Troy 24
Adams 21

We had hoped that the first gloomy bus ride home from Clarkston would be the last of the season, but it wasn’t meant to be.  In a game dominated by the JV Highlander offense and defense, the Troy Colts managed to sneak away with a 21-24 victory with a touchdown in the closing minute of the game.  Adams nearly doubled the Colts output in total yardage (304-to-158) and led going into the fourth quarter 21-10.

The hard lesson here is that mistakes are the great equalizer.  Our Highlanders had four fumbles (2 lost), two interceptions and seven costly penalties.  Fewer mistakes and the outcome would have been different.

Adams opened the scoring early on a 79-yard touchdown pass from QB J.D. Osborn to Mike Monahan (4 receptions, 131 yards receiving, 1 touchdown and 5 carries for 31 yards.) 

Following an exchange and a Highlander fumble, Troy scored on an 18-yard run to make the score 7-7.  Adams answered on the following drive with solid runs by Greg Ornazian (5 rushes for 33 yards) and found the end zone when QB Osborn (9-of-21, 190 yards and 2 touchdowns) struck again with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Loscko run to make the score 14-7 Highlanders.

The Adams defense kept the Colts pinned during most of the first half.  Solid play by the Highlander defensive line and linebackers held the Colts to some short gains, but few first downs.  After the Highlander defense stuffed the Colts on a 4^th and 1 near mid-field, Marlon “Mo” Phillips (10-for-50, 1 TD) struck again on a powerful 19-yard touchdown run after being hit in the backfield.  Thomas Casey booted his third extra point to make the score 21-10.  The Highlanders stopped the Colts short of the end zone as the first half expired, only to have a personal foul penalty which allowed the Colts to kick a field goal to make the score 10-21 with 0:00 on the clock.

The third quarter was similar to the first.  The Highlander defense kept the Colts pinned, but turnovers prevented any scoring opportunities.  At the end of the third quarter, the Colts had run the ball 29 times for a total of 14 yards.  For the game, Troy would complete only 9-of-21 passes as the Highlander defensive backfield of Cory Colucci, Adam Smith, Monahan and Frank Moran stifled the Colt passing game.

Rob Reynolds played another solid game at linebacker, netting 8 tackles (2 for a loss, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble.)  Other leading tacklers were: Jake Heinrich (6 tackles, 2 for a loss), Andrew Gerback (5.5 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery) and Greg Ornazian (5 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, 2 forced fumbles and 1 sack.)  Alex Ko had another sack of the Colt QB.  Alan Peterson’s special teams play was outstanding including a blocked punt, 2 kickoff returns (15 yards) and 3 tackles, including a TD-saving tackle on an interception return.  Peterson also delivered several key blocks during the game, as Alan and his offensive line team mates enabled the Highlanders to gain 114 yards rushing on 38 carries.

After holding the Colts for three quarters, Troy finally scored on a fake field goal (touchdown pass) midway through the final period.  The Colts added to the score by converting a fake extra point (3-yard run) to make the score 18-21.  After stopping the Highlanders next drive, Troy reached the 6-yard line on a 4^th down with 0:48 seconds remaining.  A Highlander penalty shortened the distance to 4^th-and-3 and the Colts scored on a 3-yard TD run (missing the PAT kick) to make the score 21-24.

But the Highlanders weren’t finished.  QB Osborn completed passes to Alex Anderson, Mike Monahan and Adam Smith to take the ball down to the Colt 8-yard line in the closing seconds.

The legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, Vince Lombardi, actually believed that he never lost a game, he “simply ran out of time.”  The Highlanders ran out of time at Troy , dropping their record to 4 wins and 3 losses as we look forward to a challenging game at Farmington Hills Harrison next week – hopefully with less bad luck, fewer mistakes but the same relentless spirit displayed by our JV Highlanders.