Sports
In Shades of Pink, Adams Defeates Stoney Creek, Looks Toward Playoffs
The Highlanders beat the Cougars 35-0 in pink and white game.
is playoff-bound for the 15th-straight season following the team's final regular season game Friday night.
The Highlanders defeated 35-0; Tony Annese scored all five touchdowns in the Crosstown Charity Bowl game.
It's the 15th straight trip to the playoffs for the Highlanders.
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They all wore pink
"Because of what's going on tonight, I think the kids put in a lot of effort because of all the important people here," Adams coach Tony Patritto said.
The players, coaches, cheerleaders and bands were all wearing pink to support the New Day Foundation for Families. The Rochester-based foundation supports families and children who have lost a parent to cancer.
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The schools were able to put the crosstown rivalry aside for a greater cause, as seen with the cheer squads and bands performing together before the game for an epic collaboration that nearly overtook the entire football field.
Game highlights
Adams quarterback Annese rushed for all five touchdowns, the first coming on the third play from scrimmage.
The Highlander defense was able to stop the Cougar offense in its tracks for the most part, but the Cougars did have a few promising drives tarnished by penalties.
Camaraderie was put aside quickly after kickoff by a Highlander team hungry for a win to secure a playoff spot. Hard hits in the cold weather happened throughout the game, making it clear the Highlanders didn’t lose focus on what they needed to accomplish.
"We wanted to get this game going early, last year we were losing after the first half and were able to come back," Patritto said.
Patritto is in his ninth season at the Highlanders' helm — he's taken the team to the playoffs all of his years.
"Playoffs was the driving force, that has been the tradition here for 15 years in a row," he said. "That's a big burden on our players, especially the seniors, because they don't want to be the ones to mess that up."
The playoff season begins next week; Adams will find out its opponent and game time on Sunday night.
