FOOTBALL: Rochester Adams rallies past Stoney Creek to claim Rochester City Champs title
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
ROCHESTER HILLS — Rochester Adams found a way once again.
The Highlanders put together a pair of second-half scoring drives to upend host Rochester Stoney Creek, 21-14, in the regular season finale.
Adams (7-2) awaits to see if they will host a postseason game, while Stoney Creek will await impatiently for a hopeful at-large bid as a 5-4 team.
“It was more about execution in this game, especially in the second half,” said Adams head coach Tony Patritto. “What our defensive staff did at halftime with their adjustments is night and day. (Defensive) coach (Mark) McFarland is so smart and gets those guys to play. We executed on our end and all of our guys up front made the plays. We put together those two (scoring) drives to come back.”
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Since Stoney Creek opened its doors in 2002, Adams has lost to the Cougars only once (2014), while the Highlanders have not lost to Rochester in 23 years. Adams is 10-1 all-time against Stoney Creek and 35-14 against Rochester.
The Highlanders are again the undisputed Rochester City Champs for the 22nd time in 23 years.
Trailing 14-7 midway through the third quarter, the Highlanders put together an 11-play, 53-yard drive that ended with senior Anthony Patritto’s 3-yard run up the gut with 6:18 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Highlanders, the third-place finishers in the OAA Red Division, missed the potential go-ahead field goal with 38 ticks left in the third period.
Didn’t matter.
Adams stymied the Cougars (5-4) the whole second half, forcing Stoney Creek into two punts and two turnovers on downs in the third and fourth quarters.
The Highlanders got the ball back with 3:45 to play in the contest to set the stage for the go-ahead points. Adams scored on its second play in the drive when Anthony Patritto caught senior Carter Farris’ pass over the middle of the field and outraced the Stoney Creek defense to the corner pylon of the end zone with 3:23 to go for the 21-14 advantage. Senior Derek Larson made good on all three extra points.
Rochester Adams senior Anthony Patritto glides through traffic during the Highlanders’ clash with rival Rochester Stoney Creek. Courtesy Photo / Swart Photography
Stoney Creek turned the ball over on downs on its final drive that stalled on its own 41. The Cougars must wait until Sunday evening to see if they can nervously squeak into the Division 1 32-school postseason field.
“That is something that we can’t control now,” said second-year Stoney creek coach Nick Merlo. “We could have controlled that with a win tonight. I hope we can get in because I want to coach these seniors at least one more game. We made some nice strides as a program this year and hopefully we can sneak in.”
Adams opened the scoring on its first drive, chewing up over nine minutes of clock and scoring when Farris rolled to his right and fired a 7-yard pass to Patritto just over the goal line with 2:18 left in the first quarter.
Stoney Creek held a 92-77 edge on offense in the first half, and was able to put together two scoring drives of its own to grab a 14-7 lead at the half.
The first came with 7:11 remaining in the second quarter on senior Zach Denha’s 5-yard touchdown run. The second came with 1:17 to go before the break on Denha’s 11-yard TD sprint. Junior Lance Fogelberg connected on his second extra point for the seven-point advantage.
Stoney Creek was held to only 134 yards of offense in the game. Denha had 19 carries for 64 yards and junior Cam Buford was held in check with only 35 yards on 12 rushes.
Adams’ offensive and defensive lines dominated in the second half, led by Tim Anderson and Bob Anderson. The Highlanders limited Stoney Creek to only 42 yards of offense in the second half.
“Obviously, my hats off to Rochester Adams. They have some great players, made some plays in the second half and played great down the stretch,” said Merlo. “We just came up short, that is all.”
Patritto had 14 carries for 47 yards and had four catches for 81 yards and all three touchdown receptions. Farris finished 10-for-17 passing for 167 yards and no turnovers.
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