Go-to guy Mike Adams will be sorely missed

Of the nine main football teams in the Tri-Cities Area, six qualified for the playoffs. Unfortunately for Aurora Central Catholic, it wasn't one of them. The Chargers went 0-9, just like in the 2004 season. The players said the winless season felt strange and terrible. Everyone agreed the efforts from ACC's do-it-all player, senior Mike Adams, was amazing, but what is it like to be this good on a team that struggled so much to win? I was there for Adams and the Chargers' final football game of 2008 Friday night against Immaculate Conception.

Aurora Central Catholic coach Mike Curry has been a head coach for 34 years, 22 at ACC. He named Mike Adams as one of the top five players he has ever coached.

"No question about it," Curry said. "He's got talent. He's got a football player's attitude. Not only is he tough, but he doesn't make excuses. When it's his fault, it's his fault. When he makes a mistake, he tries to make up for it. He's a hard-nosed kid. He'll play to the last second."

Adams and 10 other seniors played their last game at home Friday at ACC.

Unfortunately, the rain ruined the Senior Night festivities, and Suburban Catholic Conference opponent Immaculate Conception ruined the Chargers' chances of getting at least 1 win this season. The Knights made it in the playoffs after a 35-7 victory.

In all of ACC's losses, it was apparent who the go-to guy was - Adams.

All year, the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder punted, passed, ran and tackled. He hurdled and leaped over opponents, required several guys at times to get him to the ground and was a leader. He's not a real loud guy, but when his team needed something, he's the guy they went to.

In other words, he put the "central" in Aurora Central Catholic football.

"Every time he comes in the huddle, he's not nervous at all," said senior Tom Barkei, who was a first-year wide receiver.

"He's so good. Every pass was right there. It was more of an honor than anything to play with him."

"He's something special," added senior Mark Brauweiler. "He gives 100 percent and then some. If you end up next to him and you don't go hard, he makes you look silly, he really does. He can throw the ball 80 yards, run you over ... he's just tremendous to play with."

As much as football is a team sport, Adams' teammates and coaches will tell you he was the football team this year. The Chargers know they would have been in even worse shape if it wasn't for Adams.

"He was it," Brauweiler said. "(A record of) 0-9 does not reflect Mike at all."

Adams' varsity career started in 2006. He's been the starting quarterback since his sophomore year. Curry admits Adams was not nearly the player he turned out to be by the time he was a senior.

"He's done a lot of growing up," Curry said. "He's become a solid performer and the guy everyone relies on."

For two years, Adams' main target was his older brother Mark.

This was the first year (and first of three sports at ACC) where he wasn't playing on the same team with Mark.

In Mike's three varsity seasons, the Chargers won a total of three games. Having that Mike-to-Mark connection was a big reason for the 3 wins.

"He was always the go-to guy whenever I was scrambling," Mike Adams said of Mark, who Curry called one of the top 10 football players he has ever coached. "Most of the plays were designed for him."

The two also played basketball and baseball together at ACC, where Mark was also the go-to guy. Looks like his baby brother will be taking his place in these sports as well.

"(Mike is) an amazing player in all three sports," said Matt Wagner, who is also his cousin. "Whatever he performs at, he's good, especially football."

Mike Adams finishes his football career at ACC with 1,840 yards rushing, 4,261 yards passing (a school record) and 24 touchdowns. Defensively (he played a season and a half of defense), he finished with 75 solo tackles, 39 assists, 1 fumble recovery and 3 sacks. He also holds the school records for most touchdown passes in a game (6 against St. Edward last year), total offensive yards in a career (6,105) and 343 complete passes (of 603 attempts) for a 56.9 percentage, also a record.

Although he is the basketball team's starting center and baseball team's starting center fielder and a pitcher, Adams is leaning toward playing football in college next year. Where he's going is the next question.

"I'll miss it a lot (at the high school level), but hopefully something will come up," Adams said. "But nothing is like high school football."

Curry knows ACC's football team will struggle without Adams next year. On top of all that, he will miss him.

"You really have to give it to the kid," Curry said. "He's one of those rare kids who coaches dream about having on their team."

cbolin@dailyherald.com