Adrian Maples Score First Victory Over Dexter Dreadnaughts

Adrian Maples Dexter Dreadnaughts

Daily Telegram Photo File

Playing the 0-4 (0-1) Dexter Dreadnaughts is exactly what the 1-3 (1-0) Adrian Maples needed. They defeated the Dreadnaughts easily with a score of 48-7. They ran the ball for a lot of success and their defense posted a near shut-out to win their first game of the season.

Adrian scored first when their running back Isaac Gradeless broke free on a 44 yard run. Their new kicker, a girl by the name Rebecca Miller, added the extra point. Later in the 1st, Adrian’s quarterback Hunter Hayes hit receiver Joshua Perez for a 67 yard pass that went for a touchdown.

The next quarter saw Gradeless add another touchdown from 2 yards out. Soon after Hayes threw another touchdown pass to Michael Hamden for 5 yards. On the next drive, Perez picked off a pass by Dexter and took it to the house from 47 yards. With just over minute left in the half, Tony Mendez scored a 6 yard touchdown run. Adrian found themselves up 41-0.

Adrian let up on their onslaught in the 3rd and there was no more scoring until the end of the quarter when the Maples added their final score of the night, a 5 yard touchdown run by Jeffrey Marvin.

Dexter got on the board late in the fourth quarter, when Anthony Esposito scored with a 3 yard touchdown run. That would make the final score 48-7.

Hayes threw the ball only 8 times and completed 5 of them for 101 yards with 2 touchdowns. Gradeless was the leading rusher with 11 carries for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mendez added 9 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown. The Maples were led in receiving by Perez who caught 2 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Dexter was lead in passing by Andy McWilliams who completed 2 of his 11 passes for 12 yards and an interception. Esposito led the team in rushing with 5 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown. The leading receiver was Nathan Hawker with 1 catch for 12 yards.

Adrian in this game finally did what they’ve wanted to all year, run the ball and play defense. They did play a team that isn’t the greatest on defense, but you still have to take advantage of it. I did think they would need to use the pass more, but they moved the ball so well on the ground they didn’t need to. They will need more production from it when they play tougher teams, but if they can run the ball like they did this week, they will give themselves a chance.

Their defense played great as well, but much like the other side, they played a team that wasn’t good on offense. It was good to see that they played a great first half and then finished the game. They did give up 7 points, but that was late in the game when the starters were no longer in. They only gave up 147 yards of offense, but a lot of that came late in the game. They need to build off this game and move forward.

I also want to give credit to Adrian’s new kicker Miller; she did a nice job going 6 for 7 on her extra point attempts.

Adrian will look to build on their success when they will play against the 1-3 (1-0) Chelsea Bulldogs. Chelsea won their first game of the year at home when they handled the 0-4 (0-1) Ypsilanti Phoenix by a score of 43-18.

Dexter will continue to search for their first victory when they host the 3-1 (0-1) Ypsilanti Lincoln Railsplitters. The Railsplitters were blown out at home by the Tecumseh Indians 41-14