Recap
Oak Park, MI — Due to a Hudl malfunction, first-half game film is unavailable. After a defensive battle and two scoreless quarters, our game summary starts with the second half. Adams 0 – Oak Park 0
Oak Park kicks off to start the third quarter. The Highlanders get the spark they needed from Damarcus Rouse, with a 60-yard return out to the 25-yard line. Quarterback Nick Paterra keeps the ball for first and second picking up five yards. A two-yard gain by Marco DiCresce sets up a field goal attempt on fourth and three. Luke Stockoski with the snap and Paterra with the hold … Colin Timko kicks a 37-yard field goal to put Adams on the board. Adams 3 – Oak Park 0
With 9:40 left in the third, Timko booms the kickoff to the endzone for a touch back. Strong tackles are made by Stockoski and Tait Picot, and a quarterback keeper is stopped by Hassan Murray for a gain of only two yards. An Oak Park penalty moves the Knights back deeper into their own territory, bringing up second and long. Oak Park completes a 10-yard pass with Paterra on the tackle. A holding call brings up third and 23, but Oak Park converts with a long pass play and a tackle by Stockoski and Griffin Henke. With first and ten from the 42-yard line, there is a big stop by Tait Picot and Henke for no gain. Picot again makes the stop on second down with help from Stockoski. With a four-yard run, Oak Park has a first down following a tackle by Henke. Broder Kawa manages a tackle for loss, bringing up second down and 13 to go. The second-down run picks up four yards but is stopped by DiCresce and Picot at the 29-yard line. On the third-down pass attempt, the Oak Park quarterback is sacked by DiCresce for a loss of nine yards. The Knights convert on fourth down with a long pass, bringing the ball to the 8-yard line, and setting up first and goal.
Here, the Highlanders set up for a goal-line stance that would change the momentum of the game. A first-down run is stopped by Paterra and Picot after a gain of five. The second-down run is stopped for no gain by Alex DeGrieck and Picot. And the third-down run is stopped by Rocco Orsini after a 2.5-yard gain. With fourth and goal from inside the 1-yard line, the third quarter ends.
A key play starts the fourth quarter. The Highlanders keep Oak Park out the end zone when the QB bobbles the snap on the QB keeper.
Momentum from the goal-line stand would set up the drive of the game for the Highlanders, starting at their own 2-yard line, with 98 yards to go. Henke gains two on the first down run; DiCresce picks up 10 for a first down from the 14-yard line; and Paterra is tackled for a short loss. On second and 11, DiCresce picks up 12 yards with great blocks from Joey Shallow and Orsini, bringing up a Highlanders first down from their own 25.
Paterra gains five yards and another tough 6-yard gain follows from Henke, bringing up first and ten from the 36. Paterra’s first-down pass is complete to Max Cibor for a gain of nine. Cibor stays in bounds and keeps the clock ticking. On second and one, Paterra pushes ahead for a 6-yard run and a Highlanders first down, with the ball at the 50-yard line, and the game clock down to 7:06. DiCresce runs the ball for a gain of 4 on first down. On second and six, Paterra’s pass to Shallow is incomplete, bringing up third and six. Henke pushes the ball up the middle for a 6-yard gain and a Highlanders first down.
Paterra keeps the ball, spinning his way to a four-yard gain, but he is stopped for a short loss on second down. A short gain from DiCresce sets up a pivotal fourth down and six from the Knights 36-yard line. The Highlanders pick up a huge first down on a roll out pass from Paterra to Brady Prieskorn for a nine-yard gain, giving Adams first and ten from the 27-yard line.
With the game clock down to 3:30, Henke goes up the middle for five yards; Paterra keeps it for a gain of four; and it’s third and long from the 18-yard line. The clock keeps ticking and the Highlanders call time out with the game clock down to 1:36. On third down, Henke runs it up the middle to for a gain of five and a first down at the 14-yard line for Adams. Henke goes up the middle again, this time for four yards. Oak Park calls time out with 55 second left in the game.
The Highlanders face second and six from the 10-yard line. Henke spins away from the first contact and scores on a 10-yard run. TOUCHDOWN Highlanders! The extra kick by Timko is good. Adams 10 – Oak Park 0
The scoring drive lasted more than 14 minutes with credit to DeGrieck, Andrew Rolfs, Nick Stokan, Tobicyzk and Orsini doing their jobs on the line.
With 50 seconds left in the game, Timko’s kick is downed by Oak Park at the 42-yard line. A first-down pass is complete for a 20-yard gain, tackled by Rouse. Another first-down pass brings the ball to the 28. Oak Park completes a deep pass to the end zone for a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt is no good as the handoff is fumbled and recovered by DiCresce. Adams 10 – Oak Park 6
With 20 seconds left in the game and an onside kick attempt, Oak Park touches the ball before it goes 10 yards. Highlanders stand in victory formation and Paterra takes a knee to end the game.
Final score: Adams 10 – Oak Park 6
Touchdown: Griffin Henke
Field goal: Colin Timko