Photo Credit: Mike Burris/Adrian News LeaderHeaded into their Class 1 semifinal football the Adrian defense knew it would be facing its toughest test of the season.
The Blackhawk defense earned an A, maybe an A+, shutting down a high-powered St. Vincent offense on the way to a 21-0 home victory in a setting that resembled a snow globe early in the game.
“It was incredible,” Adrian head coach Matt Davis said of the defense. “Our pass coverage really stepped up big today. More than that, our front four and Andrew Kendrick at linebacker, to be able to play with just five in the box and completely stop the run with those five, to me, that was the biggest difference in the game.”
St. Vincent, who entered the game with a 12-0 record and the top rank in Class 1, had not been held under 24 points this season and only held in the 20s, three times all season.
Adrian’s defense, behind a career day from Kendrick, held St. Vincent to only 184 total yards and only 11 rushing yards on 18 attempts.
Kendrick’s biggest contribution came in pass defense, where he intercepted three passes, including one on the Blackhawk 5, early in the fourth quarter.
“It was the best game he’s had by far,” Davis said.”He was incredible on defense against the run and the pass.”
Offensively Adrian got on the board first on a 26-yard score from Kendrick, who along with Brock Ford, Elijah Hubbard and quarterback Colton Miller rushed for 289 yards on 52 carries.
On the ensuing kickoff, Hank Tenholder delivered a jarring hit to the return man that was recovered by Taylor Johnson. While the Blackhawks would turn it over on the following play, it set a tone of physicality that Davis knew would be key to victory.
“We preached all week that the style we had to play with was to take the physicality to them and it worked out well for us,” Davis said.
The Blackhawk special teams then got into the action with Tenholder blocking a punt that rolled into the Indian end zone which was recovered by Kendrick.
Adrian rounded out the scoring in the first half with a 34-yard quarterback keeper to give the Blackhawks a 21-0 halftime lead.
The victory sends the Blackhawks to the title game where they’ll face off against Penney. It marks the second time in three years Adrian has reached the title game.
“It's a special group,” “Davis said of the seniors. “There’s not a lot of them, but the ones there are, are pretty special for sure. I’m super proud of them.”
