FOOTBALL: Adams rolls over Rochester for 23rd straight time
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
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ROCHESTER HILLS — Rochester Adams still has Rochester’s number.
The Highlanders scored early, often and in a variety of ways in downing arch-rival Rochester, 60-24, in an OAA crossover contest Friday night — the season opener for both teams.
Adams, which defeated the Falcons for a 23rd straight time over a 24-year span — the two rivals did not play in 2011 — built an 11-0 lead just 3:32 into the contest and never trailed in recording the most points scored by one team in the storied rivalry now in its sixth decade.
“That’s the Adams way. We do have very good balance,” said Adams coach Tony Patritto. “It helps when you can get the early lead.”
The Highlanders rolled up 349 yards of offense, scored eight total touchdowns, recorded a fumble return for a score, two safeties a kickoff return, two passing TDs and rushed for four more touchdowns in the onslaught.
Adams took advantage of two safeties when Rochester snapped punts into the end zone which sandwiched by a kickoff return by freshman Parker Picot for an 11-0 lead with 8:28 still to go in the first quarter.
Rochester (0-1) stopped the bleeding thanks to an Camden Williams interception and 29-yard field goal five minutes later, only to see Adams counter with h a 1-yard touchdown run from senior Carter Ferris for an 18-3 advantage.
Both teams scored two more touchdowns in the second quarter.
The Highlanders added another 1-yard plunge from Ferris and Ferris hit senior Anthony Patritto for a 64-yard scoring toss, while Rochester senior Nick Stout had a 14-yard run and senior Peyton Youngblood connected with junior Andrew Hebekeuser on a 1-yard touchdown pass to bring the Falcons to within 32-17 at the break.
Adams poured it on in the second half, as the Highlanders scored on three straight drives and added another on a fumble recovery.
Ferris, who had not played since breaking his leg early in last year’s pre-district contest with White Lake Lakeland, found senior Nick Picot for a 26-yard dart, Patritto added a 3-yard run and sophomore Griffin Henke an 8-yard run. Adams’ final touchdown came when Henke recovered a fumble at the Rochester 3 and ran it into the end zone. Senior Derek Larson nailed all eight extra points for the Highlanders.
“We did some things that I liked. We were able to move the football and we (took advantage of their mistakes),” added Patritto.
Rochester scored a late touchdown on junior Andrew Koss 3-yard run.
“We made a lot of rookie mistakes, a lot of new guys,” said Rochester coach Erik Vernon. “We faced some adversity giving up those early points. We fought back and I thought we did a nice ob facing that adversity. We faced some more in the second half and we didn’t handle it well. We have a lot to work on to get better.”
Ferris finished 8-for-17 for 141 yards and his two passing touchdowns. Patritto had 85 rushing yards on 13 carries as part of the Highlanders’ balanced offense.
Youngblood was 10-for-20 passing for 103 yards for Rochester, which only had 37 yards on the ground. The Falcons have not defeated Adams since 1996 and have only recorded four wins over the Highlanders in 30 years (1990, 1992, 1993, 1996).
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