Groves Wins Crosstown Rivalry Game 21-3 Over Seaholm

The varsity football team saved its best regular season game for last.

Down 3-0 at the start of the second half, the Falcons scored 21 unanswered points on Friday night to win 21-3 in its crosstown rivalry game at , clinching a playoff spot.

The victory didn’t just give Groves (6-3; 6-2 Oakland Activities Association Blue Division) bragging rights. It earned a share of the OAA Blue Division title for the first time since 2003 and the school’s first automatic playoff bid since 2004.

“That was about as good as it gets,” running back Keon Collier said. “I can’t even describe the feelings right now. This was by far the best thing I could ask for my senior season.”

Collier rushed the ball 27 times in the second half alone. He helped his team put together a fourth quarter drive that ran more than nine minutes off the clock. The senior finished the half with 117 yards and a touchdown.

It was the first time Collier and his fellow seniors walked off the field against Seaholm as winners.

“In a way it's payback,” Collier said. “Two years ago I had the worst game of my life, when I played quarterback up here against these guys, when they beat us in overtime by three points (20-17 in 2009). This was the payback game, baby.”

A disappointing loss for Seaholm

Seaholm (6-3; 5-3 OAA Blue) players were as disappointed as the Falcons were elated. The Maples qualified for the playoffs last week with a 27-21 win over Ferndale, but that did nothing to lessen the sting of losing to their rival in front of a lively home crowd.

Hundreds of fans were dressed in red for a Students, parents and fans sold red t-shirts at the game to raise funds for the American Heart Association. 

The move was inspired by the loss of Seaholm's late head football coach, Nick Deane, who passed away from a heart attack in May.

“I know the kids are deflated, especially the seniors 'cause they’ve never lost to them,” Maples head coach Jim Pobursky said. “It was a bitter taste.”

In the first half, Seaholm worked its way down the field and made it into the red zone twice. Both times, the Maples had to settle for field goals.

Sterling Johnson made it 3-0 on the first play of the second quarter with a 17-yard field goal. His second attempt later in the quarter went wide right.  Seaholm’s offense didn’t make it into the Falcons territory the rest of the game.

Groves pulls ahead

Pobursky thought Groves came out of halftime and wanted it more.  After holding Groves offense to only 20 yards in the first half, Pobursky’s defense allowed double that in just four plays.

The Falcons marched the ball 69 yards downfield on a drive capped off by a 26-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Mayone to sophomore Ryan Roberts.

“What’s amazing is that kid (Roberts) is a sophomore,” Flaherty said. “We were debating this week whether we were going to keep him up this week or not. He came up big with the big play.”

Seaholm had a quick three-and-out on its ensuing drive and then made a key mistake when it went to punt.

The snap went sailing over J.D. Hess’ head and he was unable to get a kick off. Hess managed to throw a short completion, but it wasn’t enough for a first down. Groves started its next possession with great field position on the 37-yard line.

Collier made sure the Falcons capitalized on the mistake with a 7-yard touchdown run to give his team a 14-3 with 1:57 left in the third quarter.

The Falcons defense shut the door on any comeback hopes. They forced two more three-and-outs and then with less than two minutes to go in the game scored a touchdown.

Groves’ junior Matt Simpson picked off a pass from quarterback John Glazier and ran it back 50 yards for a touchdown for a 21-3 lead. 

Both teams will now wait to see who they play next weekend in the first round of the playoffs. The schools will find out their opponents on Sunday night when Fox Sports Detroit airs its Selection Sunday Show at 7 p.m.