H.S. FOOTBALL: Adamsville returns to semifinals

ADAMSVILLE – Getting to practice over Thanksgiving is becoming a tradition at Adamsville, along with the turkey toss.

The Cardinals made the Class 2A semifinals for the fourth straight season with a 38-8 victory over Mt. Pleasant in the quarterfinals at Adamsville.

“It was good players making great plays,” Adamsville coach Brandon Gray said. “We were worried about their speed, but we were able to contain them. We knew we had to play good in all phases.”

Adamsville (11-1) travels to Trenton Peabody next Friday at 7 p.m. in the semifinals.

After one offensive play, the Cardinals held a 14-0 lead on the Tigers.

Adamsville senior Ross Burcham ran the opening kickoff back 75 yards for a touchdown. Adamsville then forced Mt. Pleasant to punt on its first possession, and junior Dylan Sweat blocked the punt, giving the Cardinals the ball at the 12-yard line.

“We knew that we had to play focused,” Burcham said. “When they kicked it to me, I had to run it back and do what I could for my team.”

Chris Irons scored on the next play with 8:55 left for the 14-0 lead.

Adamsville’s offense continued from that point with 31 points in the first half on 208 total yards of offense.

The Cardinals continued to run the ball as normal, but the passing connection of quarterback Seth Paul to Burcham opened the game up.

“Coach Gray allowed me to use my speed that I have come with this season,” Burcham said.

The two connected six times in the first half for 108 yards, including the third touchdown of the game with 9:58 remaining in the half for the 24-0 lead.

The final score of the first half was a pass from Paul to junior LaDerrick Means for 27 yards with 3:36 left.

The Adamsville defense made the plays that it needed to, too. The defensive line rushed the holes to contain the speed Mt. Pleasant had.

“They read their keys, and everybody did their job,” Gray said. “We have talked about doing our job and not worrying about what other people are doing.”

The Tigers had seven plays for positive yards in the first half, as they finished with 10 total yards in the half.

After forcing a punt on Mt. Pleasant’s first possession in the second half, Adamsville drove the ball 65 yards in 10 plays for the 38-0 lead with 5:11 remaining in the third quarter.

Senior Jacob Dengler caught a 17-yard pass from Paul for the touchdown.

“[Line] Coach [Joe] Hopper has us disciplined every practice,” Adamsville lineman Blake Sweat, who had a fumble recovery in the second quarter, said. “We have to run to the ball and run to the huddle. Our assignment is the guy in front of us, and it is going to be a battle. We have to battle every play.”

Mt. Pleasant finished with 63 total yards, while the Cardinals finished with 301 yards.

Michael Odom, 425-9754