After falling to the Groves Falcons 21-3, the Seaholm Maples fell to 6-3 on the season.
But even with the loss, the Maples are going to the playoffs for the first time since 2005.After defeating Ferndale in week 8, the Maples got their sixth win and qualified for the Division two state playoffs. The Maples had aspirations of hosting a first round playoff game, but after losing the Groves game they lost out on that opportunity.
Instead the Maples now begin their playoff journey at Farmington Hills Harrison tonight at 7:00.
Harrison is the defending Division Two state champion, and is currently 9-0 on the season. They have won 23 consecutive games, features three seniors that are committed to play college football at division one schools, and several other division one prospects.
Harrison is also lead onto the field by John Herrington. Herrington has been the head coach at Harrison for 42 years, and has won 13 state championships, and is one of the winningest coaches in the history of Michigan high school football.
The Maples will have their hands full with not only one of the most talented teams in the state, but also one of the most talented teams in the nation.
But when the Maples gathered at senior offensive tackle Dan Gibbs’ house last Sunday evening to watch the playoff selection show, the team was not disappointed when they heard their draw.
Gibbs had an excited reaction when he found out that they were playing Harrison.
“I was pumped up,” Gibbs said. “People are going to say ‘oh you have to play Harrison, that’s too bad’. No, it’s that we get to play Harrison. We’re all looking for a great week of practice to pull off the upset.”
Seaholm head coach Jim Pobursky loved the way the players handled themselves when they heard they were playing Harrison.
“Nothing was negative,” Pobursky said. “Nobody said ‘oh my goodness’ or anything like that. They felt that they had a challenge for themselves, and they handled it perfectly.”
Harrison is widely known for their “Big Three”, three seniors who are playing college football next season. The three seniors are senior wide receiver/cornerback Aaron Burbridge who is committed to play football at Michigan State, senior offensive tackle/defensive end Mario Ojemudia who is committed to play at Michigan and senior tight end/linebacker Devin Funchess who is committed to Michigan.
Another player who could possibly be playing college ball would be senior captain quarterback Jake Vento, who is interested in possibly playing wide receiver in college.
“If I’m offered a scholarship, I’d consider playing,” Vento said.
“But I don’t plan on being a walk-on.”
Also on the list of Hawks playing college football is sophomore running back Lorenzo Collins.
Collins is the leading rusher for the Hawks and is on his second year on the varsity football team, and is being recruited by several schools.
With all of these talented players, Harrison is the clear favorite in this matchup and the Seaholm players are thriving off the idea that they are the underdog.
“We know that we are the underdog and that people are saying that they expect us to lose,” senior cornerback Carlo Clavenna said. “But we are going to play the hardest we have ever played because we have nothing to lose.”
Pobursky has confidence in his team that they will play hard to the end.
“I think if the kids can execute our game plan, we should be in the ball game,” Pobursky said.
The Maples defense has a tough road ahead of them, trying to slow down an offense that averages over 40 points a game.
“I think we have a strong defense,” senior linebacker Jack Apap said. “Even though Harrison is one of the best teams in the country, I believe that if we all do our jobs, we can pull off the upset.”
Even though Harrison has their sights set on taking home a second straight state championship, Herrington is not worried about his team overlooking opponents in the playoffs.
“I’m not worried about our boys losing their focus,” Herrington said. “They just love going out there and playing football, and right now they are focused on Seaholm.
Burbridge echoed his coach when it came to the team keeping their intensity throughout each playoff game.
“We gotta stay hungry,” said Burbridge.
If Seaholm was able to pull off the upset, it would probably be one of the most monumental wins in Seaholm history. But win or lose, the class of 2012 will leave their senior season with a good mark left on the program.
The Maples were able to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2005, and the football program has a completely different atmosphere.
“We were the first team to finally get things turned around for the program,” senior defensive end Neal Page said. “It’s been a long road, when we were freshman, the varsity was 1-8. Now when we are seniors, we are 6-3.”
Page hopes that the class of 2012 will be remembered as the beginning of the new era of Seaholm football.
“I hope to be remembered as the class who brought Seaholm football back to what Seaholm used to mean,” Page said.
Win or lose, the Maples are playing a playoff game for the first time since 2005, and many would call it a successful season.
The winner of the Seaholm vs. Harrison game will play the winner of North Farmington vs. Brother Rice in the district final.
