Sports
Coach Patritto and Highlanders Facing 'Unprecedented' Competition This Season
Adams Football opens the season at home against Clarkston on Friday.
At , the football program is not just a team, it's a family.
The Highlanders advanced to the playoffs last season with a 7-2 league record where they defeated Walled Lake Western 24-6 in the first round. Walled Lake Central to eliminate the team.
"The strength of the OAA White is unprecedented this year. Whoever wins our conference will be well-seasoned and ready to go in the playoffs," Adams head coach Tony Patritto said.
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“Our primary goal is to be as good as we can be for Clarkston and continue to improve from there,” Patritto said.
The Highlanders open the season at home against Clarkston at 7 p.m. Friday.
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“We have to decide who our playmakers are going to be and who’s going to play against Clarkston,” Patritto said.
The Highlanders roster includes 35 players with only four returning starters — one on offense and three on defense. They’ve had as many as 77 players in the past.
"Our numbers are down in football which is different, but they will be just as competitive as they always are," Adams athletic director Jason Rapp said.
"They're well-coached so the kids that are here will be excited, prepared and ready to play."
Key offensive losses this year: Andrew Hammet at quarterback, Tony Annese at running back and Edward Williams at wide receiver.
“We have a lot of question marks at positions with a lot of competition, so it’s a great opportunity for the kids,” Patritto said.
“You coach the guys you have to be competitive while trying to have as much fun as you can."
Adams has a chance of playing longtime rival Rochester in Week 8. In the past few years, the rivalry got taken off the schedule due to Rochester moving into the OAA Red Division.
"My focus is on Clarkston, and if I do anything other than that we'll get beat," Patritto said. "Wherever the cards lie in Week 8, we'll show up to play and go from there."
Rapp said all of Adams' sports will be competitive.
"That’s kind of our hallmark," Rapp said.
"When you play Adams you know you’ll face off against well-coached competition, that’s not going to be any different this year than it has been in the past, whether it’s football or any other sport," Rapp said.
For a complete game schedule and team roster, see the on Rochester Patch.
This is one of a series of high school football previews planned for Rochester Patch this week.
