It wasn’t pretty, but the ADM football Tigers held on for a hard-fought, 14-13 win over the Perry Blue Jays in the 2015 season opener Friday night at Dewey Field in Perry.
The Tigers withstood a late rally that saw Perry score 13 unanswered points toward the end of the third quarter and turned away the Blue Jays when going for the go-ahead score on several occasions in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory.
ADM (1-0) enjoyed a 14-0 lead until Perry engineered a nine-play, 63-yard drive that culminated with a 12-yard touchdown throw from Ryan Rathje to Tay Lucas. Just 25 seconds later, ADM quarterback Frank Weiland was stripped, and linebacker Adan Medina scooped up the loose ball and scampered 37 yards for the defensive touchdown. A bad snap resulted in a failed extra-point-turned-two-point try, leaving ADM in the lead by a point, 14-13.
Then came a fourth quarter that saw both teams cough the ball up to the other.
ADM safety Daniel Finnegan snagged his first of two interceptions with 10:34 to play, but the Blue Jays forced an ADM punt. The next three drives all resulted in a turnover, including a fumble by Perry, an Ivan Garcia interception of Tigers quarterback Frank Weiland, and Finnegan’s second interception of Rathje, coming with 1:01 to play.
The Tigers ran the clock down to under :30 seconds and punted, and several desperation heaves by Rathje fell incomplete, cementing ADM’s win.
Of the five total turnovers, ADM committed two and Perry (0-1) three. The Tigers have won four of the five meetings in the series, which began in 2011.
ADM’s front seven made life miserable for Rathje, sacking the senior QB eight times, resulting in -59 yards rushing for Rathje. The Blue Jays finished with -30 yards rushing, including 10 carries for 29 yards from senior tailback Eli Saemisch.
Rathje finished 18-of-31 for 137 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Weiland was 17-of-29 for 170 yards with two touchdowns, one interception and a fumble lost.
The Tigers moved the ball well in the first half, missing on several scoring chances before breaking through with 10:35 to go in the second quarter on a seven-yard touchdown pass from Weiland to Sam McCartney. A bad snap resulted in a missed extra point by Ethan Kaney, so ADM had to settle for a 6-0 lead.
Weiland struck again with 8:49 to go in the third quarter on a five-yard slant pattern to Ian LaFollete, and then found McCartney on that same pattern for a two-point conversion that put the Tigers up 14-0.
ADM has its home opener next Friday against Ballard. Perry will travel to North Polk for its first road game.