Rochester, MI — Game Summary Adams v. Stoney Creek 10/14/2021. Adams’ Freshmen Football team hosted the Stoney Creek Cougar Freshmen team for their 8th contest of the year. The afternoon started off unseasonably warm and dry with the Highlander’s kicking off to the visiting Cougars. Battershell’s squib kick was fielded at the Cougar’s 19 yard line. The Cougar offense turned back the pages of their offensive playbook back to 1882 - starting their O with a full house “T” formation. (Claimed to be invented by Walter Camp). The Cougars started their methodic drive on a QB dive up the middle for 5 yards-collapsed by the middle of Adam’s D. A jet sweep was stopped by Humbert for no gain, assisted by a host of Highlander defenders. A counter dive, stopped from behind by Kawa, and assisted by Battershell for gain of 3 led to 4th down. The Cougars made a bold move, going for the first down on another dive play - converting and moving the chains. Sacco tripped up the back for a short gain. Full house counter for another short gain stopped by Tillotson and Humbert, bringing up a 3rd and 3 from the Stoney 43 yard line. Another QB dive converted the first down. Back to a counter, stopped by Offer and Humbert for 3 yards followed by another counter for 4 yards, stopped by a clan of Highlanders. Another QB dive - and the Cougar Offensive line pushed through to convert another first down into Highlander territory at the 45. A lead sweep was held to a couple yard gain by Offer. Another QB dive - stopped by Tsamaidis for a 2 yard gain. Stoney ran a counter stopped by Humbert and Tillotson bringing up 4th and 2. The Cougar QB found a soft spot in the D and squeezed through converting a first down keeping the drive alive. From the Adams 34, a lead sweep was brought down by Northcutt for 3 yard gain. A counter to the left, stopped by Humbert, and finished off by Kawa for a 2 yard gain. A counter to the right, brought down by Tillotson and Battershell leads to another 4th down and 2. The Cougar coach called once more for the QB dive, it looked as if the Highlander D had stopped the QB’s momentum, but he slipped out of the pile, sneaking across before he was brought down by Kawa. Stoney tried to run outside on a lead, but Northcutt chopped the back down for short gain. Tillotson and Sacco combined to stop a second down counter, and before third down was snapped, the clock ran out of the first quarter. Cougars still in possession, switching field sides to start the 2nd quarter. Adams 0 - Stoney Creek 0 at the end of the 1st quarter. The second quarter began with the Cougars continuing the drive from the Adams 20 yard line with a 3rd and 7. A controversial penalty occurred, as a Cougar running back moved prior to the snap - but Adams was called for the penalty, given a more makable 3rd and 2 to the Cougars. I bet you could guess the play the Cougars ran - yes, another QB dive from the ancient T formation, converting the 3rd down. Trying to run outside, a sweep was stuffed by Sacco and Minous for no gain. A counter gashed the Adam’s D for 6 yards. Another counter stopped by the Adams D brought up a 4th and 2 from the Adams 6 yard line. Another counter led to a first and goal from the 3. Going to a counter again, the Adams D held for no gain. On second down, the Cougars on another counter - pushed in for the score. The point after was good, and Stoney Freshmen take the lead 6 - 0 over the Highlanders with 8:25 left in the first half. Tillotson received the Cougar squib kick at the 15, running it back to the 30 where he was brought down to start the Highlander’s first offensive possession. Humbert takes the pitch left running for 8 yards. A dive left, converts for the first as Humbert gains another 5 yards. A trap right, and Humbert runs for another 1st down after a 12 yard gain. Sacco gained 8 yards on a jet sweep right. Battershell on a counter trap converts another first after a 6 yard gain. Humbert takes a dive, running like a bull for 6 more yards. Tillotson pulls the ball on a dive option, confusing the Cougar D, keeping the ball running all the way to a first and goal at the 9 after the 16 yard gain. Humbert caps off the series with a dive from the 9, rushing in uncontested into the end zone. Battershell’s point after attempt is good. Adams 7 - Stoney Creek 7, with 3:48 left in the first half. A procedural penalty on the kickoff, has the Cougars starting at their 35 yard line. The Cougars began in a shotgun formation with 2 receivers split right. The dive back was met for a loss by Tsamaidis and Kawa, bringing up 2nd and long. The Stoney QB’s pass was caught by the wingback for a gain of 6, brought down by Battershell. Humbert and Sacco caught the back for a short gain on a lead dive. A fourth and 3 at the Cougar’s 42, guess what play is run…? Another QB dive from the T. The push of the Cougar line was too much for the Highlanders, allowing another 4th down conversion. Kawa stopped the first down lead dive for no gain, and on 2nd down, another pass attempt was incomplete. 3rd and 10, Adams calls a timeout with 1:30 left in the half. The 3rd down sweep to the right looked like it was about to break for the conversion, but Humbert brought out the hammer - and nailed the runner 4 yards short of the marker. 4th down - T formation, we all know what is next, but this time the Adams D holds the QB dive for no gain! Adams takes over on downs at their 46 with 0:41 left in the half. Tillotson’s pass attempt was just tipped off course by the Cougar defensive back, falling just short of Dempster’s outstretched hands. Another drop back by Tillotson, he was knocked back by the Cougars for a loss, and 3rd down. Tillotson downed the ball and stopped the clock, bring up a 4th down attempt. The Highlanders were not resting, and attempted another deep pass attempt, but Tillotson was forced to scramble, ending the first half. Adams 7 - Stoney Creek 7. The second half began under monsoon like conditions. Rain was coming down heavy and wind gusts were swirling. The Highlanders received the kickoff at their 15. Tillotson sprinted up the sideline before he was knocked out of bounds at the 42 yard line. The first play was stopped with the aid of the rain, Humbert was able to recover his fumble for no gain. A second down read option looked promising as the pitch back gained 7 yards, however the refs dropped a yellow hankie. Holding brought the ball back to the Adams’ 30 yard line for a repeat 2nd down. Another loss on 2nd on the QB keeper led to a long 3rd down attempt. The rain continued to pound the field, and on 3rd and 25, the quick pitch to Humbert was successful as he weaved through defenders for the first down. The gain of 39 yards was Adams biggest offensive play of the day. Sacco gained 8 on the counter right, but on second down, a false start brought the ball back to the 32 yard line. A fumbled snap was recovered by Tillotson, but created a 3rd and long from the 35. Sacco was held up on 3rd down for no gain, leading to a fourth down and long attempt. The pitch sweep to Humbert was held short at the 27 of Stoney - Turing the ball over on downs. The Cougar’s took over for their first possession of the 2nd half with 6:00 in the 3rd quarter while rain continued to pour. Stoney started in a shotgun set. The snap went through the QB’s legs and dribbled to the 25 yard line, recovered by the QB - pressured by Kawa and Northcutt. A second down dive was swallowed up by the linebacking core of Humbert, Offer and Battershell for no gain. On 3rd and long, the Cougars tried a jet sweep left, but Tsamaidis busted up the play for a loss of 5. On 4th and a country mile, the Cougars had a delay of game, backing them up to their 5 yard line. The punt was nearly blocked - but got out of the end zone where Tillotson caught the ball at the Cougars 36 yard line. Adams 2nd possession of the half started with a pitch sweep. Humbert gained 14 on the run into Cougars’ territory. Humbert took a dive for 4 more yards, Tillotson optioned and kept the ball for another short gain, leading to a 3rd and 2 at the 9 yard line. On 3rd down, Humbert took a pitch sweep left into the end zone for a touch down. Battershells’ point after is good. With 1:09 in the 3rd quarter, Adams takes the lead 14 - Stoney Creek 7. Battershell’s kickoff rolled through the end zone for a touch back, and Stoney started on their 20 yard line, back in the T formation. Second half adjustments by Adams’ coaching Staff - led to a first down dive for no gain. A lead dive on 2nd down led to a short gain of 1 as Battershell tackled the back, ending the 3rd quarter. The 4th quarter began with another run for no gain, as the back was brought down by Battershell once more. The Cougar punted on 4th down from their 20 yard line, just getting the punt through the Highlanders pressure. Adams took over at their 43 yard line with 11:00 in the 4th. Tillotson began the drive with a QB option keeper, running around the right side, pulling defenders across the down marker for a 15 yard gain. The pitch to Humbert was stretched out for no gain. Tillotson took the dive for another 7 yards. Another Adams penalty - false start - brought the ball back to the 25 yard line. After an Adam’s time out, Humber took a pitch sweep to the 16 for another 1st down. Battershell took a counter from the 11 all the way in - untouched for a touchdown. Despite the pouring rain, Battershell was able tom make the point after. Adams 21 - Stoney Creek 7, with 6:06 left in the game. Battershell squibbed the kickoff where it was downed at the Stoney Creek 25. A jet sweep left was cut down by Northcutt for a 5 yard gain. A Jett option QB keep was stopped by Sacco at the first down marker. Another Jett sweep was stopped for a loss of 2 yards by Kania. A jet sweep to the left was brought down by Tillotson for a loss of 1 more yard. On 3rd and 13, a swing pass was attempted by the Cougar QB, unable to connect - bringing up 4th down. The Cougar punter was able to just get the punt off, caught by Tillotson at the Adams 35 yard line. Tillotson initially bobbled the ball in the down pour, but after gaining control, he slipped pass the initial runners, and darted up field. Weaving in and out of the defenders, he was brought down at the Stoney 5 yard line for a first and goal. The rains were slamming and the wind was swirling. Adams O made 2 additional attempts to punch the ball in, but let the clock wind down to end the game. The FInal Score: Adams 21 - Stoney Creek 7, taking the Highlander Freshmen to 7-1 on the season.