They certainly had their chances, but ultimately the ADM football Tigers came up short last night in Adel, where they fell to the Winterset Huskies, 16-6.
The loss dropped ADM to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in Class 3A-District 8 play, which sets up a battle for the fourth and final playoff spot in the seven-team district over the final four weeks of the season.
The Tigers got on the board first on a 57-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Frank Weiland to senior receiver Jake Sloss just 1:16 into the ballgame. It marked the first time ADM scored in the first quarter this season and was Sloss’ team-leading fourth TD grab of the year. Weiland hit Sloss on a simple bubble screen to the left, Sloss got a block from Jacob Hardy, and then Sloss beat two defenders down the sideline for the score. Jonathan Reel’s extra point was blocked, however, limiting ADM’s early lead to 6-0.
Winterset (3-2, 2-1 District 8) answered with 1:17 to go in the half on a 38-yard touchdown scamper by senior tailback Brandon Ryerson, his team-leading fifth rushing score of the season. Charles Woodcock added the extra point for a 7-6 lead the Huskies never did relinquish.
Winterset extended its lead to 10-6 on a woodcock 31-yard field goal with 8:24 to go in the half.
Offensively, ADM racked up 288 yards to Winterset’s 284, and had 17 first downs to Winterset’s 15. But like in previous losses, the Tigers struggled to hang on to the ball. Weiland threw an interception to Winterset’s Colby Van Pelt in the third quarter, and in the fourth quarter, fumbled the ball on a botched pitch attempt during an option play inside the redzone. Weiland did, however, throw for 298 yards while completing 64 percent of his passes.
The Tigers were also plagued by penalties, committing 10 for 65 yards. ADM finished just 5-for-17 on 3rd downs and 0-for-3 on 4th downs.
Winterset essentially put ADM away with 4:18 to go in the game, when Huskies senior fullback Brandon Herr powered his way in from six yards out. ADM blocked the extra point, however, keeping the score at 16-6 Winterest.
ADM showed some urgency on offense the very next possession, as back-to-back big plays by Reel and Sloss — which featured several broken tackles by both players — put the ball near the redzone. The Tigers eventually wound up with 1st-and-goal on the 2-yard line, but couldn’t punch it in and eventually turned the ball over on downs, sealing their fate.
Things don’t get any easier for the Tigers, who have a tough road test next Friday. ADM next week heads to Creston for a showdown with the District-leading Panthers, who blew out Glenwood 42-19 last night to improve to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in District-8 play.