FOOTBALL: Harrison rallies past Stoney Creek
NOTE: Have photos or video of this event you would like to share with digital daily www.northoaklandsports.com?Email pertinent information to results@northoaklandsports.com or to Senior Editor Dan Stickradt at Dan.Stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
FOR MORE FOOTBALL COVERAGE: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Football&x=12&y=12
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
ROCHESTER HILLS — Alex Bolstrum made a sport switch this past year. He gave up soccer to concentrate on kicking for Farmington Harrison’s football team.
He still has his legs.
The sophomore booted the game-winning extra point Friday, as Harrison rallied for a 27-26 victory over host Rochester Stoney Creek in the OAA Crossover between the second place teams in the OAA White Division and OAA Red Division.
Bolstrum’s winning boot came with only nine seconds left and wends Harrison into the postseason with an 8-1 record. Stoney Creek finishes the regular season with a 6-3 record.
“I wasn’t really nervous. I’ve kicked a whole bunch of extra points for the varsity and junior varsity this season,” admitted Bolstrum. “I knew I could do it.”
Trailing 26-20 inside 1:18 left in the contest, Stoney Creek opted to squib kick it and Harrison’s Kieran Ronan returned the ball to the Hawks’ 39 yard line. Six plays later, Quinton Jackson hauled in a 9-yard TD strike from quarterback Jevon Shaw with nine seconds left to tie the contest.
That set the table for Bolstrum, who calmly split the uprights on the game-winning play.
“We did it before against Oak Park. We came back and hit a game-winning field goal, taking only 45 seconds to score the winning points in that game,” said Harrison coach John Herrington. “We never gave up this time, too. The kids made it happen on that drive.”
Stoney Creek gambled on the kickoff and it back-fired. Instead of having Alex Schnurr place the ball in the end zone for a touchback, they opted for the short kick and the Hawks gained better field position at their own 39 on the game-winning drive.
“We did not want to kick it deep to (Quinton Jackson). We didn’t want to kick it a little short of the end zone and have (Jackson) return it,” offered Stoney Creek coach Brad Zube. “Their kid got a hold of the squib kick and made a nice play getting it back close to the 40. They have great athletes and they found a way to come back on us. To play that well against a John Herrington-coached team, I can’t complain, even though we lost the game.”
Stoney Creek trailed Harrison 20-10 at the half and the game remained with that score until midway through the fourth quarter, where the Cougars scored 16 straight points.
Justin Allor connected with Schnurr for a 36-yard heave and six points, although the conversion failed leaving the Cougars in a 20-16 hole with 6:20 remaining.
On Stoney Creek’s next drive, Allor’s 13-yard pass to Schnurr at the Harrison 36 was quickly turned into a hook-and-ladder play that saw Joe Cox catch the lateral toss and race 36 yards for the score. Schnurr’s extra point gave the Cougars a 23-20 advantage with 1:53 remaining.
Stoney Creek’s Ryan Andrusz picked off a Harrison pass and returned it to the Hawks’14 yard line with 1:48 left. Four plays later the Cougars were able to convert again, this time with Schnurr booting a 34-yard field goal with 1:22 remaining for a 26-20 lead.
The Cougars could not hold on to the lead and momentum.
“I thought we did a great job on them defensively in the second half,” said Zube. “I know Harrison was playing a little conservative, but not on their last drive. They were able to move it downfield and score in a hurry. Credit to them for getting the ball to the right guys (down the stretch).”
The two teams combined for five turnovers in the first half alone and six in the game total, although Harrison was still able to build its 10-point halftime lead.
Harrison took advantage of a Stoney Creek fumble at the Cougars’ 44 on its first drive and three plays later, Lorenzo Collins broke free for a 34-yard touchdown sprint with 10:37 left in the opening frame for a 7-0 lead.
Stoney Creek answered with a seven-play, 80-yard drive capped by Cox’s 6-yard run around left with 6:04 remaining in the first period.
Taking advantage of a Harrison turnover, the Cougars took the lead with 2:00 left in the first quarter when Sean Scullen booted a 33-yard field goal for a 10-7 advantage.
Harrison scored only 17 seconds later on Collins’ 18-yard run. The play was set up by Shaw’s 61-yard kickoff return down to the Cougars’ 18.
Harrison tacked on another score before halftime, this time with Collins busting loose for a 21-yard touchdown run with 6:51 to play in the second quarter.
“I thought we did a nice job coming back on them,” said Herrington. “I don’t think my play-calling was all that good in the second half and Stoney Creek was able to make some nice plays and take the lead on us. We found a way in the end. This is the best time of the year. This is a nice (confidence) boost heading into the playoffs.”
Collins finished with 155 yards on 22 carries for Harrsion, while Shaw was 8-for-20 passing for 148 yards.
Allor was 15-for-27 passing for 234 yards, while Scullen had four grabs for 91 yards and Schnurr added three grabs for 59 yards for Stoney Creek.
To submit information to www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. To advertise, e-mail advertising@northoaklandsports.com . Follow us on Twitter @LocalSportsFans and more than a dozen other social media networks.
FOR MORE FOOTBALL COVERAGE: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Football&x=12&y=12
Have photos or video of this event that you wish to share? E-mail pertinent information to www.northoaklandsports.com Senior Editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or e-mail results@northoaklandsports.com
Category: Featured Articles, Football, High School, High School (M-Z), Most Recently Updated Stories, Prep Wraps, Rochester Stoney Creek, Sport, Top Stories, Uncategorized
