Stoney Creek ends eight-game skid with first district title

Stoney Creek High School football has reached a milestone that required three years of preparation and two prior postseason losses to overcome. On Friday night, the Cougars defeated the Rochester Adams Highlanders 21-7 to secure the first district title in the program's history.

The victory broke an eight-game head-to-head losing streak against Adams. The Highlanders had won all three previous playoff meetings between the two crosstown rivals, including the last two seasons. This result also avenged a regular-season loss where Stoney Creek had led in the fourth quarter before falling 23-14.

The first half favored Adams, which controlled the pace and field position. The Highlanders took a 7-0 lead after a 14-play drive that consumed over nine minutes. Lorenzo Sartor scored from one yard out to complete the drive. Stoney Creek responded immediately on the kickoff return. Ricky Schneider returned the ball 68 yards to the Adams 30-yard line. Brosie Telegadas then ran the ball in for a touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.

The Adams defense held Stoney Creek to just over 100 yards of total offense in the first half. They also forced a red-zone interception after the Cougars successfully executed an onside kick at the start of the game. The defensive pressure limited the Cougars' ability to build momentum until the third quarter.

The balance of the game shifted in the third quarter. After exchanging punts to start the second half, Stoney Creek quarterback Brandon Gergics connected with Jase Marcellin on a post route. Marcellin outran the defense for a 66-yard touchdown, giving the Cougars a 14-7 lead. Later in the quarter, with 1:10 remaining, the Cougars ran an 80-yard drive in 10 plays. Travis Beloungea capped the sequence with an 8-yard touchdown run with 9:26 left in the game.

The Stoney Creek defense took control during the final stretch. Adams managed only two first downs after the third quarter. The Cougars ended both subsequent drives with interceptions, one by Ethan Gendich and one by Mason Black. The running game helped manage the clock, and the defense did not allow Adams to extend its drives.

Offensively, Stoney Creek finished with 310 yards, though most production came in the second half. Telegadas rushed for 89 yards, and Gergics threw for 167 yards. The Adams offense was limited to 157 total yards. Freshman receiver Nolan Dawood led Adams with six catches for 29 yards, as the Cougars defenders consistently reached the ball after the catch.

Head coach Rick Powell credited the team's resilience after three years of effort. "I'm proud of our guys, that's the biggest thing," Powell said. "We've been working for this for three years now, and our guys really, really wanted it. I'm so grateful for them, so thankful for them, but I couldn't be more proud of our guys." He noted that the team pushed through a 48-minute game as planned.

Brandon Gergics emphasized the unseen preparation that led to the win. "It's just the work that's been going in all-year round," Gergics said. "No one sees it, but our team knows that we've put in the work. We deserve this."

Stoney Creek finishes the season with a 9-2 record and will face Romeo next week in the regionals. Adams ends its year at 7-4. Head coach Tony Patritto acknowledged that his team showed its age and made mistakes that were costly. "We had to play clean, and we didn't," Patritto said. "I give them credit. They made plays when they had to in the second half." Patritto noted that while 17 seniors are graduating, the team will return many key contributors for next fall.

The Cougars will host their next game against Romeo in the regional round. Adams will begin its offseason preparations with a young roster that includes several returning starters.