OTH Game of the Week: Adams Central at South Adams

It’s Week 6 and we’re getting down the stretch to decide conference champions.

Whenever you get a matchup of two prestigious programs with state championship aspirations, that also are fighting for a conference title it should have all eyes.

We’ve got an ACAC game with a lot on the line between the Adams Central Flying Jets and the South Adams Starfires. This showdown in Berne, slates to be our Game of the Week

WHAT’S ON THE LINE

Well, the ACAC could still be up for grabs since Adams Central still plays the Bluffton Tigers in two weeks; the Tigers remain unblemished ain the conference. The Tigers already took care of business against the Starfires with a 50-15 victory back in Week 3.

But if the Flying Jets were to beat South Adams this week, they have a chance to once again become the ACAC champions. The last time someone other than Adams Central won the conference was South Adams back in 2020, the same year the Starfires went to the state title game. That year was also the last time South Adams beat Adams Central; that score was 29-9.

If SA beats AC, and Adams Central beats Bluffton in tweo weeks, we’ve got three ACAC champions. But, simply put, if the Tigers take care of business against AC, they win the conference for the first time since 1989. Safe to say, there’s a lot on the line in Berne this week to see how the ACAC shakes out.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Per usual, Starfires head coach Grant Moser is going to continue with his gameplan of airing it out with junior quarterback Zaden Baumer. He has really blossomed into a solid QB1 for SA, as he has already thrown for 1300 yards for 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. Senior wideouts Jax Wanner (594 yards and 3 TD’s) and Wes Summersett (477 yards and 8 TD’s) remain primary targets for Baumer and will likely be targeted heavily in this matchup.

If AC is able to neutralize those two dynamic receivers, it’ll be up to junior Colton Sprunger to step and have a huge game.

On defense, linebackers Summersett (63 tackles), sophomore Gabe Steiner are going to have to do what they’ve been doing all season and that is haunt down the football and attempt to slow down AC’s rushing attack. 

Adams Central is going to try and utilize their dual threat quarterback in Jamison Roach. He has been as advertised all season. It’ll be imperative for their big offensive front to protect Roach from the Starfires linebackers from getting in the backfield and disrupting AC’s offensive flow to control the game early on the road.

Since South Adams will likely be keyed in on Roach on defense, it could create opportunities for Barrett Collier, Godfrey Shoaf (sophomore), or even Reece Hammond to have a huge game on the ground for the Flying Jets. Shoaf had the huge, unprecedented 145-yard game against Jay County a couple weeks ago. 

Defensive back Colson Pruitt (had an INT last week against Heritage) and Roach on defense are going to have to be active and throw off SA’s passing game that has been a nightmare for opposing secondaries all season. 

It’s going to be a good one in Berne for all of the marbles so to speak and could decide the fate of the ACAC this season.