Blackhawks overcome adversity to defeat the Liberal Bulldogs

By MIKE BURRIS

Adrian hosted the regional round of the football playoffs last Wednesday, taking on the challenge of the Liberal Bulldogs. The Blackhawks led off the game being very accommodating to the visiting Bulldogs by failing to score on the opening drive, dropping sure touchdown passes, and fumbling one into the endzone. The Blackhawks followed that by blowing tackles en route to a 77-yard touchdown run by Liberal’s Jourdan Meadows. After the successful extra point, the Adrian fans stood shocked at the horrible beginning to the game. As we all now know, the Blackhawks turned things around quickly enroute to a convincing 48-13 victory, advancing them to the sectional round to take on the Greenfield Wildcats in a rematch of last year’s sectional game that Adrian lost.

This game was a total team effort. They faced adversity early and rose to the challenge. The defense kept their heads up after giving up the first points scored on them since the Sherwood game in the third week of the season. The offense kept plugging away after a sluggish start and had it pay off big. Good teams do what it takes to win without giving up when it does not immediately go their way.

Adrian takes that same determination into Monday night’s game against Greenfield. They will know a few hours before game time if White will be available to play. Knowing that they can perform at a high level in the absence of their starting running back will be a benefit to the Blackhawks as they look to avenge last year’s playoff loss at the hands of the Wildcats. Head Coach George Bruto said, “This was a very big win for us. Now we will face Greenfield, who beat us last year. We must play the best game we’ve played all year on Monday night.”

If they win at Greenfield they will play the winner of the Tipton/University Academy game being played at Center High School in Kansas City.

Right: Adrian’s Brett Talley blocks a punt in the regional game against Liberal.

Middle: Skyler Kariker makes a great catch at a critical point in the game against Liberal.

Far right: Tyler Proell, J.R. Lawrence and Tuff Wimberly stuffed the Liberal Bulldogs offense.