Prep football: ‘Diverse’ drive allows Toledo to coast past Adna

ADNA – Punting is winning in some high schools and even NCAA Division I programs. For the Toledo High School football team, it doesn’t bring out the special teams unit on fourth down.

Mike Christensen trusts in his offense to keep the drive going.

“Our mentality is it doesn’t matter where we’re at, we have four downs to get a first down,” the Riverhawks head coach said. “I like to use all those downs even if we don’t get yards on first, second or third down. That’s what we’re going to work for.”

An improbable and rollercoaster 16-play, 81-yard drive that featured two fourth down conversions and a 3rd-and-27 put the stamp on a statement first half en route to a 35-7 triumph over Adna in Week 1 on Friday night at Adna High School.

A balanced offensive attack with 196 yards on the ground and 158 through the air allowed the Riverhawks to begin their campaign 1-0.

“Our goal was to run the ball down their throats for the first quarter or so,” tailback Carter Swofford said. “That gave us free will to do what we want.”

Quarterback Eli Weeks connected on a 43-yard route to put Toledo into Pirates territory. It went backwards immediately with 25 yards of penalties and was staring at 2nd and 32 at its own 43-yard line.

Weeks tucked it for a five-yard gain, then unleashed a dart to split end Adam Kruger for 28 yards to get back near the red zone. Trevin Gale put the Riverhawks at the goal line and Swofford capped the drive with a two-yard plunge, his third score of the night.

That took over five minutes off the clock until four seconds remained in the half.

“We all stayed together, we didn’t argue,” Kruger said. “The dual threat when you can run it and pass it, is almost unstoppable if you can perfect it.”

Swofford used one word to encapsulate the march to bring the lead to 28-0 entering the locker room.

“Diverse,” he said. “We just kept trying to run the ball, it wasn't really working. We tried to pass, something wouldn’t work. We tried to finagle our way down there. I have hope in my team.”

Toledo grabbed momentum early with an opening drive TD, a fumble recovery by Leland McCree and a short field scoring drive. Before Adna (0-1) ran at least five plays, it stared at a 14-0 deficit.

The Pirates didn’t get a first down until midway through the second stanza. Both sides had plenty of penalties on the night, 16 total for 105 yards.

“Football comes to blocking and tackling and we gotta get better,” Adna head coach Aaron Cochran said. I don’t know if we were ready for the lights. I got work to do, our guys got work to do.”

Tackling was a point of emphasis for the Pirates starting with their midnight practice. Their struggles were once again paramount in the opener.

Kruger, Gale, Swofford and Nathan Beaver gained several yards after first contact to get first downs. Weeks – with some help from his offensive line – refused to go down on a nine-yard score late in the third period.

Toledo totaled 17 first downs. Swofford led the ground attack with 70 yards plus Weeks combined for 210 of total yards despite throwing two interceptions. He found Gale on a slant pattern for the only passing score for the Riverhawks.

“With the way we were playing defense, we had the momentum,” Christensen said. “We did not play well in the second half. Momentum is great in the first quarter, but you (have) to play all four.”

Adna avoided the shutout with under three minutes left in the game. Backup QB Trevin Salme placed a bullet to Kannen Kephart for a three-yard score. Beau Miller rushed for 23 yards to lead the backfield and Gavan Muller had 21 yards receiving.

“We got work to do,” Cochran said. “There’s competitive toughness, we just have to translate to a 48-minute section of the week. The goal is to get better every single day and improve. Our kids really want to be successful. You make the changes you need to make to be better.”