plays to cut the lead in half and keep this a ball game. It started with another pass
from Carter Farris to Collin Weeks for 7 yards. Then Maurice Swain gashed the Wolves for 7 yards. Patritto was stopped for no gain. Then Farris gained 6 yards
to setup 3rd-4 from the Clarkston 43. Anthony Patritto came up big, making a great catch on a perfectly thrown ball on a deep flag-pattern on the left sideline
for a 22 yard gain to move the sticks down to the Wolves 21 yard line. Then Patritto followed good blocks by Cole Mitchell, Bob Anderson, and Reece Collins
for a 9 yard rip. A Clarkston facemask penalty moved it to the 6, and Swain gained a yard to make it 2nd-goal from the 5. A pass interference penalty brought
it to the 3 and Carter Farris took it in behind Bob Anderson and Reed Vogt for the 3 yard score. The 2 point attempt was good, Farris to WR Jack Bishop (5) on
the out-route, and it was a 16-8 game.
Clarkston got it back at their 20. Nico Jackson made the tackle on HB Jake Billette after a gain of 8. Daniel French stopped Billette after 1 on the next play. On 3rd-1,
Billette got it again and was able to gain a yard to move the sticks; tackled by Hess and French. Schuler and Mitchell teamed up to make the stop on Billette for no
gain. After 2 incomplete passes made it 4th-10 from the 30, Clarkston’s punt team came on to punt it away. There were pre-snap flags on the field after Clarkston
attempted to hard-count the snap and appeared to flinch. No Highlander defenders jumped offisides. After a huddle, the officials called an unsportsmanlike conduct
penalty on Adams for trying to induce a false start. The film confirmed what a ridiculous call this was. The Adams defender just stopped his rush to avoid going
offsides, there was no physical or verbal attempt to deceive. No reason at all to call an unsportsmanlike conduct foul. But they did. So instead of Adams getting the
ball back down 1 possession with momentum, the officials marked off 15 yards against the Highlanders. Clarkston retained the ball, 1st-10 from their 45. The call
had the same effect as a turnover. Clarkston would continue to control the line of scrimmage against the now deflated Highlander defense. The Wolves ran 10 more
plays to go the remaining 55 yards. 9 runs and 1 pass. The two biggest runs by Jake Honstetter for 11 and 15 yards each, both stopped by Nico Jackson. Clarkston
connected on a 10 yard pass completion from Jensen to Steger to make it 1st-goal from the 4.

4th Quarter
Nick Kania teamed with Nico Jackson to deny Keagan King the end zone after a 3
yard gain. Then Jensen snuck it across for the 1 yard TD on the first play of the
quarter to make it a 23-8 game early in the 4th. Another 17 play scoring drive,
10 of which came after the Highlanders had rightfully terminated the drive.
Adams got it back at their 24 but went 3 and out. Incompletion, then Patritto for
1 yard, then Farris to Patritto for 7 yards made it 4th-2 from their own 32, and
Adams elected to punt it away. Farris quick-punted, good for 40 yards.
Clarkston got it back at their 28. After an incompletion, Billette ripped off 10
yards. Then Honstetter turned in the longest running play of the night, a 46
yard burst down the right sideline before Nico Jackson hauled him down.
Patritto stopped Billette after 6 yards, then Bob Anderson brought down
Honstetter after a gain of 3. On 3rd-1 from the 7, Honstetter knifed into the end
zone for the final scoring play of the night. 30-8 with 9:16 left.
On their 3rd second half possession, Adams would again move the ball down the
field. This time 15 plays, 62 yards, only to turn the ball over again deep in the
Wolves end. Two completions to Swain Jr. that netted 9 yards, then an 11 yard
completion to Patritto got the Highlanders a first down at their 41. An
incompletion, then a 3 yard carry by Swain set up 3rd-7. A false start made it
3rd-12, then an incomplete pass made it 4th-12 and the Highlanders had no
choice but to go for it. Farris made a great throw to Jack Bishop on a deep in-
route for 17 yards and a first down at the Clarkston 44. A 9 yard run by Farris
and a 4 yard completion to Patritto moved the chains to the 31. Incomplete,
then a 4 yard sack, then another incomplete made it 4th-14 from the Clarkston
35. Again, Farris to Bishop on 4th down would keep the drive alive. Farris
bought time, scrambled to the right, and threw a dime to Bishop who came
back to the ball to make the big catch along the right sideline. Another big
17 yard 4th down gain to make it 1st-10 from the 18. The next play, the
turnover bug again. The Farris pass was batted in the air at the line, and a diving
interception was made by LB Brendan Barker (44) to give it back to Clarkston.
3rd turnover on the night for Adams. If Adams could have taken care of the ball,
this game would have went to the wire.
Adams held Clarkston to a 3 and out. 3 runs by RB Kids Johnson (20) for 3,
3, and 2 yards. Tackles by French, Bob Anderson, Montour (26) and Jaumotte
(61). 46 yard punt.
Adams and Clarkston brought the backup units in the game. Again the
Highlanders would move it down the field, 10 plays and 63 yards, and again, it
wouldn’t end well. QB Jerry Garrett (6) started the drive and handed to FB Caden
Ebinger (16) for no gain. RB Chris Jenkins (12) carried for 6 yards. Then RB
Chase Krol (25) got it going around left tackle. Good blocks by G Tobiczyk (67),
T Shankster (71) and Jenkins freed him up and he rolled for 17 up the left
sideline. A 1 yard run by Jenkins was followed by a false start; 2nd-14 from the
34. Caden Ebinger followed C Kevin Lopez (52) and Tobiczyk for a gain of 5 to
make it 3rd-9 from the 29. Garret took the shotgun snap from Lopez and
threw a strike to WR Nick Picot (11) on the quick post pattern for 20 yards.
1st-goal from the 6. With seconds left in the game, and incomplete pass, and a
false start made it 3rd-goal and Garrett’s pass was picked off to end the drive
and the game. Clarkston ran one play and time expired.
The Highlanders were out gained 336-265 by Clarkston in yards from scrimmage. Clarkston is clearly one of the best football teams in the state again, and it would
have taken a near perfect game to beat them. Adams was able to play that game last year. It didn’t happen on this night, and Clarkston avenged the loss of a year
ago. This was the first football game the Adams seniors, class of 2019, have ever lost to Clarkston. 4 Adams turnovers to zero Clarkston turnovers was the biggest
factor in the margin of victory. Another was the Highlanders were without leading tackler senior LB Ryan Rifenberg (9), who did not play, out with a sprain suffered in
the Lake Orion game. For Clarkston, RB Jake Honstetter led all rushers with 14 carries for 125 yards and a TD. RB Jake Billette added 21 carries for 94 yards and a
TD. QB Jake Jensen was 7-14 through the air for 73 yards and a TD. He also rushed 4 times for 8 yards and a TD. WR Matt Miller caught 3 passes for 32 yards and a
TD. Keagan King rushed 8 times for 28 yards and caught 1 pass for 12 yards. WR Joey Steger caught 2 for 26, and Max Nicklin caught 1 for 3. The highly touted
Clarkston linemen showed they are as good as advertised; they dominated the offensive line of scrimmage. Clarkston didn’t have to use very much of their playbook
to move the ball.
For Adams, RB Anthony Patritto led the ground attack with 48 yards on 6 carries. Patritto also caught 4 passes for 44 yards. QB Carter Farris was 12-19 through the
air for 126 yards and rushed 7 times for 10 yards. FB Maurice Swain carried 9 times for 40 yards and caught 2 passes for 10 yards. WR Collin Weeks caught 4 passes
for 38 yards. WR Jack Bishop caught 2 passes for 34 yards. RB Chase Krol had a 17 yard carry and WR Nick Picot had a 20 yard catch. QB Jerry Garrett was 1-3
passing for 20 yards. On defense, OLB Logan Sayre was in on 11 tackles, MLB Daniel French was in on 10. DB Anthony Patritto and DB Nico Jackson both had 9 stops.
DE Conner Hess had 7 tackles, DT Cole Mitchell had 5. OLB Ethan McCoy, DB Nick Kania, DE Jake Schuler, DE Reed Vogt, and DT Bob Anderson all had 3.

Adams goes to Oxford and gets big win, 17-8
First Quarter
Ben Patton’s kickoff pinned the Wildcats deep after the ball fell out of the returner’s hands and out of bounds at the 5 yard line. Oxford workhorse back Trent Myre (46)
found room for 7 yards before DB Anthony Patritto (3) knocked him down. LB Ethan McCoy (7) got help from Patritto to bring down Myre after only 1 yard to set up 3rd-2
from the Oxford 13. On a night of big plays from the Highlander defense and special teams, DB Nick Kania (2) made the first one. He shot in on a run blitz from his safety
position to knock Myre off his pins as he tried to sweep right. DT Cole Mitchell (77) cleaned up him; no gain. 4th-2 from their own 13. They thought about going for it, but
eventually sent out the punt team. Oxford punter Joey Miller (5) showcased his leg with a 62 yard punt with a good wind at his back.
Highlanders took it from their 25 and gave the first handoff to fullback Maurice Swain (24) who found 3 yards behind the interior 3 of G Reed Vogt (79). G Cole Mitchell (77), and
C Tim Anderson (65). QB Carter Farris (10) kept it for 3 yards to convert a first down after an Oxford procedure penalty made it 2nd-2. On first down Farris hit Patritto for 22
yards on a skinny post up the right hash to the Wildcat 42. Halfback Nico Jackson (21) found room for 3 yards on a jet sweep. Then Swain went up the middle for 3 more. On
3rd-4, Swain pounded for 3 to make it 4th-1. Patritto got the hand off and took it around left tackle Bob Anderson who caved in the left side of the Wildcat line to make room
for a 5 yard gain; first down on the Oxford 28. Halfback Reece Collins got 3 yards before Farris kept it for 2 more. On 3rd-5 Patritto was stopped for no gain. On 4th and 5,
Oxford turned them away, pass incomplete, wide of Bishop who was open on an out-route. The wind in the face of the Highlanders made it a tough play. Turned over on
downs.
Wildcats ball on a gusty but beautiful night at their 23, working with their backs to a 15-30 MPH wind in the 1st quarter. Oxford halfback Caleb Tabert gained 6 before DE
Conner Hess (78) and Patritto brought him down. After an incompletion, QB Drew Carpenter (2) rolled right and found his favorite target he would look to all night long, WR
Grant Kornburger (6), open on an out-route. 7 yard completion after DB Nico Jackson (21) made the stop a the 38. LB Daniel French (54) would make the first tackle of a busy
night for him, bringing down Tabert after a gain of 3. French was there to drop QB Carpenter for a 3 yard loss on the next play. Connor Hess brought QB pressure on 3rd-10
and he batted down the pass to force the punt team on the field. After a false start, the Oxford punter, Miller, made the best punt you will ever see in that situation, hitting
it from his own 21, angled on a line to the far left corner pylon 65 yards away….a 4 hopper that went out of bounds at the Highlander 1 yard line; 66 yard punt. Second
straight 60+ yard punt from Miller in as many attempts.
1st-10 from their 1, wind in their face, Carter’s pass to Bishop was incomplete. They handed it to Swain for 2 yards up the gut, and Patritto could only find 3 yards on 3rd
down. 4th-5 from their 5. The last play of the quarter was Ben Patton’s punt. He hit it 5 yards deep in his own end zone into the teeth of a 20MPH wind. 33 yards boot, a
great result in those conditions.
Page 37 | 2018 Highlander Football | Hard Work Oxford Oxford | Page 38

Second Quarter
The Highlander defense would have to step up as Oxford

took over at the Adams front porch, on the 38 yard line,
albeit with the wind in their face now. Ethan McCoy and
Cole Mitchell stopped Trent Myre for no gain on first
down. Then Daniel French brought him down after 4
yards. It was Myre again for 4 more yards, it was French
again, this time with help from Ethan McCoy to stop him.
On 4th-2, it was Myre for his fourth straight carry, it
looked like a swing pass out of the left side of the
backfield, but the ball was thrown slightly backwards. It
was a well executed play to find the edge fast, and Tyre
found room for 6 along the left sideline before Reece
Collins brought him down. French made the next tackle
on Talbert after a gain of 3. Carpenter again found his
favorite target, #6, 6’4” Grant Kornburger, who caught it
for a gain of 9 before Collins brought him down. 1st
down on the Highlander 10, but that is as close as they
would get. After a motion penalty set them back to the
15, Conner Hess and Daniel French would rake down Oxford's first play on 1st-10 from their 20 was a give to Talbert, and the second big time play from the Highlander defense was registered whe Ethan McCoy ripped it from
Carpenter for a 2 yard loss after he rolled left and could Talbert's arms as he tried to struggle for more yards. The Highlanders fell on it and took over on a short field at the Wildcat 31.
find no open receivers. Then Carpenter rolled right and
had to throw it away after no one was open. On 3rd-17 Swain was dropped for a loss of 1, then it was Farris to Bishop for 2 yards on the sideline. Then incomplete to set up 4th-9 from the 30 and Ben Patton came out to attempt a 47
from the 21, Carpenter rolled right and had to tuck and yard field goal, wind at his back. Adams committed a false start in field goal formation. Instead of having Patton attempt a 52 yarder, which is well within his range, the
run. Patritto and LB Logan Sayre (27) would limit the Highlanders decided to go for it. But Farris rolled right, couldn’t find anyone, then couldn’t attempt a throw downfield after he lost control of the ball and fumbled it out of
gain to 4. 4th-13 from the 17, and the Oxford FG attempt bounds, loss of 3. Turnover on downs.
into heavy wind was no good from 34 yards out.
1st-10 from their 38, and QB Carpenter rolled to the right and threw incomplete looking for his tight end on an out pattern; Nick Kania with good coverage. Then a give to the
Highlander ball again on their 20. Maurice Swain got fullback out of the power I resulted in a a gain of 1; Mitchell and McCoy on the stop. The Wildcats struck with their biggest play of the night on the 3rd-9 from their 39.
good blocks from Tim Anderson, Reed Vogt, Conner Hess, Carpenter found Kornburger open on a double move and put it on his hands. Nico Jackson saved the TD with his tackle at the Adams 19 yard line. McCoy and Hess brought
and G Luke Tobiczyk (67); he rumbled for 8 on first down. down Carpenter as he tried to run it outside. Logan Sayre denied him access, set the outside edge, and turned the play back to his help to limit the gain to 5 yards. Sayre, Vogt,
It was Swain again for 3 yards on second down to move and Jake Schuler all did a great job with outside contain all game long. Reece Collins almost came down with an interception on the next play. it appeared he was interfered
the chains to the 31. WR Collin Weeks (4) took in a short with on a 50/50 ball up the left sideline to Kornburger, but no call; pass incomplete. A false start moved them back 5, then another incompletion on 3rd down set up 4th-10
pass from Farris on a stick-route, made the corner miss, from the 19 with 4 seconds left in the half. Oxford kicker (4) was good on a 36 yard field goal to make it a 7-3 game going into halftime.
and picked up 12 yards on the play. On second down,
Swain got it again on the inside-trap play and he reeled
off 8 up the gut behind great blocking by Tim Anderson,
Cole Mitchell, Reed Vogt, and Conner Hess. Farris picked
up the first down on a 3 yard keeper to move the sticks to
the Oxford 47 and an encroachment penalty on the
Wildcats made it 1st-5 at the 42. Swain got stopped for 1,
then Farris threw incomplete intended for Bishop on a
short stop-route. The Highlanders turned in their
biggest play from scrimmage on 3rd-4. Carter Farris
faked the give to Swain who got tackled by the middle
linebacker. Tackle Bob Anderson bulldozed the
defensive end inside and a pulling Cole Mitchell kicked
out the outside linebacker. Farris bolted between the
Anderson and Mitchell and into daylight at the left hash.
He split the secondary and cut back up the middle, and
CB Matthew Pullman (20) finally hauled him down at the
1 yard line after a 40 yard jaunt. Farris snuck it in from a
yard out on the next play. After the Patton PAT, it was 7-0
Highlanders with 3:24 left in the half.

Third Quarter Adams hit for their third big play of
the night, this time on special
Adams got it first with the wind in their teams. Reece Collins (1) took the
face, and went three and out. Patritto kickoff in at the 21 on the right hash
was stopped for 2, then Swain for 3, and curled back into the middle of
then Farris lost 1 on 3rd-5. A the field where he found an
disastrous punt, only netting 12 yards, opening and hit the after-burners
gave it back to Oxford on a short field. toward the right sideline. Collins
had one man to beat who had an
Wildcat ball at the Adams 35 running angle, but his blockers
out of the power I formation, offset inadvertantly took away his cutback
right with a big blocking back a step off lane and allowed Matthew Pullman
the right tackles hip pocket. Tim to make his second TD saving tackle
Anderson (65), the starting center who of the night; he was able to trip up
would have a huge second half Collins at the Wildcat 10 yard line.
defensively at DT, made his first of 5 Highlander ball first and goal at the
second half tackles with help from Cole 10. Patritto got in on a trap play off
Mitchell to stop Trent Myre for no gain. Bob Anderson’s left pocket and
A 5 yard facemark penalty moved it to under the block of pulling Cole
the Adams 28 for 2nd-3. QB Carpenter Mitchell for a gain of 5. Then
faked the give to Myre off right tackle Maurice Swain was met hard in the
then bootlegged left. Logan Sayre was B gap after a yard by both middle
right in his face to deny the outside. linebackers. Farris on a keeper,
Good downfield one-on-one coverage found room off right tackle Conner
by Collins and Jackson took away the Hess and TE Jack Bishop for 3 yards
pass option, and Ethan McCoy filled to make it 4th-goal from the 1.
quickly to take down Carpenter for a Patritto got the ball and again
loss of a yard. On 3rd-4, Myre got it headed around left tackle
over right tackle and Patritto chopped Anderson, this time Reece Collins
him down after a 3 yard gain. 4th-1, had the block on the outside,
they again lined up in a 3 back power-I Patritto darted between them for
and handed to tailback Myre off right the easy 1 yard score, and it was
tackle. This time he found a gap and 14-6 with 4:23 left in the 3rd after
hit it for 7 yards; Patritto and McCoy Patton’s PAT was good.
on the stop. 1st-10 from the 19, same
play, Myre for 3, Patritto and Kania Oxford got it back on their 20 and
brought him down. 2nd-7, same play, proceeded to go on a 12 play march
Myre found nothing in the hole, then that played out the 3rd quarter.
cut back into Cole Mitchell, who The Highlanders bend but don’t
dropped him after a gain of 2. 3rd-5 break defense would again prevail.
and Patritto had good coverage on the Same power-I Iso trap play off right
fullback Caleb Tabert who tried to get tackle to the workhorse Myre.
open in the left flat, to force the Daniel French and Twan Patritto on
incompletion. 31 yard FG attempt was the stop after 2. QB Carpenter
good. Adams did well to keep the found Kornburger for a 4 yard
Wildcats out of the end zone, but the completion before Collins got him
lead was now just one. 7-6 ballgame. with help from Nick Kania. On
3rd-4, Carpenter got the shot gun
snap and ran a power trap keeper
off right tackle with Myre as the
lead blocker to gain 5 before French
and Sayer could stop him; 1st-10 at
the 31, then 1st-15 at the 26 after a
false start. Carpenter ran the same
play, keeper trap off right tackle.
This time he got 11 before Sayre
made the stop. Oxford continued
their trend of same-play calling,
again Carpenter on the same play
off right tackle for 5 before French,
McCoy, and Sayre met him. 1st-10
at the Oxford 42 and they appeared
to strike big. Carpenter kept it up
the middle for big yards, but his 57
yard burst to the Adams one was
negated by a holding penalty that
made it 1st-2 at the 50. Myre got
the carry and was stopped by McCoy
after 5. 1st-10 at the Highlander 45.
Myre carried again for 4 yards, then
again for a loss of 2; French and Vogt
made the tackle for loss. 3rd-8 and
Reed Vogt again made the play, this
time tackling Carpenter on the
keeper after a gain of 2 to make it
4th-6 from the 41.

Fourth Quarter
On 4th and 6, Logan Sayre made the next big play for the Highlanders as he brought QB pressure off the edge and batted down Carpenter’s pass. Highlanders ball on downs.
Maurice Swain would find 5 yards on first down. Then Patritto was dropped for a loss of 7 on second down. A deep post route pass attempt was incomplete intended for
Collin Weeks, but there was a flag on the field and Adams benefitted from a hands to the face call to make it 1st-10 at the Wildcat 46. Patritto got it again going around left
tackle behind great blocks by Cole Mitchell, Bob Anderson, and Reece Collins for 5 yards. The next play, Oxford MLB Sam Barrott (54) made a great play and put his hat on
the ball as he came up to put a big hit on Maurice Swain after a gain of 1. The ball hit the turf, and Oxford recovered.
1st-10 at their 40, Oxford QB Carpenter kept it for a gain of 2; French and Tim Anderson on the tackle. The 2nd down pass attempt was rushed by pressure from Cole Mitchell
who got a hit on the QB as he tried to find Kornburger on a deep out along the left sideline; incomplete. The 3rd down play was a roll out to the right. Tim Anderson forced an
early throw and again coverage was good. 4th-7 at their 43, and Adams had their second 4th quarter stop, as they forced the punter back on the field. 43 yard punt.
Adams ball at the 50 after a 10 yard punt return by Collin Weeks. Swain up the middle for 2 on first down. Then Farris hit on another big chunk rushing play, faking the give to
Swain and running an off-tackle trap keeper of his own. Reed Vogt pulled and set the outside edge, Conner Hess caved the line inside to form the inside edge and Farris
accelerated into a big lane down the right hash. Patritto walled off the safety and Farris ran untouched for 12 yards, then dragged tacklers for 11 more. 23 yard gain down
to the Wildcat 25. Patritto gained 4, then Swain lost 2, then Patritto gained 2. 4th-6 from the 21 and Ben Patton came on to attempt the 38 yard field goal. It was good, and
the Highlanders had a 17-6 lead halfway through the quarter.
Having a kicker like Ben Patton is a huge weapon, especially when you need a deep free kick from the 20 after a safety. Instead of punting as most teams elect to do, the
Highlanders will kick with Patten, who kicked from his 20 to the Wildcat 20, where it went through the hands of the returner who had to track all the way back to the 7 to pick it
up. Caden Ebinger (16) made a nice tackle on the play at the Oxford 18 yard line. Jackson tackled Kornburger after a 12 yard catch from Carpenter. Then again, Kornburger
was ran out of bounds by Jackson after a completion for 5 more. Same play, same 5 yard gain to Kornburger with a tackle by Jackson, then a defense holding penalty made it
1st-10 from the 50. Tim Anderson came up big again on the next play, a 2 yard tackle for loss on Carpenter, and the clock continued to roll as the Wildcats had no timeouts
left. 6 yard pass play was terminated by Patritto. Then after an incompletion, Kornerburger caught it for 15 over the middle; Collins brought him down. Kania tackled
Carpenter at the 26 after Carpenter scrambled for 6. Then Kania made the tackle on a short completion gain of 7 down to the the Highlander 19. Second to last play of the
game was another completion, this time for 12 yards to Kornburger down to the Adams 7 with only a few seconds left. The last play of the game was an incomplete pass.
Adams had held the home team Wildcats to only 6 offensive points, and they had a hard-fought OAA-Red road victory.
Oxford out-gained Adams in yards from scrimmage 290-168, but Adams defense made big plays when needed, and got a huge 69 yard kickoff return from Reece Collins.
Oxford QB Carpenter was 11-23 for 126 yards. Carpenter also ran it 14 times for 47 yards. RB Myre carried 19 times for 94 yards. RB Tabert carried 4 times for 22 yards. WR
Oxfords first down play from their 35 would be their biggest rushing gain of the night. Tailback Trent Myre got it off right tackle, and found a gap, he cut back to the left
Korburger had 9 catches for 113 yards.
sideline for a 42 yard burst before Reece Collins and Conner Hess brought him down. 1st-10 at the Adams 23. French made the tackle on Carpenter after a nice gain of 9.
Hess, Mitchell, and McCoy were all in on the stop of Myre after a gain of 4. Tim Anderson and French brought down Carpenter after 4 to make it 3rd-2 at the 4 yard line.
Daniel French and Reed Vogt slammed down Carpenter for no gain. 4th-2 at the 4 yard line. Power I formation with 3 backs offset over right tackle. The give was to Myre, Adams gained 133 yards rushing. Carter Farris rushed 11 times for 67 yards and a TD, he was 3 for 7 passing for 35 yards, zero turnovers on the night. Maurice Swain carried it
and Tim Anderson made a huge play with penetration into the backfield, he grabbed Myre’s leg and held on. Reed Vogt stood up the tackle at he line and he and Patritto 15 times for 40 tough yards up the middle against a solid Oxford interior defense and kept tacklers off Farris and Patritto with good ball fakes. Anthony Patritto carried it 10
were there to help Anderson drive down Myre for no gain. Highlander ball going back the other way. Third big 4th quarter stop by the Adams defense. times for 20 yards and a TD, he also caught a pass for 22 yards. Collin Weeks caught a pass for 11 yards, Jack Bishop caught 1 for 2. Great team effort on defense to keep the
Wildcats out of the end zone. Adams did it while playing without LB Ryan Rifenberg who missed his second straight game with a lower leg sprain. Daniel French led the team
Adams ball on the own 4. Nico Jackson was dropped for a loss of 1. Then Reece Collins was stopped after a gain of 1. Carter Farris kept it for a gain of 3 to set up 4th-7 from with a monster effort - 14 tackles. Ethan McCoy also had a huge night with 10 tackles. Patritto was everywhere, he had 9 tackles. Reese Collins had 6 stops. Then seven
their 7 yard line. With less than 3:00 left, Adams decided to take the safety rather than risk a punt into the wind from deep in their end zone and a 11 point lead. Farris Highlanders all had 5 tackles. All 5 of Tim Anderson’s came in the second half. The six others with 5 stops on the night: Cole Mitchell, Logan Sayre, Nick Kania, Conner Hess,
ran out of the back of the end zone on 4th down to make it 17-8 Adams. A two possession / 9 point lead with less than 3:00 minutes left. Reed Vogt, Nico Jackson.

Adams first possession started at the 35. FB
Comeback against West Bloomfield falls short, 24-20 Maurice Swain Jr (24) got 5 yards on the first
carry, then gained 2 on the next play.
Twan Patritto carried it around left
end for 12 yards on 3rd down,
following the pulling Cole Mitchell
and taking advantage of good
blocks by tackle Bob Anderson and
WR Collin Weeks (4), who sealed
off the corner. QB Carter Farris (1)
gained 3 on the next play, then it was
Patritto for 1 to set up 3rd-6 in 4 down
territory at the Laker 43. But they turned it
over on the next play. It appeared Farris
tried to pull it back for the keep on the read-
option, but the ball was pulled out of his
hands. West Bloomfield recovered.
It took one play for West

Bloomfield to hit pay-dirt. They
1st Quarter loaded up the deep middle zone.
Both the wideout Lance Dixon (5)
West Bloomfield won the toss and took the ball. QB CJ Harris (1) completed a quick pass to RB Donovan Edwards (6) who lined up as a wideout on the left side. CB Reece and the slot man Tre Mosley (7) ran
Collins (1) knocked him out of bounds after a gain of 1. Harris kept it on a QB keeper for 8 yards; LB Daniel French (55) made the stop. Then on 3rd-1, it was Edwards for 3 deep post routes, Dixon over the
yards before LB Logan Sayre (28) took him down. 1st-10 from the 32. LB Ryan Rifenberg (9) brought down Edwards after a 4 yard gain with help from French. DT Cole top and Mosley underneath him.
Mitchell (66) and French stopped Edwards after 5 on second down to make it 3rd-1 again. French got help from DE Conner Hess (59) to drop Edwards, but not until after he The safety got sucked up
picked up 3, good enough to move the chains to the 44. Rifenberg and French stopped Harris on a QB keeper after a 3 yard gain. Then it was Sayre and anticipating the throw to Mosley,
Rifenberg bringing down Edwards after a 7 yard gain and another first down to the Adams 46. RB Anthony May (24) got the next carry and found room for 11 their biggest receiving threat.
before DB Anthony Patritto (3) and Rifenberg teamed up to bring him down with help from Sayre. Mitchell and Hess dropped May on the next play Harris made a good read and threw
after a gain of 1. On 2nd-9 from the Highlander 34, Harris found Edwards lined up in the right slot, uncovered, and he hit him for a catch and an accurate deep ball to hit Dixon in
run of 9; Patritto and DB Nick Kania (2) on the tackle. 1st-10 at the Adams 23. May got the carry and found room around left tackle for 9; LB Ethan McCoy (7) stride over the top. 53 yard score,
and Patritto brought him down. DT Tim Anderson (65) brought down May on the next play for no gain. On 3rd and 1, they handed it again to Donovan Edwards. The Laker and it was 14-0 after the PAT by Laker
blue-chipper tried to get around right end but Nick Kania denied him. Kania popped him out of bounds for what looked like no gain right in front of the side judge. But instead kicker Jake Ward (16).
of 4th-1, West Bloomfield appeared to benefit from a poor spot; the ball was marked at the 13 for a first down instead of at the 14 where the runner went out of bounds.
Slot back JuQuan Wiiggins (23) got it on an end around on the next play and Ryan Rifenberg kept him out of the end zone, but not until he
gained 8. Mitchell, Sayre, and Rifenberg were all in on the stop of Edwards on the next play, stopping him short of the goal line at the 3 after a gain of 2. But QB CJ Harris After Collin Weeks returned it 30 yards to
punched it in on a read-option keeper on the next play. After the PAT, Bloomfield had a 7-0 lead. 17 play, 80 yard opening drive. the Highlander 46, Adams started the drive
with an incompletion. Then Carter
Farris got it going on the ground.
He faked the give to Swain Jr., who
got tackled by the defensive end,
and found room around right
tackle. Bob Anderson and Conner
Hess got up to the next level to
take out the weak-side MLB Dixon
(5), a Penn State commit. Anthony
Patritto got a block on the play-
side MLB, Cornell Wheeler (44), a U
of M commit. Farris churned the
corner and into open field. He ran
untouched for 23 yards until safety
Tre Shorter (9) knocked him out of
bounds at the Laker 23. Farris
kept it on the next play for 2 yards.
Then he threw incomplete looking
for Jack Bishop (5) in the end zone,
but West Bloomfield was called for
pass interference on the play. 1st-10
at the 11. Farris gained 3 on first down.
Page 45 | 2018 Highlander Football | Hard Work West Bloomfield West Bloomfield | Page 46
2nd Quarter
Maurice Swain Jr. lost a yard on second down. Patritto carried for 4 to set up 4th-4 at the 5. Adams decided to go for it. Farris threw a short pass to Swain Jr in
the right flat, but he was tackled immediatley at the 4 yard line. Turnover on downs.
1st-10 at their own 4 for West Bloomfield. DE Reed Vogt (62) got help from Conner Hess to bring down Harris after a gain of 2. Rifenberg and Sayre tackled May after 4
yards on the next play. On 3rd-4 from the 10, Harris found Mosely open up the seam on the short side of the field, he gained 19 before Reece Collins stopped him and
forced a fumble, but the ball was recovered by West Bloomfield. 1st-10 at the 29. Harris ran a QB draw for 7; Logan Sayre with the stop. Then Donovan
Edwards found space for 1. The left tackle clearly held Daniel French to give him room; no call. Sayre and Collins made the tackle. Rifenberg got help from McCoy
and Kania to knock Anthony May off his feet after a 8 yard gain. A false start moved them back to mid-field, then the Lakers made another big play. RB
Edwards ran a wheel route out of the backfield and no Adams LB went with him. Edwards, only a sophomore, already holds offers from U of M, Ohio State, and Michigan
State, among others, showcased some sure hands then pure speed. He had to stop and spin outside to catch the ball thrown behind him, but he still outran the defense to the
end zone. 50 yard catch and run to cap a 7 play 96 yard drive. After the PAT, it appeared West Bloomfield was going to run away with it, 21-0 with 7:19left in the half. But
that would be the last TD of the night for the Lakers.
The rest of the game would belong to Adams, albeit not enough to
overcome the 21 point deficit as they couldn’t convert enough red zone
trips into points. Adams got the ball back and started their first scoring
drive at their own 9 yard line. After an incompletion, Patritto
got it going off left tackle. Three great blocks on the play.
Guard Cole Mitchell pulled and smacked the defensive end.
Patritto cut between him and the block of tackle Bob
Anderson, who first sealed off the defensive tackle, then got
to the next level to put a block on the weak-side linebacker.
Reece Collins put a great block on the play-side backer, and
Patritto gained 10 before safety Makari Paige (8) brought
him down. Sophomore FB Nick Traficante (34) got his first varsity carry
on the next play, and he gained 5 yards. Reece Collins then reeled
off 16 yards around right tackle. All four Highlanders on
the right side got good blocks to allow Collins to find the
edge. Wideout Jack Bishop kept the corner away, and slot
man Patritto, tackle Hess, and guard Mitchell all took out
play-side defenders. Collins made another big play on the
next snap, as he dove to catch a pass from Farris to bring it
in just off the carpet and keep his hands under the ball for a
first down grab worth 13 yards. On 1st-10 from the Laker
47, it was Patritto again for good yardage. Reed Vogt, Bob
Anderson, and Reece Collins all had good blocks, and
Patritto went off-tackle for 8. Collins got stopped for 1 to make it
3rd-1 from the 28. Farris tried to go up top to Patritto but he was well
covered. 4th-1 from the 28. Farris faked the give to Swain and got good
blocks from Hess and Patritto to find the right edge on the read-option
keep for 9 yards and a first down on the West Bloomfield 29. Farris was
incomplete on first down after the ball was tipped at the line. Then he
rolled right under pressure and missed on a pass intended for Patritto.
3rd-10 at the 29. Farris took the shotgun snap and threw strike to Reece
Collins, who ran a nice in-route from the slot and took it down to the 11
yard line to set up 1st-10. Patritto almost took it in on the next
play behind the great block of Bob Anderson, who
absolutely stuffed the play-side backer Dixon. But he was
stopped 3 yards short of the goal line on a good tackle by
the safety Shorter. Swain Jr was stopped for 1 and Patritto was
stopped for no gain to set up yet another forth down. This time 4th-1
from the 2 yard line. Maurice Swain Jr. got the handoff and
pounded it into the end zone behind the blocks of Tim
Anderson, Reed Vogt, and Bob Anderson. He got hit short
of the line but showed determination, kept his legs
churning, and got it across. Great short yardage running.
16 play, 91 yard scoring drive by Adams. Ben Patton knocked
the PAT through to make it 21-7 with 48 seconds left in the half.
West Bloomfield got it back at their 38 and again threatened. A 16 yard

Harris pass completion to Dixon, who got out of bounds at the 46, started
it off. Then Harris found McCano Hayes (4) for 12 more before Weeks
brought him down. 1st-10 at the Adams 34. Harris clocked it on first
down, then completed another pass to Hayes for 8 yards. Then a holding
call nullified a Harris scramble and a pass intended for Mosley and defended
by Patritto fell incomplete to close out the half.
3rd Quarter
Adams started the half with the ball at their 27. Patritto ripped off 23 yards around the left side. He out-ran the defense to the edge and got a good block by Weeks on the
corner. Swain Jr then carried it for 5 yards up the middle. Nico Jackson (21) got the next carry and he found the edge with pure speed. 16 more yards down the
right sideline and into Laker territory at the 46. Then Swain Jr. rumbled for 12 up the middle behind great blocks from Mitchell, Tim Anderson, and Vogt. 1st-10 at the 17.
Edwards took the first down handoff from the Laker 20 and Ryan Rifenberg tripped him up after a gain of 5. Then Cole Mitchell dropped Harris after a gain of 2. Edwards
Patritto ripped off 8 more on the next play, using blocks by Jackson and Weeks to find the left edge. 2nd-2 at the 9. On the next play, Swain Jr appeared to gain a yard to the
found room for 5 more; Rifenberg with the stop. Then Rifenberg sealed the edge on the next play to keep Edwards from getting outside and was able
8. He went past the yellow soccer line on the field, which is at the 8 yard line. Yet the ball was spotted for no gain, back at the 9 to set up 3rd-2 a the 9. In real time, no one
to dive and hang on to his ankle for a 2 yard loss. Edwards got it back and knifed for 7 yards on the next play; McCoy and French on the stop. 3rd-5 from the 37.
knew what happened. That yard was important; it made it 3rd-2 instead of 3rd-1, which meant the 1 yard gain by Jackson on the next play made it 4th-1 instead of
Shot gun snap to Harris and Rifenberg and Sayre brought pressure off the edge. Rifenberg shot in there first, Harris had to shift up on the
1st-goal. But film revealed Swain Jr. had the ball popped free of his grasp as he went down; Tim Anderson fell on the fumble at the 9. On 4th-1, the Lakers guessed correctly
pocket to avoid a big hit. Sayre was there to wrap him up. Rifenberg and Reed Vogt helped Sayre bring him down for a huge sack. Loss of 9
that Farris would keep it on the read option, and they dropped him for a 2 yard loss. Devastating turnover on downs at the West Bloomfield 10 yard line.
yards, and the Lakers punted it away.
Adams started at the West Bloomfield 47 after a poor punt with a short field and the momentum, but they couldn’t take advantage. Swain was stopped for a yard, then two
West Bloomfield wouldn’t have it long. Running out of the wildcat formation, RB Donovan Edwards took the shotgun snap. Good pressure off the edge from Rifenberg and
incompletions, the first a deep shot to Jackson who was well covered by Dixon, the second deep over Patritto under heavy pressure. Both
good coverage on Mosley by Patritto may have contributed to the high pass. Nico Jackson was there to make the interception on the overthrow to give the ball right back to
Highlander wing backs, Jackson on the left, and Patritto on the right were clearly held by the safeties as they tried to get vertical up the seams; no call. Farris quick punted on
the Highlanders.
4th-7, and it was a good one, downed at the Laker 7 yard line.
CJ Harris passed to Donovan Edwards in the left flat and he ripped off 13 yards before Nico Jackson bumped him out of bounds.
Highlanders ball at the Laker 34. After a late hit moved it to the Laker 19, Patritto was stopped for no gain, then for a loss of 1 to set up 3rd-11. Offsetting penalties benefitted
Adams after an incompletion, but the 3rd down redo was incomplete as well, intended for Bishop on a quick slant, just wide. Adams gambled and passed up a 37 yard
FG try to go for it on 4th-11. The gutsy call paid off as Collin Weeks took the pitch, then lofted a pass into the end zone where Jack Bishop
made a great sliding catch on the contested ball for a 20 yard scoring strike. After Patton knocked the PAT through, it was 21-14 with 4:51
left in the 3rd.
4th Quarter Adams ball at their 20 down by 7 with 2:20 left in
the game. Incomplete intended for Patritto, who
Anthony May got the next carry and was dropped by Logan Sayre and Daniel French after a gain of 3. Conner Hess made a big play on second down, sacking Harris for a loss of had Dixon all over him before the ball arrived and
3. On 3rd-10 Rifenberg and French limited Harris to 8 yards on the QB draw and they punted on 4th-2 from their 27. never turned his head. Adams fans expected a PI
call, but there was no flag on the play.
Adams ball on their 37. Twan Patritto made a huge play on 1st down. He took it going around left end toward the short side of the field, but On 2nd-10, DE Sterling Miles brought heavy
West Bloomfield had it bottled up. He reversed field and showed off some speed as raced all the way back to the right sideline for the pressure forcing Farris out of the pocket and he had
longest play of the night for Adams, a 39 yard gallop all the way down to the Laker 24 yard line. Farris was stopped for no gain, then Patritto was to throw it away. 3rd-10 and Farris threw a great
stopped after picking up 5. 3rd-5 from the 19, and Jackson was thrown down for a loss of 1. 4th-6 from the 20 and they again decided to go for it, Weeks tried to throw ball to Patritto who was open on the skinny post 25
the halfback option pass, this time they tried to get Farris open on a wheel route to the left, but it was well covered. Weeks had to let it go into the end zone where it was yards down field, but the normally sure-handed
picked off by Tre Shorter. For the third time, Adams had got to or inside the West Bloomfield 20 yard line and were turned away with no points. receiver wasn’t able to bring it in. 4th-10 and
Adams had to go for it. Again Farris faced
Donovan Edwards carried for a gain of 7 on first down; Patritto made the tackle. Edwards ripped off 15 on the next play, Ethan McCoy brought him down. pressure and threw under duress incomplete;
Daniel French limited Edwards to 6 yards, then Harris got 6 of his own before McCoy and Sayre stopped him. Conner Hess had the next tackle of Edwards, after intended for Jackson.
another 6 yard rip. Harris found his wideout Tyrone Broden (3) on a short stick-route and he picked up 12 before Sayre and Rifenberg ran him out of bounds. Conner
Hess came up with a big play on first down as he kept Harris from finding the edge, then wrapped him up and got help from Sayre to drop 1st-10 from the Adams 20. Harris kept it and was
him for a 1 yard loss. Nick Kania shot and knocked Edwards off his pins with help from Reed Vogt to limit him to only a yard on second wrapped up by Tim Anderson who got help from
down. 3rd-10 from the 25. The Highlanders dodged a bullet after letting Edwards get into the left flat uncovered, but the pass from Harris was a little high, and it fell Rifenberg to bring Harris down for a loss of 2.
incomplete. A 42 yard field goal attempt was no good, and the Adams defense had come through with another 4th quarter stop when they needed it. Then Anthony May found room for 9 yards before
Hess made the stop. A holding penalty negated an
Edwards TD run to make it 3rd-12 from the 22.
Rifenberg dropped Edwards after a gain
of 1 yard. Ward came on to boot a 38 yard field
goal to make it 24-14 West Bloomfield with 1:33 left
in the game.
On the ensuing kickoff, Collin Weeks kept

Adams in the game. He took the kickoff
at his 14 yard line, burst through an
opening up the right hash, cut to the
middle of the field at the 40, and showed
off some big-time wheels as he ran away
from the defense to take it into the north
end zone’s left corner. 86 yard
touchdown return for Weeks. The PAT was
no good. The snap was a little low, which caused
the hold to be a little late, Patton couldn’t catch it
clean. 24-20 game with 1:17 left.
West Bloomfield was able recover the onside kick,

which iced the game, and made the missed PAT
irrelevant. They lined up in victory formation,
kneeled three times, and ran out the clock. 24-20
was the final.
The Highlanders out-gained the Lakers in rushing

yards, 217 to 165. But the Lakers had the advantage
in passing yards, 191 to 54, and total yards from
scrimmage 356 to 271. For West Bloomfield, RB
Donovan Edwards was held to 88 yards rushing on
20 carries, but he caught 3 balls for 71 yards and a
touchdown. QB CJ Harris was 9-12 for 191 and 2
touchdowns through the air and he rushed 12 times
for 24 yards and another score. RB Anthony May
rushed 8 times for 45 yards. Lance Dixon caught 2
balls for 69 yards and a TD.
For Adams, Twan Patritto again led the rushing

attack with 13 carries for 116 yards. Carter Farris
carried 7 times for 38 yards. Maurice Swain Jr. had
10 carries for 28 yards and a TD. Reece Collins had
2 carries for 17 yards and caught 2 passes for 31
yards in spite of missing the entire 2nd half with an
injury, which was another big factor in this game.
Nico Jackson carried 3 times for 21 yards. Jack
Bishop had 1 catch for 20 yards and a touchdown.
Collin Weeks had a TD pass and over 100 return
yards including the 86 yard kickoff return TD. On
defense, the Highlanders were led by Ryan
Rifenberg, who was in on 16 tackles. Logan Sayre
was in on 12. Daniel French had 10 stops. Conner
Hess made 7 tackles, Ethan McCoy had 6. Twan
Patritto, Cole Mitchell, Reed Vogt, Nick Kania,
Reece Collins, and Tim Anderson all were in on 4
stops. Nico Jackson had an interception, and he
and Collin Weeks had 2 tackles each.
Fast Start helps Highlanders win last game ever at Harrison, 24-17
1st Quarter
Farmington Hills Harrison started with the ball at their 31 yard line. QB Keel Watson (21) tried a deep ball on the game’s first play, over the head of intended
receiver John Wright (4); CB Reece Collins (1) had good coverage for Adams. The Hawks feature back, Roderick Heard (3), got his first carry on 2nd-10, and he
was stopped by Highlander linebackers Daniel French (54) and Ryan Rifenberg (9) for no gain. On 3rd down, Watson rolled right looking for his tight end on an
out-route, Nico Jackson (21) had coverage and it fell incomplete. Highlanders held them 3-and-out, and benefitted from a short punt, only 19 yards.
Adams took over from the Hawks 49. Highlander QB Carter Farris (10) threw incomplete on 1st down, but then quickly took care of the rest of this drive himself.
After the ball fake to fullback Maurice Swain Jr (24) fooled the strong-side linebacker, Farris tucked it and found a gap off the inside hip of left tackle
Bob Anderson (64). Guard Reed Vogt (79) took out the weak-side linebacker, and wingback Reece Collins got downfield with a block on a safety; Farris
busted it big up the left hash. CB Ben Williams (19) finally ran him down, but not until Farris peeled off 34 yards on the Highlanders first running play, all
the way down to the 15 yard line. Similar play on the next play. Farris ball faked to Swain and two linebackers tackled him, but Farris kept it. He got
another block from Collins on a linebacker and was met by Heard at the 5 yard line, but he took him for a ride into the end zone. Touchdown
Highlanders. 7-0 after the PAT by Ben Patton (18)
Harrison ball at their 20. Roderick Heard took the snap out of the wildcat formation and tried to sweep left. Collins hit him first; Rifenberg and safety
Anthony Patritto (3) were there to help bring him down after a gain of 4. On 2nd-6, QB Watson found WR Xavier Goldsmith (20) on a stop route. He broke
a tackle and picked up 14 yards before Patritto made the tackle. Defensive end Reed Vogt (79) made the next stop after a near fumble by Harrison caught RB
Vincent Rawls (23) in the backfield for a 4 yard loss. 2nd-14; pass incomplete after Watson’s receiver stopped his route. 3rd-14; pass incomplete; another deep
ball, but out of bounds. This time 5-and-out by the Highlander defense. Nice 51 yard punt by Hawks punter David Hiser (13) to pin the Highlanders deep.
Adams ball on their 15. Fullback Nick Traficante (34) got the first two carries of the drive, for 1 and then for 2 yards off center. On 3rd-7, Farris put nice touch
on a ball to Anthony Patritto (3) who was well covered on an out-route by John Wright. But the junior Highlander QB lofted it up and over the coverage
and fellow junior Patritto made a great leaping catch to secure it at the 38 yard line. 20 yard pass play. Farris carried for 3 yards and the Hawks were
called for a 5 yard facemark penalty to make it 1st-2. Patritto was stopped for no gain, and Adams was called for a hold. 1st-12 at the 35. After two
incompletions made it 3rd-13, Maurice Swain gained 13 yards up the middle behind great blocks by Reed Vogt and center Tim Anderson (65). Adams was
called for an unsportsmanlike conduct foul after the play, which made it 1st-10 back at the 33. Farris got it all back plus some on the next play as he again
followed Tim Anderson and Reed Vogt. Reece Collins with another great block downfield, and Farris rumbled for 21 yards, of 8 of which came after contact.
1st-10 at the Harrison 46. A pass interference penalty on Harrison moved it down to their 31, and Farris kept it again. Bob Anderson and Nico Jackson with
good blocks, and Farris carried tacklers for 4 yards after contact on the way for 10 more yards to move the sticks down to the 21. Swain Jr. rumbled for
4 up the middle. Then, after a Hawk offsides penalty, Patritto found room for 4 more off tackle. 1st-Goal at the 8. Farris was stopped for 1, then Patritto
carried for 5 down to the 2 yard line for the last play of the quarter.
Page 53 | 2018 Highlander Football | Hard Work Harrison Harrison | Page 54

2nd Quarter
3rd-Goal from the 2. Adams lined up in a 2 back set with Rifenberg and Patritto in the backfield. Patritto got it cut inside the lead block of Rifenberg
and outside the seal by Bob Anderson for the Adams TD. 14-0 Highlanders with 4 seconds gone in the quarter after Patton’s extra point was true.
Harrison, running the straight I formation with no tight ends and three wideouts, started 1st-10 at their 20. The tailback Heard got the give and went for 4;
Daniel French on the stop. Then French got help from Rifenberg to stop Heard after 5. French looked like he would have a hand in all three tackles on a 3-
and-out after he dropped Heard for a 2 yard loss on 3rd-1, but a helmet to helmet penalty was called on one of his teammates as he drug the Northwestern
University-bound workhorse to the turf. 1st-10 at the 44. Watkins hit John Wright on a short in-route and he picked up 13 before Collins brought him
down. Heard found room for 9 yards behind the block of 6’5” 265lb. left tackle Maverick Henson (77), who will play football at CMU next year. Nick Kania (2)
brought down Heard from his cornerback position. On first down, Heard, again showcasing amazing elusiveness, he made Rifenberg miss in the backfield with
a jump cut, and burst though an alternate hole in the line for 12 yards before French drug him down. 1st-10 from the Adams 22, and the Highlanders got a
break. The center shotgun snap sailed over the head of Heard in the wildcat formation. Heard recovered, but took a 21 yard loss on the play, the only reason
the blue-chipper didn’t hit the century mark in yardage on the night. This killed the drive. Two incompletions followed, the first was a great interception by
Anthony Patritto along the home sideline that was called out of bounds. Nico Jackson had good coverage on a deep ball intended for Williams on 3rd
down. 44 yard punt by the Hawks
Adams 1st-10 from their 13. Patritto got dropped for a 1 yard loss. Swain was able to gain 5 behind a pancake double team block by Tim Anderson and
Reed Vogt. But Farris kept it on 3rd-6 and Harrison was not fooled. 3 yard loss and Patton came on to punt. An offside penalty made it 4th-4 from the 19.
Patton got off a great kick that angled to the sideline and the long-snapper, Jake Schuler (14) was there to bring down Heard for no gain on the return.
Harrison in the straight I formation at their 37. They gave it to the upback Vincent Rawls going left and it was his turn to display some evasiveness. Rifenberg
was in the backfield to contain him and make him reverse field back to the right. Rawls made 3 more defenders miss him on the way to the opposite sideline
where he was able to turn the corner and gain 13 before Jackson made him lose his footing. On 1st-10 from midfield, Rifenberg was in the backfield again,
and this time able to hold on to the slippery Heard for a 2 yard loss. LB Logan Sayre (27) helped finish him off. Reece Collins broke up a Watson pass intended
for Wright on second down. 3rd-10. They tried to get the screen to Rawls, Rifenberg was there to cover it, but Rawls couldn’t haul in a low pass. 39 yard punt
back to Adams.
Highlander ball at their 13 yard line for the second straight drive. Patritto carried for 5 yards between blocks of Conner Hess (78) and tight end Jack Bishop (5).
Farris got dropped for a loss of 3 on second down. On 3rd-8 Farris found Reece Collins on a crossing pattern good for 11 yards. 1st-10 at the 26. Maurice
Swain Jr. hit a big hole punched in by Vogt, Tim Anderson, and pulling guard Cole Michell. Bob Anderson sealed the linebacker and Swain busted it for 16 yards
up the middle. 1st-10 at the 42. Farris had his pass for Collins tipped, but he was able to dive and catch it for a gain of 2. Farris found wideout Nick Picot (11)
on a nice out-route on the sideline, good for 10. 1st-10 at the Hawks 48, but the drive sputtered from there. Swain got stopped on first down after a gain of
1, and two incompletions made it 4th-9 at the 45. Farris quick punted 20 yards to give it back to Harrison.
Hawks started from their 25. QB Watson took the shotgun snap and looked to pass, but had to roll right under pursuit by Cole Mitchell and Reed Vogt,
and ran out of bounds after a 2 yard gain. Watson missed on second down, intended for Ben Williams deep down the left sideline but coverage by Collins
was good and the ball was out of bounds. 3rd-8 and Watson succumbed to the pass rush of the Highlander defensive ends. Conner Hess flushed him left and
hit him low, right into the arms of Reed Vogt who came off the right edge and hit him high. 5 yard loss, and the punt team came back on the field with less than
20 seconds in the half.
Reece Collins fielded the 37 yard punt and found room on the right sideline for 18 yards on the return. Farmington was called for a personal foul out of bounds,
and that took it down to the 31 with about 10 seconds to play. Adams sent Ben Patton out to attempt a 48 yard field goal, but there was a false start which
moved them back 5 yards. Instead of kicking a 53 yard field goal, Adams elected to send the offense back on the field. Farris hit Patritto on a sideline route for
9 yards to the 27. Clock stopped with seconds left, and Patton came on for the 44 yard field goal, which he hit right down the middle. The ball sailed
well over the uprights as it went through. It looked like it would have been good from 60. 17-0 Highlanders at halftime.

3rd Quarter
Adams got the ball first and started at their own 13 for the third time in the game. Swain gained 4 yards on first down. Then Farris was caught for a yard loss
before Patritto was stopped for 2. On 4th-5, Patton punted 46 yards. Again Jake Schuler was there on punt coverage, he got help from Jack Bishop to bring
down Roderick Heard for no gain on the return, but the Highlanders were penalized for a late hit on the play.
Harrison ball at the Adams 48 after the penalty. Heard got the first hand off and was stopped by Logan Sayre and both of the Anderson brothers after a gain of
6. Nick Kania shot in and knocked Rawls off his feet for a loss of 1 as he tried to find the right edge on second down. The Hawks got a big play on 3rd-5 as
Rawls escaped out of the backfield and no Adams linebacker went with him. Rawls took the pass from Watkins and shot down the left side for a 40 yard
rip to the Highlander 16; Kania again on the stop. Sayre made the tackle on Ben Williams on the first down carry for 2 yards. Then Heard shot through
a hole off-tackle right and gained 10; tackle by Rifenberg with help from Collins and Kania. 1st-goal at the 4. Bob and Tim Anderson teamed up for
another tackle on Heard after a gain of 3 to the 1 yard line. Then Vincent Rawls took it in from a yard out, and it was 17-7 Adams after the PAT was good.
Adams got it back on their 35, but again went quickly 3-and-out. Swain for no gain and two pass incompletions. Patton hit a nice 46 yard kick, and for the 3rd
time in the game, Jake Schular planted the returner for no gain. This time he had help from Chase Montour (26).
Vincent Rawls took the first down carry and broke three tackles for 13 yards before Daniel French drug him down at the 32. Rifenberg got help from
Sayre and Bob Anderson to stop Heard after 3 on first down. Reed Vogt limited Heard to 4 yards on second down. Tim Anderson and Sayre stuffed
Heard after a 2 yard gain to set up 4th-1 at the 41 and the Hawks decision to go for it would pay off. Rifenberg and Tim Anderson limited the Heard carry to 2
yards, but he only needed 1 to move the sticks to the 43 for a new set of downs. Watson threw incomplete and took a hit from Rifenberg as he let it go. On
2nd-10 Heard was thrown for a 2 yard loss after Cole Mitchell pushed his way into the backfield for the stop. On 3rd-12, Roderick Heard faked the dive but
continued down field and broke out the right. Watson rolled right and hit Heard for a big 15 yard gain; French, Patritto, and Kania brought him down.
1st-10 at the Highlander 44. Rifenberg tackled Heard after a gain of 4. Then Watson found Ben Williams who lined up as a fullback in an offset I formation
and ran a curl pattern. 13 yard gain to the 27 before Patritto made the tackle.

4th Quarter
Heard took the first down pitch left, then cut it up a seam and gashed Adams for 12 more yards before Patritto and Collins could coral him. Then Heard
somehow evaded Rifenberg, Mitchell, and Vogt in the backfield before reeling off 6 more up the middle. Patritto and French on the stop. Bob Anderson
limited Heard to 3 yards on his third straight carry. 3rd-1 from the Adams 5. Heard got it again, and Nico Jackson hit him first, Rifenberg finished him off,
but the gain was 2 yards. 1st-goal from the 4, and Roderick Heard took it in on the next play for the TD, his 17th TD on the season in his team’s 7th game to
cap the 15 play, 81 yard drive. 17-14 after the PAT.
Adams got the ball for the third time in the half, and for the third time in the half, they went three and out. Patritto went for 4, then was stopped for no gain.
Then they gave it to Swain Jr. off center on 3rd-6, and he was stopped after a gain of 1 yard. Patton came on the field to punt to the ever-dangerous Heard as
the home crowd smelled blood. Patton hit a perfect punt that angled out of bounds so Heard couldn’t return it. 37 yard punt.
Hawks took over at their 38 but quickly flipped the field. Heard broke off 13 yards before Collins brought him down at the 50, but a personal foul penalty
put it all the way down to the Highlander 35. Logan Sayre tackled Vincent Rawls after a gain of 7. Then Mitchell and Sayre teamed up to stop Heard after a gain
of 1 but a 5 yard fasemask penalty was called on Adams. 1st-10 at the 22. 1st-15 at the 27 after a Farmington false start. Patritto stopped Heard after 5 at the
22. On 2nd-10, Heard took the wildcat snap and tried to sweep right. Ryan Rifenberg was in the backfield to cut him off and grab an ankle, Bob Anderson
and Patritto finished him off; loss of a yard. On 3rd down Reece Collins had good 1-on-1 coverage on John Wright as Watkins tried to hit him in the left
corner off the end zone. Incomplete. Harrison kicker David Hiser came on to attempt the tying 41 yard field goal, and he hit it. Tie game, 17-17.
Adams got it back at their 20 with 3:31 left in the game. Patritto started it with a gain of 9 behind the blocks of Reed Vogt, Bob Anderson, and Reece Collins.
Nick Traficante gained 1 to move the sticks to the 30; 1st-10. Farris threw incomplete for Picot on a fly pattern down the left sideline. Then a pass intended for
Bishop on a slant pattern was incomplete. 3rd-10. Farris hit Patritto on a pass over the middle for again of 13 for the clutch first down. Then he hit
Patritto again for 5 yards on a short out-pattern. On 2nd-5 from the 48, Farris threw a strike to Jack Bishop who had a defender draped all over him on
the deep slant-pattern. 15 yard gain down to the Hawk 37. Swain Jr carried it for 3 as the clock ticked down to a minute left. On 2nd-7 from the 34,
Carter Farris threw his best ball of the night, perfect dime on a fly-pattern to Nick Picot down the left sideline. Picot caught it in stride and was pushed
out of bounds after 25 yards. 1st-goal on the 9. They went to the jumbo package, two tight ends and two backs, Rifenberg and Patritto. Patritto got the
carry and followed Rifenberg and tight end Ethan McCoy (7) around the left side for 3 yards to the 6. On 2nd-goal from the 6, they faked the give to
Rifenberg, and Farris had to throw the ball before he wanted to under pressure. Jack Bishop was open on the left side of end zone but the ball looked
like it was going over his head. The 6’4” Bishop, who had drug across the field from his tight end position, had to dive, reach back with one hand, and
somehow he came down with the ball. Amazing one-handed catch by Bishop for the go-ahead 6 yard TD strike. Patton nailed the extra point, and it
was 24-17 with 26 seconds left in the game.
The Hawks got it back at their 26. Watson found Roderick Heard complete over the middle as the Highlanders went into a prevent zone. Heard raced to the
sideline, made a man miss, and was able to get out of bounds to stop the clock at the 45. Gain of 19. The next play, Watson tried to find John Wright up the
seam, but the ball was a bit overthrown, and Reece Collins was there for the interception at the 33 and returned it 25 yards to the Hawk 42 to ice this
one for the Highlanders.
It was the story of two halves as Adams dominated the first, Harrison dominated the second, and Carter Farris came up big on the final drive when his team
needed it the most. This was the final game between these schools, as Farmington Harrison will close it’s doors next year and their coach, the winningest coach
in Michigan High School history, Hall of Famer John Herrington, will retire after this season. 16 times before this night these teams have battled it out. 8 wins
for Harrison, 8 wins for Adams going in. This win makes the final series count 9-8 in favor of Adams.
The Highlanders out-gained the Hawks in yards from scrimmage, 267 to 227. Harrison was led by Roderick Heard, who carried 27 times for 88 yards and a TD.
Heard also caught 2 passes for 34 yards. Vincent Rawls carried 6 times for 29 yards and a TD and caught 1 pass for 40 yards. QB Keel Watson was 5-17 for 114
yards.
For Adams, Carter Farris led the team with 9 carries for 77 yards and a TD. He was 10-19 for 106 yards and a TD passing. Anthony “Twan” Patritto carried 11
times for 33 yards and a TD and caught 4 passes for 47 yards. Nick Picot caught 2 passes for 35 yards. Jack Bishop had 2 catches for 21 yards including the
winning TD, a highlight reel one-hander in the final minute. Maurice Swain Jr. carried 9 times for 47 yards. Defensively, Ryan Rifenberg led the team with 10
tackles. Daniel French made 8 tackles. Logan Sayre and Twan Patritto had 7 each. Nick Kania had 6 stops, Reece Collins chipped in with 5. Nico Jackson, Bob
Anderson, Tim Anderson, Cole Mitchell, Conner Hess, and Reed Vogt all had 3 tackles.
1st-10 at the 23 for A&T’s second
Highlanders handle Southfield A&T 33-14 possession. Schular and Sayre brought
QB pressure off the edge and Romphf had
to throw it early, incomplete. 2nd-10.
Southfield hit for their biggest play of the
night. Christian Broaden (2) lined up in the
right slot, and took the pass from Romphf
on a stick route, he cut outside, got a block
from his wideout to seal the edge and sped
down the Highlander sideline for 48 yards
before Nico Jackson (21) ran him down.
Another big back, Anwar Jackson Jr (44),
got the carry up the middle on first down.
Bob Anderson controlled his man and
clogged up the hole. Logan Sayre rode him
down with help from Dan French after a
gain of 1. On 2nd-9 from the Adams 18
Romphf tried to hit Broaden deep up the
left seam, but Nico Jackson had good
coverage; incomplete. Sayre, Tim
Anderson, and French brought down
Robinson after a gain of 5. Southfield
was called for a personal foul, which made
it 3rd-21 from the 35. Romphf rolled right
First Quarter under pressure and had to throw it away.
On 4th-21, Romphf rolled right again, and
Southfield started with it 1st-10 on their 27. A&T QB had to tuck and run right after Reed Vogt
Anthony Romphf (6) rolled right and tried a pass-back left to pressured him. Rifenberg brought him
RB Leon Franklin (3). LB Logan Sayre (27) was in position to down after he picked up 14 down the right
make the tackle for a loss, but the ball was incomplete. On side line. Turn over on downs.
second down, RB D’Anthony Robinson (24), a 5’8” 225lb
wrecking-ball, got the carry. Ryan Rifenberg (9) took a big hit
when he stepped in front of Robinson, but slowed him down Adams started their second possession on
enough for Jake Schuler (14) and Reed Vogt (79) to lead a their 21. Reece Collins took it on a jet
scrum of defenders to stop the big back’s advance after a 7 sweep around the left side. Cole
yard gain. On 3rd-3, Romphf found Cameron McEvans (1) Mitchell pulled and took out the edge
for a 5 yard gain on a stick route; Reece Collins (1) made the defender. Nico Jackson and Collin
tackle. 1st-10 at the 39. Franklin got the carry and was Weeks (4) had good downfield blocks.
stopped by Daniel French (54) and Reed Vogt after a gain of Collins peeled off 21 yards up to the 42
2. On 2nd-8, Romphf ran option left. Jake Schuler made yard line. Farris kept it for a 5 yard gain
him pitch it right away to Franklin. But Sayre and Schuler before Collins lost 3 to make it 3rd-8 at the
were there to contain him; he tried to cut back, but was 44. They set up a nice screen play to
mauled by Cole Michell (77) for a 7 yard loss. 3rd-13 from Jackson who took it in the right flat
the 34. Romphf heaved it deep down the middle in the behind Tim Anderson, Mitchell, and
direction of Saunders Carter (17), but coverage was good Myers. Anderson took out the first
and the ball was under thrown. Safety Nick Kania (2) defender and Jackson ripped of 23 yards
picked it off and was tackled right away. before LB Ian Brocks (7) rode him down
at the Southfield 33. Collins lost 2 yards
Highlander ball on their 38 yard line. QB Carter Farris (10) on first down, then Farris hit him on a short
missed over the top of Jack Bishop (5) on a slant route on out-route to gain 7 to set up 3rd-5 from the
first down. On second down, Farris handed it to senior 28. Nico Jackson got the carry around
slotback Reece Collins on a jet sweep right to the short right end, got a good block from Collins,
side of the field. The Highlanders conducted a blocking and picked up 7 to move the sticks to the
academy on the play. Center Tim Anderson (65), right 21. Then Collins got a blocks from
guard Cole Mitchell, and right tackle Will Myers (70) drove Jackson, Mitchell, and Bob Anderson to
back the right side of the line. The ball fake to Fullback clear the way for 7 more yards on the
Maurice Swain Jr (24) fooled two defenders. Left guard last play of the quarter.
Reed Vogt pulled across and eliminated the outside
backer on the edge. Collins got his big night going early.
He turned the corner, lit the burners, and shot north
along the numbers. The right slot-man Twan Patritto (3)
sealed his man to the outside, as did wideout Jack
Bishop. Bob Anderson came all the way across the field
from his left tackle position, 12 yards down field, to block
a safety along the right sideline. Collins raced through
the light rain for 52 yards before Southfield LB Jordan
Crawford (32) climbed on his back and rode him down at
the 10 yard line. First and goal Highlanders. Swain Jr (24)
got it for a yard on first down. He got it again on second
down and took it down to the 2 for a 7 yard gain behind
blocks of Patritto, Vogt, Tim Anderson, and Will Myers. On
3rd-goal from the 2, Patritto took a big hit from Crawford
after only a yard. 4th-goal from the 1, and Reece Collins
took it in. He snuck under three defenders who appeared
to have him stopped before the goal line, but was able to
somehow bull his way in. Touchdown Adams. 7-0 after
Ben Patton (18) kicked the extra point.
Page 61 | 2018 Highlander Football | Hard Work Southfield A&T Southfield A&T | Page 62
2nd Quarter
Maurice Swain Jr punched through a hole between a pulling Mitchell and Tim Anderson for 5 yards to make it 1st-goal from the 9. Carter Farris took it in on the next play. He
reverse pivoted out to the right. Myers, Collins, and Reed Vogt sealed the edge and Farris ran through three tackles to rumble in for the 9 yard score. 14-0 with 11:32 left in
the half
The Warriors set up on their 30 yard line. Anthony Romphf took the shotgun snap and looked to get it deep down the left sideline to Saunders Carter on a go-route, but Logan
Sayre came untouched off the edge and forced the early and inaccurate throw. 2nd-10. Incomplete again, this time trying to throw a bubble screen to Broaden in the right slot, too low.
On 3rd-10 Romphf found Cameron McEvans with an accurate ball on a deep in-pattern good for 17 yards; Patritto on the tackle. 1st-10 from their 47. Anwar Jackson Jr
found room off right tackle and rambled for a gain of 7 before Rifenberg tripped him up with help from Nick Kania. Then D’Anthony Robinson got it going behind the block of
6’3” 340lb. left guard James Wadworth. Again Rifenberg and Kania were able to trip him up after a 7 yard burst. 1st-10 from the Highlander 46. Dan French stonewalled
Jackson Jr on the next play; no gain. Then Romphf found Christian Broaden on a short out and he made a man miss and shot down the Highlander sideline for a gain of 16 before
Kania took him down. 1st-10 at the Adams 21. Then QB Romphf kept it on a QB draw for 6; French made that tackle. On 2nd-4 from 15 yard line Robinson took the snap from the
wildcat formation and got it going off right tackle. The massive Wadsworth pulled from his left guard position and led him through the hole. Robinson got a head of steam
going and ran through 5 tackles. Sayre, Kania, Rifenberg, French, and Schuler all had a crack at him, but he wasn’t going down. Robinson harmmered his way across the
north goal line in the visitors corner to get Southfield back in the game; impressive run. 14-7 after the successful PAT. 8:45 left in the half.
Highlanders started at their 36. Carter Farris faked the give to Swain Jr, then took it around the block of Will Myers and under the seal block of Reece Collins for a 14 yard rip up to
midfield. Swain gained 3 on first down. Then Reece Collins found the left corner for 8 yards around the block of Nico Jackson. An offsides penalty made it 1st-5 at the Southfield 34,
but the Warrior defense stiffened right there. LB Dangelo McKenzie stopped Farris for no gain. Then LB Solomon Bell caught Collins in the backfield for a 3 yard loss. On 3rd-8,
Farris just missed Collins on a post-pattern, incomplete. They chose to go for it on 4th-8 on the 37, but Farris's pass to Jack Bishop on a slant-pattern was incomplete.
Southfield got it back, still only a touchdown behind, and with the momentum and energy on their side. QB Romphf tried a QB draw, but Tim Anderson, Dan French, and
Logan Sayre blocked his path, flushed him right, and chased him out of bounds for a 4 yard loss. On second down, Romphf looked for Saunders Carter on the right sideline. Good
coverage. Twan Patritto probably would have intercepted the pass, but the 6’4” Sayre, who had dropped back nicely in zone coverage, leaped up and tipped the ball right before
Patritto could grab it. Bad break, but nice play. 3rd-14 from their own 14 yard line. Romphf went back to pass and was immediately under fire from the pass rush of Sayre, French,
and Rifenberg. He scrambled right and it looked like he could be sacked for a safety. Sayre was closest, but he left his feet anticipating the pass. That bought Romphf another
second and a half to hit D’Anthony Robinson, who had leaked out late into the open space in the right flat. Robinson churned for 17 yards up the numbers before Patritto tripped him
up to prevent an even bigger gain. 1st-10 from their 31. Anwar Jackson Jr got the carry, but Rifenberg met him in the backfield to stop his progress along with Bob
Anderson; Kania and Schuler finished him off for a 3 yard loss. On 2nd-13, Romphf hit Carter on a 5 yard stick-route. Carter broke a tackle and was able to gain 12 before
Rifenberg took him down with help from Kania. 3rd-1 from the 40. QB sneak attempt, and Tim Anderson and Cole Mitchell stuffed it for no gain. 4th-1. Again Robinson took the
snap from the wildcat and followed the massive left side of his line, 340lb. guard James Wadsworth and 280lb. tackle Brandon Baldwin. Robinson broke tackles before
being tripped up by Sayre after a 13 yard rip. On 1st-10 from the Highlander 47, Rompf handed it to Robinson, who pounded for 4 more before Rifenberg took him down with help
from Kania. On second down, Romphf tried to hit Carter deep down the right sideline and just missed him; good coverage by Patritto. 3rd-6 from the 43. Romphf hit Christian
Broaden on a quick out for a gain of 4; Nico Jackson with the sure tackle to set up 4th-2 from the 39. Again, the Warriors lined up in the wildcat with D’Anthony Robinson taking
the direct snap and he tried to bull his way up the middle. Tim Anderson came free off the left edge. Cole Mitchell beat his man into the A gap. Bob Anderson stone-
walled the center. All three met Robinson at the line of scrimmage and he could only manage a yard and a half. Big play by the three interior Highlander lineman. They
brought the sticks out to measure; 6 inches short. Huge stop for Adams. Turn over on downs.
Highlanders took over on their 38. Farris just missed Bishop wide on an out-route, then he was a bit too tall for Collins on a crossing route. On 3rd-10, Farris was dropped
by defensive tackle Bryce Austin (16) for a 4 yard loss and Ben Patton came on to punt it away. 36 yard boot. The long-snapper Jake Schuler, as usual, was the first man to the ball
carrier to provide perfect coverage; he brought him down for no gain.
Southfield ball at their 30. They gave it to Broaden on the jet sweep left. Rifenberg rode the outside block to string it out, and Kania came up to knock Broaden off his pins
after a gain of 4. Pass incomplete on second down as Logan Kania (44) provided the heat and flushed Romphf right; Reed Vogt tipped the pass. On 3rd-6, Romphf found no one
open, rolled right, and was planted by Cole Mitchell for the sack; loss of 4. 3-and-out. Southfield punted it away.
With only seconds remaining in the half, Carter Farris tried to throw it deep to Collin Weeks down the left side, who was double covered but he went up and high-pointed the
ball; off his hands incomplete. That ended the first half with the score still 14-7 Adams.
3rd Quarter Soutfield got a 39 yard kickoff
return by Christian Broaden and
Adams received the kickoff and Collins they started their drive on a short
Weeks continued to provide a spark in the field from their 49. D’Anthony
return game. He took it at the 16 and shot Robinson got it going downhill
south-bound up the middle of the field again behind a great trap block
between blocks of Nick Goedtel (30) and from Brandon Baldwin and a lead
Forest Dufresne (50). Then he cut it left block from Leon Franklin. He
behind a block from Nico Jackson and turned broke three tackles on the way to
on the jets down the visitor’s sideline for a 59 16 yards before Reed Vogt was
yard kickoff return to the Warrior 25. Farris able to get him down. Then
ran the read-option keep right for 4 yards. Romphf faked the give to Robinson
Then he ran it to the left for a gain of 2. On and kept it around the right side;
3rd-4 from the 19, Farris went back to gain of 2 before Sayre pushed him
pass, but Ian Brocks came free on a blitz out. On 2nd-8 Rifenberg squared
and spun him around before Jordan up Robinson in the hole, then got
Crawford and Bryce Austin finished the help from French and Sayre to drop
sack for a 6 yard loss. Ben Patton came him after a 1 yard gain. 3rd-7 from
on to try a 42 yard field goal. Perfect snap the Highlander 32. Anwar
by Schuler, perfect hold by Jerry Garrett Jackson Jr ran a crossing route
(6), and the big left leg of Ben Patton sent out of the backfield. Good
it high over and through the uprights with coverage, but the pass was
about 15 yards to spare. The Highlanders perfect and Jackson Jr made a
had a 17-7 lead with 9:20 left in the play in the middle of the field. He
quarter. held on with Rifenberg draped all
over him, then broke the tackle
The Warriors first possession of the half and angled towards the left
started at their 20. Romphf had Saunders corner of the north end zone. 23
Carter open on a 10 yard slant, but the 6’5" yard gain before Jackson was
Bob Anderson got his hand up to tip it at the able to ride him out of bounds at
line of scrimmage; incomplete. Mitchell and the 9. On 1st-goal the big bruiser,
Rifenberg were in the backfield to disrupt the Robinson, got it going over the left
next play, a hand off to Leon Franklin. He side. He broke 3 tackles before
tried to go right but had to bounce left and Rifenberg, Collins, and French were
spin off of Schuler in the backfield before able to bring him down. On second
French and Vogt cleaned up after a gain of 1. and goal, Jake Schuler knifed in off
On third down, Romphf found Cameron the left edge to hit and stop
McEvans on a deep in-route, but a big hit by Robinson after only a yard to make
Patritto broke it up. The Highlander defense it 3rd-goal from the 1 yard line.
held 3-and-out. Robinson hit a 39 yard punt. Again, Robinson lined up behind
center in the wildcat formation.
Highlander ball at their 40. Farris hit Collin The Highlanders stuffed the middle,
Weeks on quick hitch to the left sideline. He but Robinson, showing nimble feet
got a block from Jackson on his way to 10 for a 220lb. back, was able to
yards to move the sticks to midfield. Then bounce it left around the pile for the
Reece Collins carried for 3. On 2nd-7, score. 20-14 after the PAT with 57
Collins got open on an out-route and seconds left in the quarter.
Farris, under heavy pressure, got it to him.
10 yard gain down to the Warrior 37. On 1st-10 Highlanders on their 36.
first down, Farris threw a strike to Nick Picot Carter Farris tried to pass to Weeks
(11) who ran a 5 yard button-hook along the on a quick hitch to the left, but the
left sideline. Picot turned upfield and gained ball sailed high. The wet conditions
13 on the play before being knocked out of were definitely effecting Farris’s
bounds. After an offsides penalty made it grip on the ball. Farris pass to
1st-5 at the 19, Farris kept it behind blocks Reece Collins on a deep out was
from Tim Anderson, Mitchell, and Collins for a on target, but Warrior cornerback
gain of 7 up the middle. 2nd-3 from the 12. Brent Johnson (5) made a nice play
Collins got the handoff off of left tackle. and went up with Collins to knock it
Bob Anderson, Vogt, and the trap block of away. On 3rd-10, Farris was under
Mitchell paved the way for 8 more to make pressure immediately by the
it 2nd-2 from the 4 yard line. It looked like Southfield pass-rush. He had to
the Highlanders were going to have no scramble and throw it away. A&T
problem punching it in yet again. But the stopped them three-and-out.
Warriors defense stiffened. Farris was Patton came on and got off a 38
stopped for no gain on second down. Then yard punt. Jake Schular made the
he rolled right under pressure and got a break tackle for no gain on punt
when his pass into the end zone was coverage.
dropped by a defender on what should have
been an easy interception. Big break for the On first down from the Southfield
Highlanders. 4th and 2 from the 4 yard line. 26, Broaden couldn’t hang on to a
No brainer go-for-it scenario for the short-out pass; incomplete. Then
Highlanders historically. But this time they Robinson took the handoff and
ran Patton out for the chip-shot field goal. He took it around the left side where
converted to make it 20-7 with 3:57 in the Logan Sayre pushed him out
quarter. after a gain of 4.
4th Quarter
Southfield got it back on their 32. On first down Romphf rolled left, and right
3rd-6 from the Southfield 30. Romphf looked to go deep to Carter down the left sideline, but Reece Collins had him covered. Romphf scrambled left and Sayre and French into the pass rush of defensive end Logan Kania (44). Kania chased him
dropped him after a gain of 1. 4th-5 at the 31. Another big 3-and-out stand by the Highlander defense. Robinson got off a 40 yard punt. down and dropped him. 12 yard loss on the sack. On 2nd-22 Romphf hit
McEvans on the quick hitch on the left side. He went for 10 before Patritto,
On 1st-10 from the 29, Highlander fans were treated to the best kind of deja-vu. Nico Jackson took the handoff going right towards the short side of the field. Reed Vogt Kania, and Rifenberg teamed up to bring him down. On 3rd-12 Romphf had
pulled out in front, chipped the end, then got the kick-out block on the outside backer. Myers and Mitchell sealed the edge, and Jackson darted around them. Jack Bishop Broaden on a crossing route, but the umpire appeared to shield his view as he ran
blocked the corner and Bob Anderson, from his left tackle position, was 12 yards downfield to take out the safety. Jackson shot like a rocket between Bishop and past, and he couldn’t bring it in. On 4th-12, with Bob Anderson right in his
Anderson and no one was going to catch him. He blazed down the visiting sideline and into the north end zone, easily running away from 5 Warrior pursuers. Just like he face, Romphf got a pass off to Jackson Jr, who got free deep down the
had done in week 2 in against Bloomfield Hills, the speedy Jackson had electrified the Highlander faithful with another 70+ yard 4th quarter touchdown. This one for 71. middle on an arrow route out of the backfield. The pass came in a little
Another blocking clinic by Adams. Every block was crucial to the play; if any one of them don’t get made, it’s not a score. They would go for 2 and the Farris pass was high; he had to go up for it at midfield and couldn’t bring it down.
incomplete, intended for Bishop on a quick slant. 26-14 with 10:58 left to play. Highlanders caught a break. It looked like it could have gone for 6 if he was
able to make the catch.
Warrior ball on their 32. Romphf made a nice back shoulder throw on a deep ball down the right sideline to Cameron McEvans, but Patritto was there to break it up and prevent a 32
yard gain. D’Anthony Robinson got the next carry. Tim Anderson rode him down after a gain of 5. On 3rd-5 Romphf’s pass was incomplete. Broaden was open on a short out, Highlanders took over on downs at their 30. Collins reeled off 22 more yards
but couldn’t hold on. 3-and-out stand by the Highlander defense, their 4th of the night. Robinson punted 29 yards to the Highlander 34. on first down. Again, it was Reed Vogt, Bob Anderson, Nico Jackson, and
Collin Weeks with the key blocks. Collins raced down the left sideline,
Highlander ball trying to put this game away. Farris was stopped for no gain on first down by Austin. Then Jackson gained 8 around the right tackle; Myers and Mitchell sealed the stopped before he went out of bounds and cut back inside to make a man
edge and Vogt had the trap block to spring him. On 3rd-2 Nico Picot ran a go-route down the right side visitor’s sideline and Farris put a nice pass over the defense to hit him miss. Then he spun through another defender before he was brought down
for a gain of 23 down to the 35. Nick Traficante (34) got the next carry and went for 6 yards up the middle before Jackson was stopped for a loss of 1 to set up 3rd-5 from the 30. on the Southfield 9 yard line. After Swain Jr was stopped after a gain of 1, a
Farris rolled left and found Collins open on a short out-route. Collins hauled it in for a 9 yard reception and a first down for Adams at the 21. After Swain Jr was stopped for a gain of personal foul was called on Adams to move them back to the 23. Collins got
1, Reece Collins broke off another great run. He got it going around left tackle. Cole Mitchell pulled from right to left and violently pancaked the outside linebacker. Bob dropped for a loss of a yard. QB Jerry Garrett fumbled the snap and was touched
Anderson and Nico Jackson sealed the inside, and Collin Weeks got a block on the corner. Collins turned the corner and bolted into the secondary. He spun through two down for a loss of 2. On 4th and goal from the 26, Garrett handed to Chase
tacklers at the 5 and took it into the north end zone for a 20 yard Highlander touchdown. Patton was good on the PAT. 33-14 Adams. Krol (25) who went around left tackle, got a block from Chris Jenkins (12),
and gained 6 yards.
Warrior ball with less than a minute left to play on their 20. Broaden couldn’t
come down with it on an out-route. On second down, Romphf hit Carter on a
stop-route good for 15; Weeks on the tackle. Then they had trouble with the
snap and Romphf had to fall on it for a 4 yard loss. The final play was 9 yard
completion to Arron Foulkes (12); Collins, Rifenberg, and Kania were all in on the
``
This one went much the same way as the A&T vs. Adams game of a year ago, when a close game was blown open by a dominant Highlander 4th quarter. Adams out-gained Southfield
367 to 269 in total yards from scrimmage. Adams held a 272 to 93 yard rushing advantage, while Southfield had a 176 to 95 yard passing edge. For Southfield A&T, the dangerous QB
Anthony Romphf was held to minus 1 yard rushing in 9 attempts. He completed 11 of 29 pass attempts for 176 yards. RB D’Anthony Robinson caught 1 pass for 17 yards and
smashed his way for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns on 15 carries. RB Anwar Jackson Jr had 3 carries for 8 yards, and caught 1 pass for 23. WR Christian Broaden had 3 receptions for
68 yards. Cameron McEvans had 3 receptions for 32 yards. Saunders Carter caught 2 passes for 27 yards.
For the Highlanders, QB Carter Farris was 7 for 17 and 95 yards through the air, and had 11 carries for 31 yards and a touchdown on the ground. RB Reece Collins led the rushing
attack with 13 carries for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also caught 3 passes for 26 yards. RB Nico Jackson had 4 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 1 pass
for 23 yards. Maurice Swain Jr carried 6 times for 18 yards. WR Nick Picot caught 2 passes for 36 yards. WR Collin Weeks caught 1 pass for 10. LB Ryan Rifenberg paced the
defense with 11 tackles. LB Dan French, LB Logan Sayre, and DB Nick Kania all had 9 stops. Kania also had an interception. DB Twan Patritto, DT Cole Mitchell, DE Reed Vogt, DT
Bob Anderson, DT Tim Anderson, DE Jake Schuler, and DB Reece Collins all collected 4 tackles a piece. DE Logan Kania and Cole Mitchell each had a sack.
Adams took it back on their 46. After an incompletion on first down, Jackson gained 1. Then Farris threw incomplete after his receiver lost his footing near
Adams closes out regular season with a 17-3 victory over Stoney Creek the visitor’s sideline. Ben Patton punted it away. 29 yards with no return.
Stoney Creek would be held to another three-and-out, the fourth in a row in an uneventful first quarter. Daniel French (54) and Bob Anderson stopped Buford
after a yard. Then Jackson stopped Morris after a gain of 3. Potenza missed on a 3rd down pass on the last play of the quarter.
1st Quarter
Adams took the opening kickoff. Collin Weeks (4) gave the Highlanders good field position with a 37 yard return to the 46. QB Carter Farris (10) passed
complete to Reece Collins for 19 yards on first down, all the way to the Cougar 35 yard line. Maurice Swain Jr carried for a gain of 2. Then Nico Jackson
(21) carried for 6. Farris was stopped for 1 yard on 3rd down to set up 4th-1. Stoney Creek blitzed the run like they knew what the play call was going to be.
They stopped Collins for no gain and took over on downs.
1st-10 from their 26. Stoney handed it to Davon Morris (3) who was wrapped up by Bob Anderson (64) for no gain. Then QB Frank Potenza (10) made a perfect
pass to beat good coverage, hitting slot man Andre Demetral (7) for a 34 yard gain. 1st-10 at the Adams 26. Potenza threw a quick pass to the flat, but safety
Nick Kania shot in to knock down Cam’ron Burford (22) for a loss of 1. Ryan Rifenberg (9) got the stop on Beford on the next play, a short run for 2 yards. Then
it was Rifenberg along with Logan Kania (44) in the backfield on 3rd-9 to sack Potenza for an 11 yard loss. Stoney punted it away.
Highlander ball on their 25, but they were a quick three-and-out. Jackson rushed for 4. Anthony “Twan” Patritto was dropped for a 4 yard loss. Then Patritto
caught a 8 yard pass to make it 4th-5. Farris quick-punted for 43 yards.
The Cougars second drive stared at their 27. The Highlander D would return the favor, stopping them three-and-out. Rifenberg and Bob Anderson stopped
Morris after a gain of 1. Then Rifenberg was in the backfield again, Morris stiff-armed him but was swallowed up by Nick Kania and Reed Vogt (79) for a
loss of 5. After an incomplete pass set up 4th-14, Stoney punted it away again.
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2nd Quarter
Stoney Creek punted it away. 25 yard boot.
Adams would be turned away three-and-out

for the third consecutive drive. Patritto
gained 4, the, Nick Traficante (34) rushed for
2 before an incomplete pass made it 4th-4
from the 48. Farris quick punted again, 46
yards down to the Stoney 6 yard line.
Highlanders turn on defense again, and for

the third straight time, they forced a punt on
the 4th play. It was Logan Sayre (27) tackling
Morris after a gain of 4. Then it was Jackson
and French teaming up to stop him after 4
more. On 3rd-2 Sayre, Logan Kania, and
Jackson led the mass of humanity that
stuffed Morris for no gain. The Cougars
punt was low and it hit a member of the
punting team 17 yards downfield.
Adams took over on a short field at their 31,

and this time they would find some room.
Farris rushed for 11 on first down, but it
was negated by a holding penalty to make it
1st-11 from the 32. After an incompletion
and pas interference penalty on Stoney
Creek made it 1st-10 from the 17, Reece
Collins (1) gained 6. Then Swain Jr.
pounded it for 5 behind the drive blocks of
Tim Anderson (65) and Cole Mitchell (77).
1st-goal from the 6. Patritto rushed for 3,
then Collins for 3 and paydirt. He got a
block from Rifenberg out of the backfield
on the edge, and bounced it outside and
into the north end zone. Ben Patton (18)
converted the PAT, and it was 7-0
Highlanders with 5:03 left in the half.
Patton’s kick was into the end zone, so

Stoney took over at their 20. Nick Kania
stopped Burford for no gain. Then Potenza
found his tight end, Colin Toth (49), for 8
yards. On 3rd-2, Morris found room for 3
yards before French stopped him. A first
down incompletion, QB pressure from
Sayre. On second down, Sayre and Nick
Kania teamed up to stop Potenza on a
keeper after a gain of 6. On 3rd-4,
Potenza kept it going around the left side,
but Reed Vogt was there to slow him
down, and Nico Jackson finished him off
for a loss of 4 to set up 4th-8 on the 32.
Another short punt, 18 yards, gave it back to
Adams with good field position.
Highlander’s ball on the Cougar 48 yard line.

Jack Bishop (5) caught a pass from Farris,
good for a gain of 8. Then Farris hit Collin
Weeks for 20 yards down the the left seam.
The Highlander’s false started, then Farris
threw 3 straight incompletions. Patton
came on to try a 42 yard goal, missed it right,
but Stoney was offsides on the play. Patton
got to try again from 37, this time it was
good. 10-0 Adams lead with 48 seconds left
in the half.
Cole Mitchell dropped Morris for a 3 yard

loss before Collins took down Burford after a
6 yard catch and run for the final play of the
half.
3rd Quarter
Stoney Creek ball to start the half on their 20. Quick three-and-out. Sayre and Patritto dropped Burford after a 5 yard carry. They two incompletions brought
the punter out again. 28 yard punt. Stoney Creek would take it back at their 20 and embark on their longest
drive of the night. French and Sayre tackled Morris after 3 yards. Then
Adams ball and they would only need three plays to score fro their 47. Collins ripped off 8 yards under the kick-out block of Nico Jackson and over the Potenza gained 2; French and Sayre again with the stop. A Highlander
drive-blocks of Bob Anderson and Reed Vogt. Jackson, Anderson, and Vogt again provided interference on the next play, this time a 7 yard keeper by Farris. offsides penalty made it 3rd-1 before Burford ran for 4 to pick up the first
Then Patritto got it around left and the play was blocked to perfection. Anderson and Vogt took out the left side of the line again, Cole Mitchell pulled and kicked down; tackled by Logan Kania. Rifenberg and Mitchell teamed up to stop
out the defensive end. Reece Collins sealed the outside linebacker and Patritto raced untouched for a 38 yard touchdown run. 17-0 Highlanders with 10:08 left Zach Denha (2) after a 4 yard gain. Then Portenza hit Toth for a catch
in the quarter. and run of 9 yards, Nick Kania on the tackle. Bob Anderson, Jack
Schuler (14), and Rifenberg stopped Morris for a 1 yard loss before and
incompletion set up 3rd-11 from the 45. Potenza was on target, hitting
Denha for a gain of 16 to move the chains to the Highlander 29 before Nick
Kania dropped him. Potenza was on target again, this time to Demetral for
a gain of 10 before Collins made the stop. Potenza hit his third straight
pass, this time for Jacob Joseph (20) for a gain of 13 to make it 1st-goal
from the 6. After an incompletion, Demetral picked up 2 yards on a short
reception from Potenza. Then Stoney Creek was flagged for a personal
foul, which made it 2nd-goal from the 18. Potenza threw incomplete, but
Jackson was called for interference. It appeared the Cougars
benefited from a bad call after the receiver fell down; it looked like
Jackson had great coverage and no contact. That was a half-the-
distance to the goal penalty, 2nd-goal from the 9. Nick Kania broke up a
pass over the middle with a big hit on Colin Toth, then Portenza had to
let it go early with Rifenberg and Tim Anderson bearing down on him,
incomplete. 4th-goal from the 9. They brought the field goal kicker on, but
it was a fake. The holder, Nicholas Potenza (32) stood up and threw a pass
to his tight end on the left side, Adam Quni (88), but Reece Collins had him
covered like glue and broke it up. Adams took over on downs. 17 yard
drive by Stoney, but it turned up empty.
1st-10 on their 9 yard line, Patritto ripped for 8 around left tackle. Then
Swain Jr was stopped for 1 before he got the handoff again and gained 3.
Good enough for a first down to the 21. After Collins and Patritto were both
limited to a yard, Farris threw incomplete, and Patton came on for the punt,
which he hit for 40 yards.
Demetral caught the quick pass from Potenza on first down, but had to go
down to make the catch and lost a yard.
Highlanders again pounded the rock and ran
clock. Collins lost 2, then Swain was
stopped for no gain. Farris kept it for 1. The
clocked ticked, and Stoney burned time
outs. Patton came on and shanked one off
4th Quarter his foot for 13 yards.
Frank Potenza found Andre Demetral for an 11 yard pass Stoney got it back on the Highlander 48 with
play before Kania made the stop. Potenza hit Jack Warner 75 seconds to play. French was called for a
(12) for a gain of 10; Collins on the tackle. Potenza, who pass interference even though he made no
played Rochester Redskins youth football as a youngster contact with the receiver until after the ball
with many of the Highlanders, was showing good poise and had hit him in the back as he ran in perfect
accuracy against a heavy pass rush. He hit for his third coverage. 1st-10 on the Adams 33 and the
straight pass, this one for 8 yards to Demetral before Patritto Highlanders would hold for three
knocked him down. After an incompletion, Nick Traficante incompletions in a row before Collins and
(34) and Sayre combined for a stop on Burford after a gain of Traficante brought down Demetral after a
6. Burford got it again and Rifenberg got help from French 4th down gain of 8.
to limit him to 3. On 3rd-2 from the Highlander 21, Potenza
rolled right and hit Toth out of the backfield in the right flat for Adams took it on down and kneeled to run
5 yards and a first down. Then Potenza got 6 tough yards out the clock for a 17-3 victory in the last
before being brought down by Sayre and Patritto. 2nd-4 regular season game of the year.
incomplete, intended for Demetral in the end zone; Jackson
had the blanket on him. 3rd-4 incomplete, intended for Good punting and the Adams defense
Warner, coverage by Collins. 4th-4 from the 10 . controlled the game and kept the
Surprisingly, down 17-0, only 4 yards to gain, less than 8:00 Highlanders on a short field. They only
minutes to play, Stoney elected to kick a field goal. It was gained 189 total yards from scrimmage, but
good from 27 yards out, 17-3 Adams with 7:42 in the game. seldom had to go far. Stoney Creek put
forth a great effort on both sides of the ball.
Adams ball on their 20 trying to salt it away, but again, the Adams didn’t utilize many plays in the
game defense of Stoney Creek took advantage of predictable playbook, and Stoney Creek was well
play calling. It was apparent Adams was going to run stock prepared. They solved the Highlanders
plays to avoid putting anything interesting on film with the interior trapping scheme better than most
playoffs pending in a only a week. Swain pounded for 1. this year. Stoney Creek gained 204 yards
Farris kept it for 2. Then Farris hit Weeks on a nice seam from scrimmage. They rushed for only 46
route for 22 yards. 1st-10 on the 45 and they false started to yards, but Frank Potenza was 18-37 passing
make it 2nd-15 on the 40. Collins got dropped for a loss of for 158 yards. He also rushed 5 times for 9
a yard, then Rifenberg gained 3. Farris just missed Patritto yards. Andre Demetral caught 8 passes for
up the left seam, who almost made a circus one hander, but 78 yards. Cam’ron Burford rushed 9 times
couldn’t rake it in. Patton came on to boot it away; short for 23 yards and caught 2 passes for 5
one with a bad bounce for only 14 yards. yards. Colin Toth caught 3 passes for 22
yards. Jack Roehrig caught 2 for 14 yards.
The Cougars got it back with some hope on the 44. Potenza Davon Morris carried 10 times for 10 yards.
missed over the middle to Demetral; Jackson running stride
for stride with him. Then Jack Roehrig (87) caught his first Class of 2019 Seniors For the Highlanders, Carter Farris was 5-13
pass, Potenza hit him for a gain of to set up 3rd-3 from passing for 77 yards. The Highlanders
Highlander 49. Incomplete, a fastball intended for Joseph rushed for 112. Anthony Patritto had 6
over the middle, a little high and off his hands. But on 4th-3, carries for 50 yards and a score. Farris also
Potenza found Dementral on a quick stick-route, he made a had 5 carries for 23 yards. Collins carried 7
man miss and picked up 6 to move the sticks to the 43 yard times for 14 yards and a score, and caught 1
line. The first down pass down the right sideline for Roehrig pass for 19. Maurice Swain Jr had 6 carries
was well covered by Patritto. Incomplete. On the next play, for 12 yards. Nico Jackson rushed 3 times
Potenza found Roehrig for 7 yards on short dig-route for 8. Collin Weeks caught 2 passes for 42
before Patritto brought him down. 3rd-3 from the 36, yards. Logan Sayre and Nick Kania paced
incomplete. Jake Schular knocked it down, intended for the defense with 9 tackles each. Dan French
Demetral on a short out-route. 4th-3. Rifenberg brought and Ryan Rifenberg had 6 stops each. Twan
pressure off the edge and Potenza tried to hit Demetral on Patritto, Reece Collins, and Nico Jackson all
the quick stop-route. But it was a little to far to the right of had 5 tackles.
him, incomplete. Adams ball on downs.
The Highlanders got it back 1st-10 from their 29. Farris ran
Highlanders fall to Lakeland in OT 23-20 read option right and ran between blocks of Conner Hess
and Cole Mitchell (77) for a gain of 8. After an incompletion,
Farris ran read-option right again. Hess again cleared
out and Patritto made a nice down block to free Farris for
big yards. He got a downfield block from Bishop and
made a couple tacklers miss before getting hauled down
after a 23 yard gain. 1st-10 at the Eagles 40. Anthony
“Twan” Patritto got the next carry going around his left
end. Tim Anderson (65), Bob Anderson (64) and pulling
guard Reed Vogt manhandled defenders and Reece
Collins kicked out the outside linebacker. Patritto cut up
behind him for 13 yards to move the sticks to the
Lakeland 27. After Patritto carried again for 6 yards,
Traficante picked up 5 behind effective drive blocking by Tim
Anderson, Reed Vogt, and Cole Mitchell. Farris was
stopped for no gain. Then, on 2nd-10 from the 16, it was
Patritto taking it again around the left side. Mitchell
pulled and took out the defensive end. Bob Anderson
folded the left side of the Eagle line inward and Patritto
bounced it outside, around a great downfield block from
wideout Collin Weeks (4), and into the corner of the
1st Quarter south end zone for a Highlander touchdown. Ben Patton
(18) knocked the PAT through the uprights and it was 7-6
Adams started with the ball at their 28 yard line. Maurice Swain Jr (24) got the first carry for a 2 yard gain. Anthony Patritto (3) was stopped for no gain. On 3rd-2, QB Carter Farris Adams with 51 seconds remaining in the first.
(10) took the shotgun snap and found Patritto with a nice touch pass on a shallow post that went for 23 yards to the Eagles 47. Farris kept it on the read-option on first down,
cutting up behind a nice block by his right tackle, Conner Hess (78); gain of 6. Nico Jackson (21) got it next, and he used a block by pulling guard Reed Vogt (79) to slice though the Lakeland’s second possession started at their 20. Their
line and bounce it across the grain for 11 yards and a new set of downs at the Eagle 30. But the Highlander drive would stall there. Nick Traficante (34) was stopped for no gain, then power back, 220lb Dakota Myers (47), got the first carry
Farris was sacked for a loss of 6. On 3rd-16, Patritto couldn’t coral the Farris pass on a short out. On 4th-16, Farris looked for Jack Bishop (5) on the slant pattern, but a nice for 4 yards; Nick Kania (2) and Cole Mitchell on the tackle.
defensive play by Lakeland’s Leo Skupin (2) broke it up. Lakeland took over on downs. Myers got it again, this time for 5; Daniel French (54) and
Patritto teamed up to bring him down.
After a false start made it 1st-15, Logan Kania (44) dropped the Eagles halfback Robbie Tracy (21) after a gain of 2. Tracy got it again and picked up 7 behind his big offensive line
before Ryan Rifenberg (9) made the stop. Anthony Rossi (10) got the next carry and picked up 10 yards before Logan Sayre (27) made the tackle. Lakeland, running a deceptive
wing-T style offense, gave it to Tracy again. He found good yardage around right end, picking up 12 before Reece Collins (1) and Rifenberg teamed up to bring him down. On first
down from the Highlander 37, Tracy again ripped the Highlander defense, this time for 13 before Rifenberg brought him down. Then on first down from the Adams 24, Tracy
got it going left and the Highlander defense got pinned in and gave up the outside edge. Tracy raced into the left corner of the north end zone untouched for a 24 yard TD. Bob
Anderson (64) blocked the PAT, and it was 6-0 after Lakeland’s first possession with 4:50 left to play in the first.
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2nd Quarter
The Lakeland QB, Brady Woodruff (5) ran a QB sneak, and appeared to be short. Vogt, French, and Rifenberg clearly stuffed him behind the line of gain, the 30 yard line. His helmet
never got there, so the ball couldn’t have got there either. Yet the ball was marked across the 30 to award a first down. The first down carry went to Tracy, who found room for 6
before Mitchell and French stopped him. Then the Eagles hit on their biggest play of the night. Myers got around contain on the left side and rumbled for 35 yards down the
Lakeland sideline before Patritto and Kania knocked him down. 1st-10 from the Highlander 29. Rifenberg got help from French to tackle Myers on the first down play to limit the
gain to 2. Mitchell and Tim Anderson brought down Tracy on the next play after a pickup of 6. It was Tracy again on 3rd-2 picking up 7 more to move the sticks down to the
Adams 21; Rifenberg and Vogt on the tackle. Vogt made the next tackle on Tracy, stuffing him for no gain on first down. Jackson made the tackle on Myers on second down
after a gain of 3. Big 3rd-7 play. Woodruff passed to Myers out of the backfield in the right flat, but Rifenberg was there to drop him after only 1 yard to set up 4th-6 from the
10. Then it appeared the Highlanders might have jumped offsides on the FG attempt. But as the Eagles sent their offense back on the field to go for an apparent 4th-1, the refs
huddled to discuss. The Eagles, after coming set in two point stances, had hard counted to go to three point stances and snapped to position with a sharp motion meant to simulate a
snap. Including the center who jerked his second had to the ball in the same motion. Clearly deceptive intent to draw Adams offsides. False start was called on the Eagles. A good
call, which would be hard to come by on this night. They moved back 5 yards and again set up for a FG. This time, they went down normally from a 2 to 3 point stances at normal
speed and the Highlanders stayed still. Leo Skupin booted it through from 32 yards out to make it 9-7 Lakeland with 6:37 left in the half. 12 play drive, but Adams was able to bend
without breaking and limit them to 3.
Highlanders ball on their 20. Swain carried for a yard. Then Patritto took the pass from Farris on a short out-route, broke a tackle along the Lakeland sideline, and took it for 9 yards
to move the chains. Patritto carried for 6 on first down, then Swain was stopped for no gain before Collins was limited to 2 yards on 3rd-4. 4th-2 from their 38 and the Highlanders
made the gutsy call to go for it. Collins got it going left off jet motion from his slot position. Collin Weeks, who lined up as a left tight end, sealed off the edge with help of Maurice
Swain Jr. Collins cut under them and around the drive block of Bob Anderson for 8 yards and a Highlander first down at the 46. Carter Farris hit Patritto on the quick out to the
right and Twan got around the right corner and down the Eagles sideline for a 13 yard catch and run. On 1st-10 from Lakeland 41, Carter put the ball on Patritto, who was
open on a crossing pattern, but he couldn’t bring it in; incomplete. Patritto was playing with an injured shoulder. He separated it in the Harrison game, and it effected his ability to
get that arm up quick enough to get two hands on it. But the reason he was on the field despite being dinged up became evident the next play as Twan took the handoff around the
left, got blocks from Mitchell and Collins on the edge, and split the brothers Anderson into the secondary. 13 yard pick up. Then, again from 1st-10 at the Eagle 28, Patritto got it on a
quick pitch option play around the left side. Reed Vogt got the hit on the play side linebacker, and Collin Weeks took care of the corner as Twan zipped around the left edge for 12
more yards. 1st-10 at the 16, less than 2:00 in the half, and Adams was rolling. Farris fumbled the read option fake to Swain Jr, but the ball bounced off of Reece Collins shoulder pad
as he was making a block, right back into the hands of Farris, and he salvaged 3 yards on the play. On 2nd-7 from the 13, Farris tried to hit Jack Bishop on the post corner route, but
the pass was just wide off his hands as he dove for what would have been an amazing catch in the north end zone. 3rd-7. Farris took the snap and looked to throw the slant to
either Patritto or Pico on the right, but was flushed left out of the pocket. 6’4" 280lb. Eagle defensive tackle Nick Calderson (56) grabbed him around the waist at the line of
scrimmage, but Farris took him for a 4 yard ride. Unfortunately, as Farris went down, Calderson landed on the back of his lower leg at the just the wrong time. In that horrific
instant, the Highlanders lost both their QB, and their chance for an extended playoff run. Farris suffered a broken leg on the play. The crowd watched in stunned silence as their
offensive leader and the key to the Highlander veer attack left on a stretcher. Ben Patton came on and drilled a 26 yard field goal to make it 10-9 Adams with 1:03 left in the half.
Lakeland got it back on their 20. Tracy took the shotgun snap an passed to Auston Boughton (24) on a quick slot receiver screen. He made his way for 14 yards before French and
Rifenberg dropped him. Then the big back, Myers, got it going again behind good blocking. He picked up 19 before Patritto took him down. Vogt and Mitchell teamed up to tackle
Tracy after a gain of 1. Then Rifenberg stuffed Rossi for no gain. Rossi carried again on the last play of the half from the Highlander 46, but French stopped him after a yard.

Eagles got it back, still down by a point,
at their 25 after a 24 yard punt by Patton.
Rifenberg stood up Tracy and the line of
scrimmage and Hess finished him off for
3rd Quarter no gain. Then Rifenberg and Sayre
teamed up to stop Myers after a gain of 4.
Lakeland ball to start the second half at their 20. Ryan Rifenberg and Twan Patritto combined on the stop of Tracy after he picked up 6. Then French brought him down after On a big 3rd-6 play, Rifenberg met
a 5 yard pickup. French made the next tackle as well, bringing down Myers after he picked up 6. Reed Vogt stepped with a big play on 2nd-4, tackling Myers for a loss of 1 Tracy in the backfield again. He spun
to set up 3rd-5 at the 36. Tracy got the carry and picked up 7 to move the sticks; Bob Anderson and Logan Sayre brought him down. On 1st-10 from the 43, Daniel French capped a him down for a loss of 3 and Lakeland
huge series for him. He stuck his helmet in Tracy’s chest for no gain and forced the fumble. Logan Kania recovered it at the Eagle 41. had to punt. The Highlanders defense
was rising to the challenge.
QB Jerry Garrett (6) handed off to Swain Jr for a gain of 1 on first down. Then the snap got away from him and he had to run back and fall on it for a 12 yard loss. The third down After a good 50 yard punt and a personal
pass was incomplete, and the Highlanders failed to capitalize on the short field. They punted on 4th-21 from their 48. foul penalty Adams started pinned back
on the their 11 yard line. Collins gained
Lakeland took over at their 14 after a 38 yard punt by Patton. Patritto brought down Myers after he rumbled for 10. The Eagles nearly coughed it up again as the ball hit the turf after a 10 on first down around right tackle
failed hand off to Myers, but Tracy was able to fall on it; loss of 5. Logan Kania tackled Tracy on the next play for no gain. 3rd-15 from the 19. They gave it to Tracy on a jet sweep behind good blocks by Luke Toibiczyk
right, but Rifenberg raked him down in the backfield for a 3 yard loss and it was again punt time for the Eagles. (67), Conner Hess, and Anthony Patritto.
Swain carried for 4 on first down. Then
Adams ball with good field position again at the Lakeland 44 after a 41 yard punt and a 15 yard return by Collin Weeks. But again, Lakeland's defense responded. Garrett lost 2 Garrett hit Weeks on a back shoulder
yards on first down, then Patritto was stopped for no gain, and Garrett threw incomplete down the right sideline on third down. 4th-12 from the Eagle 46, and Adams elected to pass, but the defender got his hand in
punt. there to break it up. 3rd-6 from their 25,
and Patritto got the carry, but was
swallowed up for no gain.

4th Quarter Tracy got the carry on first
down, and again Rifenberg
Patton came on to punt, and after a false start moved the ball back to the 20, he booted it away. The 30 yard punt was high and when it came down it bounced straight up in the air. was there to stop him for no
An Eagle player unknowingly ran right under it as he tried to throw a block, and the ball came down and hit him. Jake Schuler (14), the long-snapper and first man down on punt gain. Sayre and French did
coverage all season, was again right there and he made the recovery to extend the drive for Adams at midfield. Swain carried for 2 up the middle. Then Patritto delivered another big the honors on the next play as
play. Adams lined up with dual wideouts to the left and ran jet action with Collins to the left. Garrett took the snap, faked left with a jab-step, then ran right to lure the unblocked they stuffed Tracy after he
outside linebacker in before he quick-pitched it to Patritto, who got free on the edge and into the clear. He got a downfield block from Bishop on the cornerback and took it 31 yards gained 1. On 3rd-9, it
down to the Eagle 17 yard line. Patritto got it again and gained 3. Then on 2nd-7 from the 14, Nico Jackson turned in another nice run. Hess, Vogt, and Collins threw the key looked like the Highlander
blocks that sprung Jackson for a 10 yard gain. 1st-goal from the 4. Cole Mitchell got the carry for a gain of 1. Then Patritto gained 2 down to the 1. On 3rd-goal from the 1, defense was going to hold
Collins punched it in between the blocks of Tim Anderson and Conner Hess. Patton kicked the PAT and it was 17-9 Highlanders. again after Woodfuff looked
to pass and had to scramble
Lakeland ran their first down play from their 24. Tim Anderson and Jake Schuler teamed up to stuff Myers for no gain. Then Tracy got in the wildcat formation and looked to throw, but for his life as he was
Sayre and Kania provided blanked coverage and he had to throw it away, incomplete. On 3rd-10 Rifenberg was in the backfield again to hit Tracy first, Logan Kania help finished pressured by Mitchell and
him off. Loss of 3 to give the Highlanders the three-and-out stop they needed. Rifenberg. He leaped and
heaved it downfield to avoid
Highlander ball on their 44 yard line with the chance to salt this one away. Garrett rushed for 4, then Collins ran for 4. As the Highlanders lined up and snapped the ball on a 3rd-2 a sack, incomplete. But
play, whistles sounded. They called false start. But no one moved. Vogt got a good jump off the snap as he pulled, and Patritto was breaking into jet motion right before the snap, there was a flag on the field.
but no one had moved. Film confirmed it. Inexplicable call. It was as if they got fooled and called Patritto, a legal motion man, for a false start. So instead of the relatively easy 3rd-2, They called Mitchell, who
the phantom motion penalty made it 3rd-7. Patritto got it again, and just as he took the handoff, Eagle defensive end Ben Roberts, who had penetrated into the backfield, shoved Woodruff to the
made a big play as he stripped the ball as he made the hit. Lakeland recovered at the Highlander 43. ground after he released the
ball, for roughing the
quarterback. Devastating
call. The quarterback was out
of the backfield and was a
runner. The hit was not late,
Mitchell's hands came into
contact with him BEFORE the
QB's feet returned to the
ground after he leaped to
throw the pass. It was a clean
play, but instead of 4th-9 back
at the 42, they gave Lakeland
a 1st-10 at the 27 with under
3:00 to play. Schuler and Nick
Kania stopped Rossi after a
gain of 3. Then it was Kania
with help from Sayre to bring
down Myers after a gain of 4.
Huge 3rd-3 play from the
Highlander 20. Tracy got it
again, and again Rifenberg
burst into the backfield
tracking him for another
loss, but he was clearly
hooked by tight end Shaun
Keller (82) who hooked
Rifenberg’s right shoulder
pad with his right arm 2
yards in the backfield. You
could see it clearly from the
top of the home bleachers in
real time, and you can
certainly see it clearly in the
film. The linesman was right
there looking right at it…and
didn’t throw the flag. The
flag-happy referee who made
the roughing call also had to
see it, it was right in front of
him too. Easy and obvious
holding call. But no flag.
Tracy escaped to the left
boundary out of bounds for a
gain of 3 and a crucial first
down. Instead of 3rd-15 from
the 32, it was 1rst-10 from the
17. Logan Kania and French
stopped Tracy after a gain of
1. French and Vogt brought
him down on the next play
after a gain of 4. 3rd-5 from
the 12. Myers got it an bulled
for 6 before French and Sayre
made the stop. 1rst and goal
from the 6 with a minute to
play. Bob Anderson brought
down Myers after a gain of
4. Then with 38 seconds to
play, Tracy took it off right
tackle for the score. They
needed 2 to tie. Tracy got it
again, this time slicing off
left tackle, and he got in.
17-17 game.
Adams got it back and ran

Swain for 2 yards to send the
game to OT.

OT Tough loss to take as the Highlanders lost their starting QB and were unable to sustain any second half drives outside of the short field possession they cashed in on after the muffed
punt recovery. But their defense stepped up and still put them in position to win the game. The unfortunate officiating decisions on the roughing call, and then no-calling the obvious
Adams got it first, overtime rules, on the Lakeland 10. Garrett kept it for a 1 yard gain on first down. Collins carried for 3. Then Garrett's pass to Swain in the flat fell hold on Lakeland’s tying final drive in regulation was just enough to put the dagger in them. Credit Lakeland for hanging tough, but its pretty clear there is no way they could have beat
incomplete after Swain lost his footing. Ben Patton came on and booted a 23 yard field goal. 20-17 Adams. the Highlanders if Carter Farris played the whole game. The Eagles blocked great for their two talented backs Tracy and Myers, and were able to control the line of scrimmage when it
counted. Adams had 250 scrimmage yards, 205 on the ground and 45 though the air. Lakeland had 240 scrimmage yards; 225 on the ground, only 2 pass completions for 15 yards.
Lakelands turn from the Highlander 10. Tracy got the hand off going left. Rifenberg came on a weak side run blitz, dove at this feet in the backfield, but just missed him. Tracy Robbie Tracy finished with 28 carries for 110 yards and two TDs. Dakota Myers had 14 carries for 101 yards.
followed the lead block of Myers and his pulling guard into space around the left side and into the end zone to end the Highlander's season.
Junior Carter Farris rushed 7 times for 38 yards and completed 3 of 8 passes for 45 yards, all in the first half. He will recover and return as the best QB in the OAA Red next year.
Junior Twan Patritto carried 13 times for 102 yards and a touchdown and caught 3 passes for 45 yards. He will be back next year as well as the Highlanders biggest offensive yardage
threat. Senior Reece Collins carried 6 times for 28 yards. Senior Nico Jackson had 2 carries for 21 yards. Junior Maurice Swain Jr had 7 carries for 12 yards, he will be back and
expected to contribute heavily next year. Sophomore Nick Traficante carried twice for 5 yards, he has two more years under the Highlander lights. Senior Ryan Rifenberg led the
defense with 16 tackles in his last high school game, 4 of them for a loss. Senior Daniel French went out with 13 tackles of this own and a huge forced fumble. Junior Logan Sayre and
Senior Reed Vogt had 6 stops each. Patritto and Senior Cole Mitchell each had 5, and Senior Logan Kania, Senior Nick Kania, and Junior Tim Anderson all had 3 a piece.
Things just failed to fall in place for them on this night. You either win, or you learn. Another life lesson in a game chock full of them. This team left everything they had out of the field
every time they laced up their cleats for battle, and never failed to bring great pride to their school, their town, and their adoring fans. This 2018 team finished 6-4, but expected to win
every time they took the field. They were in position to win in the second half of every single game they played….in the best high school football conference in the state of Michigan.
They join the many teams that have come before them in a manner befitting the proud Highlander football tradition. Their Hard Work and the lessons they learned now pave the way for
the 2019 team, who will begin to add their own story to the Adams Football history books just 10 short months from now.

Photos By Amy Patton and Dave McCoy Game Reports and Layout by Ray Rifenberg

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Rochester Adams Highlanders

2018 Football Game Reports with Photos

Photos By Amy Patton and Dave McCoy

Page 1 | 2018 Highlander Football | Hard Work Rochester Rochester | Page 2

Page 3 | 2018 Highlander Football | Hard Work Rochester Rochester | Page 4

The Highlanders got a 15 yard return

1st-10 Adams from their 20, 3:41 left in

Page 5 | 2018 Highlander Football | Hard Work Rochester Rochester | Page 6

Adams started their last drive of the

Page 7 | 2018 Highlander Football | Hard Work Rochester Rochester | Page 8

Page 9 | 2018 Highlander Football | Hard Work Rochester Rochester | Page 10

Bloomfield Hills mishandled the

The Highlanders started at their 38 with 34.7 seconds to play in

Blackhawks got it back on their 20. Incomplete on a stop

Lake Orion started with the ball.

Highlander ball on their own

Lake Orion was flagged for a

1st-10 from the Highlander 34.

Colin Weeks returned the kickoff 24

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1st-10 from the Highlander 14, Cole

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Page 37 | 2018 Highlander Football | Hard Work Oxford Oxford | Page 38

The Highlander defense would have to step up as Oxford

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It took one play for West

West Bloomfield got it back at their 38 and again threatened. A 16 yard

On the ensuing kickoff, Collin Weeks kept

West Bloomfield was able recover the onside kick,

The Highlanders out-gained the Lakers in rushing

For Adams, Twan Patritto again led the rushing

Page 53 | 2018 Highlander Football | Hard Work Harrison Harrison | Page 54

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Stoney Creek punted it away. 25 yard boot.

Adams would be turned away three-and-out

Highlanders turn on defense again, and for

Adams took over on a short field at their 31,

Patton’s kick was into the end zone, so

Highlander’s ball on the Cougar 48 yard line.

Cole Mitchell dropped Morris for a 3 yard

Page 77 | 2018 Highlander Football | Hard Work Lakeland Lakeland | Page 78

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Adams got it back and ran

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