Zaden Baumer threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Starfires on a comeback to win in Week 7 at Jay County, 42-28.
Ranked #7 in 1A in Indiana and coming off an incredibly meaningful victory over Adams Central last week, the Starfires were primed with a hiccup.
A relieved coach Grant Moser said with a smile after the game, “We played great football at 8:30. Too bad the game started at 7 o’clock!”
The Starfires looked like they were going to need to answer the Patriots on every possession when the home team scored first, but coach Moser and his Stars looked ready for it. After a big 25-yard return by Sty Pyle, South Adams spread out five receivers on the first play and Zaden Baumer hit Will Patterson down the middle for a 62-yard bomb.
The Starfire coaches then called Wes Summersett’s name. The senior star made it 7-7 just 27 seconds after Leighton Brown had scored for the Patriots.
Brown and QB Brady Millspaugh then hit back with two more touchdowns for a 21-7 lead. Will Patterson provided the answer the Stars needed, though on the next drive with a touchdown to cut the lead in half. The score would not have been possible without two big plays by Summersett.
He converted on 4th & 1 to keep the drive alive, then took the snap himself with three teammates lined up to his right to get Patterson in position to score.
Summersett finished with four carries and 29 yards.
In the second half, South Adams scored four times in a matter of nine game minutes to turn a 21-14 deficit into a 42-28 victory.
The first step of that second-half comeback was a 69-yard rocket down the center of the field to Jax Wanner on the first play of a drive that tied the game at 21 by Baumer.
Summersett added another touchdown and Baumer threw three more scores to avoid the hiccup loss.
Instead, the Stars will face the two teams at the bottom of the ACAC in the final two regular season games before starting the postseason.
Wanner finished the game with 145 yards receiving and two scores.
Colton Sprunger had 108 yards on eight catches.
Leighton Brown had 184 yards rushing for the Patriots.
SCORING SUMMARY
Quarter One
9:13 – JC – Leighton Brown 15-yd run, Penrod PAT good, 0-7
8:46 – SA – Wes Summersett 10-yd run, Rigby PAT good, 7-7
3:01 – JC – Leighton Brown 2-yd run, Penrod PAT good, 7-14
Quarter Two
7:26 – JC – Rayden Sollars 4-yd catch from Brady Millspaugh, Penrod PAT good, 7-21
4:14 – SA – Will Patterson 3-yd run, Rigby PAT good, 14-21
Quarter Three
2:42 – SA – Jax Wanner 69-yd catch from Zaden Baumer, Rigby PAT good, 21-21
:33 – SA – Wes Summersett 4-yd run, Rigby PAT good, 28-21
Quarter Four
10:45 – JC – Brady Millspaugh 10-yd run, Penrod PAT Good, 28-28
9:36 – SA – Will Patterson 5-yd catch from Zaden Baumer, Rigby PAT good, 35-28
6:07 – SA – Jax Wanner 19-yd catch from Zaden Baumer, Rigby PAT good, 42-28
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