By DEAN JACKSON
WZBD.com
BUTLER — Adams Central secured a dominant 32-21 victory over Eastside on Friday, yet head coach Michael Mosser saw a different story unfold than the scoreboard suggested.
“We’re not clicking yet. I’m still trying to figure them out,” Mosser admitted. “They’re trying to figure out what works and doesn’t.”
The top-ranked Flying Jets (2-0) effectively controlled tempo and field position, relying on a potent ground attack that amassed 329 yards on 42 carries and five touchdowns. Vance Miller and Jamison Roach spearheaded the effort, combining for over 200 yards to finish drives, maintain possession, and chew up the clock.
Miller carried 19 times for 123 yards and two scores, including a 42-yard burst, while Roach added 109 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries, highlighted by a 33-yard run.
Mosser noted improvement from the previous week but stressed that inconsistency remains an issue.
“The big things—everybody notices. I focus on little things. And the little things are not there,” he explained. “To make big things happen, we have to concentrate and focus on little things. And that’s a work in progress.” He added, “Maybe fans just think it all happens magically. It’s not magical. It’s a lot of hard work and a lot of attention to detail.”
While the offense showed more cohesion than a week ago, Mosser felt it still lacked full execution. “It’s just not fully coming together,” he said. “And tonight I saw more of it. I didn’t see any of it offensively last week. So the change is a big, big move for us.” This ongoing development is partly because of the team learning and recovering from injuries. “We still have some injuries. We’re playing with more experience than we’ve had in the past. That causes some disconnections to happen.”
Eastside’s offense also found success on the ground, totaling 286 rushing yards on 43 attempts. Quarterback Job Richman led their charge with 192 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries, including a 22-yard long run.
Mosser highlighted a stalled second-quarter possession as a missed opportunity but noted the Jets’ ability to learn from it in the game’s last minutes. “We let the defense down at the end of the half, where we went 1-2-3 out,” Mosser recalled. “And that’s the stuff I’m talking about. At the end of the game, we marched down the field, and we didn’t do it at halftime.”
With 8:01 left in the fourth quarter, Jamieson Roach made a crucial interception, stepping in front of a pass intended for Jake Warstler. This play decisively halted an Eastside drive that had pushed 58 yards in 11 plays, reaching the 17-yard line just moments earlier.
Adams Central responded with an 18-play, 93-yard siege that consumed 6:24 off the fourth-quarter clock, effectively crushing any hopes of a Blazer comeback. Joey Everett capped the relentless drive with a six-yard run, making the score an official 32-21.
“They made a big step in growing up today as a team,” Mosser stated. “They responded to what I’ve talked about all week and on Monday after last week’s game. So I saw some significant improvement tonight, and that was a positive.” He concluded, “They listened. They’re doing better. They’re getting the things that they need to do. And it’s going to be a work in progress.”
Mosser emphasized the significance of the victory for both programs. “This is a hard-fought win against an excellent team,” he said. “It’s likely we face them again. They’re intersectional. We know them, and they know us. We respect them. They respect us. This is a great game for us, but it’s a big game that is significant for both programs.”
About the Author
