ROCHESTER ADAMS PREVIEW: Highlanders must reload to keep streak alive

ON THE RUN: Rochester Adams senior Dave Jagow will be one of the featured running backs in the Highlanders' backfield this season. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

ROCHESTER HILLS — Few football programs have been able to match Rochester Adams in recent times. The Highlanders have been nothing short of a model of consistency.

For 14 straight years, Adams has reached the postseason. There have been four teams that have advanced to at least the Final Four and one state championship team in that span. That state title came in 2003.

Can the Highlanders make it 15 straight years with a postseason berth? Tony Patritto, who enters his ninth season as head coach, believes it is possible, but concedes that it must be done with virtually a new team this season.

There is only one returning starter back on offense and two on defense. There are also just 34 players on varsity, the school’s smallest roster since the early 1970s.

“We don’t have a lot of bodies, so we can’t afford to be hit by the injury bug,” admitted Patritto, whose team finished 8-3 last season, including 5-2 in the OAA White Division and in third place. “If we lose guys to injury, then we could be in trouble. But we have some very good athletes and we have tradition. These guys know what it takes to win and succeed and what it takes to reach the playoffs. They know what is expected of them.”

At 14 straight winning seasons, that is the longest active streak in Oakland County. Oxford had its streak snapped at 28 straight winning campaigns last autumn.

Adams is blessed with the leadership capabilities of quarterback/receiver Tony Annese (6-2, 210). Transferring over from Hartland last summer, Annese recently committed to Division I Central Michigan University and is one of Oakland County’s top players. He shared the quarterback duties with Andrew Hammett last season but will be the No. 1 starter this season.

“I think he’s one of the best in the state,” beamed Patritto. “We have a lot of new starters. Who better to have leading your team than a player like him? He’s a great athlete and leader and we can use him all over.”

Annese is a QB with the ability to both pass and run and he has some talented players at his disposal, both in the air and on the ground. Senior Kyle Pelayo (6-1, 185) is a third-year varsity veteran at receiver, while fellow senior WR Adam Boike (5-10, 160), a three-sport athlete, is back to health after suffering a leg injury during the track season. Another sure-handed receiver is senior Alex Borglin (6-1, 160), who missed the first week of training camp playing baseball overseas.

In the backfield, senior Dave Jagow (5-10, 180) is a powerful fullback and is flanked by junior Kyle Niswonger (6-0, 200), junior Ben Hart (5-10, 180) and sophomore Matt Sokol (6-5, 200), who will see time at several positions this season. Sokol is a backup QB, tight-end, running back and even plays defensively as a linebacker.

“We have some good, talented kids, just not a lot of varsity, starting experience,” said Patritto. “But I am confident that they can get the job done.

“I really like the versatility of Sokol,” continued Patritto. “I think he is going to be a very good football player here.”

Annese and Sokol are two of five quarterbacks on varsity, so the Highlanders will have options to use Annese and Sokol in a variety of ways if needed.

Senior Mike Fisher (6-1, 205) and junior Matt Cobb (6-2, 225) will be space eaters on the offensive line, while senior Alex Chambrey (6-1, 220) will snap the ball at center. He missed last season due to injury. Senior Nathaniel Bristow (6-0, 210) will also play on the offensive line.

“We’re not very big, but we are athletic,” offered Patritto.

Having only 34 players, several athletes will play both ways. Fisher, Bristow and Sokol will lead the linebackers unit, while Cobb and Chambrey will anchor the defensive line.

MOVING TO HIS RIGHT: Versatile Rochester Adams senior Tony Annese will be used at multiple positions again this season, including the No. 1 quarterback spot. File Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotograpphy.com

Annese is a talented free safety, a position he will play in college, and he will lead the secondary. Pelayo, Borglin and senior Jack Twitty (6-2, 170) will also play in the defensive backfield with Twitty also projected to gain some carries as a running back.

There are several newcomers who hope to land starting jobs after playing on the junior-varsity or freshmen teams last season.

“In all of my years of coaching, I have always used guys on both sides of the football,” said Patritto. “If they are athletic, then we can use them. But we must remain healthy.”

With the Highlanders’ season opener against Clarkston on Aug. 26 fast-approaching, Patritto is putting his troops through a crash course to prepare themselves for the state-ranked Wolves in Week 1 and the grueling, upcoming season.

“I always remind them that it is not easy, but if you are dedicated and work hard, then you can have some success,” said Patritto, whose team lost in the Division 2 district finals last season to eventual state semifinalist Walled Lake Central, 14-13. “We have made the playoffs each year I’ve been here and we’ve been to the Final Four a total of four times and the state finals once. We can have some success again this year if everybody steps up and does their part.

“We are in a very tough league, so these guys are going to have to step up in a hurry,” continued the coach. “Farmington Harrison is absolutely loaded. Southfield has athletes, Oxford should be much better and (Southfield) Lathrup has some great athletes as well. Then there’s Oak Park with a hall of fame coach. I’m sure they will turn it around from last year. There won’t be any easy games. We’re going to have to be prepared and get better each week.”

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Tags: high school football, OAA football, prep football, Rcoehster Adams Football, Rochester Adams Football Preview 2011

Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Rochester Adams