ADRIAN, Mich. – The Defiance Yellow Jackets picked up their first victory of the season and snapped a 14-game non-conference losing streak with a 34-17 win over the Adrian Bulldogs at Docking Stadium on Saturday.
The Yellow Jackets (1-1) overcame a 10-0 deficit in a game that featured three lead changes during the game’s middle two quarters while Defiance racked up 269 rushing yards and held the Bulldogs (0-2) to 209 total yards of offense. DC’s solid running attack featured 100-yard performances by running back Tyshaun Freeman with 106 yards along with quarterback Jordan Ambrose‘s 144 yards on the ground.
Defiance’s victory is the program’s first against a non-conference opponent since 2016 when the Yellow Jackets bettered Hope, 18-6, in Week 2. The last non-conference road win for Defiance was a 10-0 win at Adrian in 2006.
Adrian built a 10-0 lead in the first quarter despite being caught off guard on the opening kickoff when the Yellow Jackets recovered an onside kick to start the game. Adrian got the football for the first time by picking off DC quarterback Jordan Ambrose on the game’s opening drive and converted the turnover into the game’s first points less than a minute later as Brady Raymond connected on an eight-yard touchdown pass to Ben Coloske. Adrian tacked on a field goal halfway through the quarter before the defenses started to exchange blows.
Defiance’s offense found some rhythm at the end of the period following two more three-and-outs by the Adrian offense. Aside from a short completion to Cole Recker, the Jackets rode the run game for their first score highlighted by a 38-yard scamper by Ambrose that set up a three-yard dive into the endzone by Freeman.
DC’s defense responded by dialing up another three-and-out against the Bulldogs’ offense and turned it into points with a blocked punt recovered by Machari Bighams for a go-ahead touchdown. A defensive stalemate continued through the rest of the second quarter as both quarterbacks threw an interception during the second 15 minutes. The Jackets’ best drive of the second advanced as far as Adrian’s 21 but they handed the ball back to the Bulldogs on downs after failing to convert a 4th-and-8. From there, Adrian drove the field to score a go-ahead touchdown just before halftime on the second scoring connection between Raymond and Coloske.
The Yellow Jackets took the lead back on their second possession of the third quarter thanks to terrific field position when Adrian rolled the dice for a fourth-down try deep in their own territory. Four plays later, Freeman lowered a shoulder at the goal line to muscle his way in for his second score of the contest from four yards away.
In the fourth quarter, Ambrose manufactured a pair of touchdowns to allow the Yellow Jackets to break away. He linked up with Jalen Warren for a 20-yard score followed by a one-yard rushing score by the senior in the final two minutes of the contest.
Freeman toted the ball 24 times en route to his eighth-career 100-yard rushing performance and third multi-touchdown game. The 146-yard day for Ambrose set a new career-high in rushing yards for the senior signal caller. Tawann Rome was the top receiver from Ambrose, catching six passes for 68 of 130 total passing yards for Defiance. Defensively, freshman linebacker Coty Johnson II had another solid day and led the team with nine tackles. Dominic Harris was part of three sacks of Adrian’s quarterbacks and Jaylen Redd recorded an interception in the second quarter. DC’s defensive unit held Adrian scoreless in the second half and surrendered just 43 yards on the ground.
Defiance plays the second of three straight road games next Saturday with a visit to Kalamazoo. The kickoff for the Jackets’ final non-conference game of the season is scheduled for