Athens holds off Rochester to move to 4-1 for first time since 1996
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
ROCHESTER HILLS — Friday was far from a thing of beauty for Troy Athens. Yet it was another stepping stone for a team that has not reached the postseason since 2004.
The Red Hawks moved to 4-1 for the first time since the 1996 season by tripping up host Rochester, 21-13, in a key OAA Red Division football game. Athens is now two wins away from a postseason berth, while injury-plagued Rochester dropped its fourth straight game and out of playoff contention.
“We got by. It wasn’t a pretty game by any stretch,” admitted third-year Athens coach Josh Heppner. “We had way too many turnovers and made some mistakes. But we found a way to win when we didn’t play that good of a football game.
CLOSING THE GAP: Troy Athens' Kento Mori (right) pressures Rochester quarterback John Doroshewitz during Friday's OAA Red Division clash. Photo by Larry McKee | L McKee Photography, www.lmckeephotography.com
“Our defense stepped up and made eight big turnovers. That was a major difference in the game,” said Heppner. “We still didn’t have our best back, Kris Gervin. He’s out with an injury. But Lonnie Bolden and Sam Haskell have both been amazing. They have stepped their games to lead us.”
Haskell finished with 102 yards on 13 carries, Bolden had seven rushes for 63 yards, and Lonnie Jaynes had 12 carries for 54 yards. Quarterback Ben Bartnowak was 9-for-17 passing for 133 yards for Athens.
Rochester was still missing the services of running back Cody Devoe, last year’s leading rusher who has now missed nearly three straight games with a shoulder injury. Several other injuries and suspensions have killed the Falcons, who entered the season with high hopes after reaching the postseason last season for the first time since 1999.
Still, Rochester scored first when T.J. Dean, who missed last week’s game against Pontiac, hauled in a 31-yard scoring toss from backup quarterback John Doroshewitz.
That lead didn’t last for long. Athens (4-1, 3-1) scored three straight touchdowns, two in the second quarter to build a 14-7 advantage and another in the third frame for a 21-7 lead.
Haskell was able to knot the score at 7-7 when he dashed to the goal line from 41 yards out with 11:45 left in the second quarter. Bolden put Athens ahead for good 42 seconds before halftime when he caught a 21-yard pass from Bartnowak.
In the third frame, Bolden struck again with 10:29 remaining in the quarter, this time hauling in a 59-yard heave from Bartnowak.
Kyle Wink hauled in a 32-yard touchdown pass from Doroshewitz with 6:45 to play in the fourth frame. The kick failed and the Falcons could not convert again.
ON THE MOVE: Rochester's TJ Dean carries the ball after the catch during Friday's contest against Troy Athens. Photo By Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
“We had a lot of drives that were killed by penalties. But our defense played great, holding them to 13 points and coming up with all of those picks,” said Heppner. “We made the plays at the right time.”
Haskell was one of five Red Hawks with six tackles, while he also had two interceptions. Bolden, Jaynes and Bartnowak also had picks for Athens. Matt Fitzpatrick recovered a fumble for the Red Hawks.
“We have a lot of work to do,” said Heppner, whose team staggered to a 3-6 record a year ago. “We have got to eliminate all of those penalties.”
James Ward had 184 yards on 25 carries for Rochester, which out-gained the Red Hawks 387-368 with total yards offense. Doroshewitz added 12 carries for 84 yards and was 8-for-20 for 144 yards but threw four interceptions. Dean had six catches for 91 yards.
Kurt Apostol had 13 tackles and Jack Glancy recovered a fumble in a losing effort for Rochester, which had two quarterbacks combined for six interceptions. The Falcons also fumbled the ball away once and even had a 37-yard field-goal attempt by Doroshewitz blocked.
Three times Rochester got inside the Athens 30, including once inside the Red Hawks’ 15 in the fourth quarter, but failed to cash in on those opportunities.
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Category: High School, Rochester, Troy Athens
