Nov. 7, 2009

Final Stats

ANGOLA, Ind. - The AC football team had a late chance to potentially score the game-winning touchdown in the Border Battle against Trine, but a fourth down pass was batted down dashing any hopes of a big win for the Bulldogs. Trine was holding on to a 21-16 lead in the fourth when Ben Houtteman blocked a Jeremy Howard field goal keeping the score within a touchdown.

Adrian took over the ball at their own 19 with 7:02 left and began their most impressive drive of the game. The Bulldogs rushed the ball five straight times and after an incompletion were faced with a fourth and three at their own 43. Justin Hemm avoided a sack and improvised with his feet before finding Joe Beehler for an eight-yard gain to move the chains. Adrian carried the ball six more times moving it to the Trine 26 before calling a timeout with 1:44 to play. Myke Johnson rushed for four yards on third and 10 setting up the final play. Hemm dropped back to pass and threw the ball towards the left sideline and Chris Eichman got a hand on it to give Trine their third straight win over the Bulldogs.

Trine led 7-0 after the first quarter as they took the opening kickoff and moved 45 yards in nine plays. Mario Brown took a pitch left for three yards to the end zone with 10:51 left in the opening quarter. Adrian began the second quarter with the ball at the Trine 19 and moved the ball down to the Trine four-yard line before going for a 21-yard Justin Warner field goal which cut the lead to 7-3 at the 11:30 mark.

Trine answered quickly with a touchdown as Eric Watt found Paul Curtis for a two-yard score on third and goal capping off a 55-yard, eight-play drive. The Bulldogs came right back as Beehler returned the kickoff to the Trine 40 setting up a short field. Johnson carried two times starting at the three-yard line and on his third carry took a quick pitch from Hemm and scored untouched to cut the lead to 14-10 at the 1:57 mark.

The momentum swung towards the visitors two plays after the touchdown as Watt tried a flare pass and Austin Fritz tipped the ball and intercepted it racing 57 yards down to the Trine 11. Two plays later, Hemm carried right end for a four-yard touchdown with 44 seconds left until halftime giving Adrian their first lead at 16-14.

Adrian went three-and-out to start the second half and punted to the Thunder. Trine started at their own 34 and used the passing game to move the ball to the Adrian 18. Curtis caught a 14-yard pass and Nick Leeman followed with a 21-yard grab and 15 yards were added on via a personal foul by Adrian. The Bulldogs forced a third and 16 but Watt made a great play with his legs and broke a couple of tackles before scoring a 24-yard touchdown which would prove to be the winning score.

Johnson had a season-high 109 yards on the ground and Hemm rushed for 59 yards on 12 carries. Hemm was also 6-of-13 passing for 52 yards. Mike McGee threw for 35 yards on 5-of-6 passing. Adrian gained 266 yards as Trine outgained them by 13 yards. The Bulldogs had the ball 13:10 more than the Thunder and ran 70 plays compared to 49 for Trine.

Danny Taylor led the defense with eight tackles and had three tackles for a loss including a three-yard sack. Chris Cook recorded six tackles and a pass breakup. Adrian is now 5-4 overall and will finish their season against Olivet on Nov. 14 at 6:00 p.m.