West Bloomfield outlasts Adams with strong second-half defense

The Lakers limited the Highlanders' offense when it mattered

WEST BLOOMFIELD, MICHIGAN - The No. 9 West Bloomfield Lakers (4-1) defeated the No. 19 Rochester Adams Highlanders (3-2) 36-32 at West Bloomfield High School. Both offenses exploded in the first half, but the Lakers' defense grew stout for the final two quarters.

Senior West Bloomfield quarterback Reqez Nance had three first-half touchdowns to three different receivers. 

Senior tight end and defensive end Brandon Davis-Swain (Colorado) was setting the edge all night, and he also caught a 30-yard touchdown with 17 seconds left in the first half. 

Davis-Swain finished with close to 100 yards receiving and a couple of sacks and a pass breakup. 

Here are four takeaways from the game:

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Davis-Swain looks ready for Boulder

Davis-Swain (Colorado) was all over the field. Davis-Swain is more so known for his defensive prowess, but he showed his versatility on offense with over 50 receiving yards and a touchdown at the end of the first half.

Davis-Swain was dominant on the defensive side of the ball, especially in the second half. Davis-Swain was penetrating Adams’ offensive line seemingly every other play, and he was still able to record three sacks. 

Additionally, he showed an ability to drop back in pass coverage, and he was also able to knock the ball down at the line of scrimmage.

Davis-Swain said he has one goal in mind this season.

“I’m an athlete, you know. Wherever my coaches need me to go, I’m going to do it for them and this team,” Davis-Swain said. “At the end of the day, it’s about a state championship, and bringing the team to the state championship. Me and my captains have to lead them.”

Game of adjustments

In the first half, each team seemed to have its way on offense. West Bloomfield led 30-21 going into the locker room, and its defense looked like a new unit for the final two quarters. 

The Lakers' defense was able to hold senior Adams tight end Brady Prieskorn (Michigan) to just a few catches, although he was able to get in the end zone late in the fourth quarter.

First year head coach and West Bloomfield alum Zach Hilbers said Prieskorn is too good to completely shut down.

“You see it every week when you watch the film on them, he doesn’t have to be open,” Hilbers said. “He can get open, he’s good enough to get open. We put our best guys on him. Jamir Benjamin (did) an awesome job all night, and we had our safety Justin Tyler over top giving him help because he’s that good of a player.”

Nance & new-look offense

Junior West Bloomfield wide receiver Kamren Flowers took a lot of handoffs Friday night, and he might’ve earned a permanent spot in the backfield. 

Flowers had two rushing touchdowns, and he was the only consistently successful runner the Lakers had throughout the game. 

Junior wide receiver Elisha Durham was another key contributor for the Lakers, as he had over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Senior West Bloomfield quarterback Reqez Nance had over 200 total yards and three passing touchdowns, all of which came in the first half to three different receivers. 

Last year’s Laker offense was centered around wide receiver Semaj Morgan, but he’s now at Michigan. Nance showed he has what it takes to lead West Bloomfield down the field with his arm and be effective with his feet when necessary.

Hilbers praised the veterans on his team

“It’s invaluable to a first year coach,” Hilbers said. “Those guys were here as freshmen in 2020 when we won the state title. They know how we’re supposed to do things, and the X’s and O’s too. It’s like having a coach out there, I know that’s ‘coach speak’, but it’s true. Nance knows every formation, every check, every play, gets guys in the right spots and he’s just awesome about it. 

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