DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
South Adams jumped out to a 21-0 lead Friday night in the first half and held on for a memorable and meaningful win in high school football over rival Adams Central, breaking a long streak of wins against ACAC opponents.
The 21-16 loss snaps a run of 38 straight wins against teams in the ACAC for the Jets, going all the way back to the last win by South Adams in the COVID season.
The Starfires simply came out ready to play, hungry for early scores. They took the opening kickoff (a touchback by Braylen Cowans) and marched down the field on a 13-play drive, culminating in a 10-yard touchdown catch by Wes Summersett, his third of the drive.
Adams Central responded with a long drive of their own, but Jamison Roach’s pass on fourth and goal from the three was picked off by Blake Hoffman, proving to be a huge turning point in the game, because on the very next play, Baumer hit Jax Wanner for a 78-yard score.
What was supposed to be a 7-7 dogfight was suddenly a 14-0 hole for the Jets in a matter of two plays.
Another 13-play drive put Adams Central in the red zone, but a fumble, forced by Brian Fosnaugh, gave the Stars even more fuel for the growing fire.
The two teams traded punts as the second quarter winded down, but the Stars won the field position game with a big return by Jax Wanner and just two plays into the drive, Baumer connected with Nolan Colpaert for a 35-yard completion that sent the home crowd into a 21-0 frenzy.
The comeback for the Jets began immediately, with Roach connecting with Colston Pruitt for 36 yards and again for nine on the first two plays in the hurry-up offense, and with 17 seconds left in the half, Xander Schwartz put AC on the board with a 12-yard catch.
Facing a 14-point deficit in the second half, the Jets had the benefit of the ball to start the half and they marched down the field on a grueling, 15-play touchdown drive that was run-heavy.
The Jets gained more momentum when they halted a long South Adams response with an Ashton Yergler interception in the end zone. While the ensuing drive only led to one first down, the Jets benefited greatly from a costly South Adams mistake as the Stars fumbled th punt return and Griffin Bluhm recovered, giving the Jets a short field to tie the game (26-yard line).
The drive stalled, though, because of a sack and a 4th and long pass fell incomplete with ten minutes to play in the game, handing the Stars the ball back.
Neither team could find success offensively in the fourth quarter and outstanding defensive plays, including a fumble recovery by Summersett, handed the ball back and forth.
When Adams Central threw four straight incompletions at midfield, they handed the Stars the ball with 1:16 left. The Jets had two timeouts left and they used them both.
The game ended with coach Moser telling Patterson (and only Patterson) to take the handoff, run back 50 yards in the end zone and see out the clock. He did just that, conceding just two points for the safety.
“Plenty of respect for Adams Central and the way they played,” said coach Grant Moser, who noted that Adams Central QB Jamison Roach came to him and congratulated after the game. “That’s a lot of maturity for an 18-year-old kid.”
“We’re lacking consistency, and that is the part that is just so frustrating right now,” said Adams Central head coach Michael Mosser.
Mosser noted that Wes Summersett deserved as much praise as he could heap on the MAC-bound recruit for his defensive play.
“We can’t think, well, we are Adams Central and we just win games. The games don’t win themselves because of who we are. We have to make the plays and execute and right now I am just frustrated because there’s no easy solution.”
The Jets actually outgained the Stars, but the loss of 47 yards of offense on the final play deems that stat somewhat irrelevant. Patterson took the individual hit to seal the game and ended the night with 32 yards on eleven carries, along with six catches for 25 yards.
Summersett and Patterson both had seven solo tackles to lead the coach Steiner defense.
Baumer was 16 of 21 for 214 yards and all three touchdowns. He was sacked twice and had the one interception.
Godfrey Shoaf led the Jets with 89 yards rushing.
Roach was 4 of 13 for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Barrett Collier had three tackles for loss, a sack and six tackles.
Adams Central will return home in Week 7 to host Southern Wells, while the Starfires will go to Jay County.
Both teams will be rooting for Heritage to knock off Bluffton next week to shake up the ACAC standings.
SCORING SUMMARY
Quarter 1
5:41 – SA – Wes Summersett 10-yd catch from Zaden Baumer, Branson Rigby PAT good, 7-0
Quarter 2
10:58 – SA – Jax Wanner 89-yd catch from Zaden Baumer, Rigby PAT good, 14-0
1:06 – SA – Nolan Colpaert 35-yd catch from Zaden Baumer, Rigby PAT good, 21-0
:17 – AC – Xander Schwartz 12-yd catch from Jamison Roach, Braylen Cowans PAT good, 21-7
Quarter 3
5:57 – AC – Xander Schwartz 3-yd run, Cowans PAT good, 21-14
Quarter 4
0:00 – AC – South Adams runs ball back to end zone for Safety, 21-16
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