Adams clinches 15th straight postseason appearance with shutout of Stoney Creek
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
ROCHESTER HILLS — Few schools in Michigan can bolster the type of streak that Rochester Adams has in prep football. The Highlanders clinched their 15th straight postseason appearance Friday night.
Behind the combination of Tony Annese and David Jagow, Adams rolled over host Rochester Stoney Creek, 35-0, in OAA White Division play, which gave the Highlanders their necessary sixth win of the season to qualify for the Division 2 playoffs.
With their string of playoff appearances dating back to 1997, Adams has not missed the postseason part in a decade and a half.
The game was also a Pink Out Fundraiser, as the players and community helped raise money for cancer research.
Annese scored all five touchdowns for Adams, proving that every time he touched the ball, it turned to gold. All five of his scores came on the ground. The Central Michigan-bound Annese scored two in the first quarter, two in the second quarter and one in the third and finished with 13 carries for 175 yards.
“He went in there and did what we needed him to do,” said Adams coach Tony Patritto. “We did a nice job running the football. Annese and David Jagow both had some nice carries.”
Annese, a quarterback and safety who rarely exits the field, received some breathing time when the Highlanders kicked off the running clock midway through the third quarter.
“We pulled out most of the starters at the time and just played reserves,” said Patritto. “We only needed to win the football game. We don’t want to risk injury.”
Jagow added 101 yards on 13 carries for Adams (6-3, 5-3), forming a nice 1-2 punch with Annese that the Cougars failed to stall.
Stoney Creek closed the season with eight straight losses, all league games to finish 1-8 overall and 0-8 in the division.
The Highlanders will learn their first-round date when the MHSAA releases its pairings for the playoffs Sunday night.
“I haven’t thought much about it, who we might play,” said Patritto. “I’ve heard talk about certain teams. Our focus was just winning this game to get into the playoffs. That was our concern.
“This will be our ninth playoff (appearance) that I’ve been a part of and I inherited a very strong program that had a nice streak going already,” added Patritto.
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Category: High School, Rochester Adams, Rochester Stoney Creek
