Chelsea High School Football record through week 9: 20-7 (3-0 week 9; 15-6 SEC).

Chelsea’s 2006 quarterback saga took a different turn this week; Adams was able to come back from his injury to start week 9.  So now the second center is snapping to the second quarterback, and the receiver-turned-third-quarterback (receiverback?) is back where he started.

The games:
Both the freshmen and the JV ended their seasons with wins.  The JV got a boost from the return of their quarterback, Cox; Adams’ return for varsity meant Cox was no longer needed as a backup at that level.

Among the notable aspects of the JV game was Milan’s lack of discipline.  With about five minutes left in the fourth quarter and Chelsea leading by six, Milan faced a fourth and goal inside the one yard line; they failed to score.  That turned the ball over to Chelsea, but it left the Bulldogs in an unenviable first down from the half yard line.

That would have been very dangerous for the Chelsea offense, but Milan squandered that field position: well after the failed fourth down play, the side judge threw a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct on Milan.  So, instead of first down from the half yard line, it was first down from the fifteen.

It didn’t stop there.  Just a couple plays later, Milan was flagged for roughing the passer — another free fifteen yards.  And a couple plays after that penalty, Milan was again flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, adding yet another fifteen free yards to Chelsea’s drive.  Shortly after the third major penalty, Chelsea capped the 99-yard drive with a game-sealing touchdown.

After the game, the Milan parents were audibly displeased, feeling the officials handed the game to Chelsea, but Milan handed that final touchdown to Chelsea with three unnecessary penalties.  Nearly half that drive — 45 out of 99 yards — consisted of those three major Milan penalties.  Victory demands discipline, and Milan did not demonstrate discpline on that drive.

Also notable in the JV game were Milan’s fourth-down attempts.  Four times on fourth and two or shorter, Chelsea stopped Milan, including that crucial fourth and goal late in the game.  Oddly enough, Milan did manage to convert a fourth and nine, but on fourth and short, the Chelsea defense was remarkably stout.

As previously noted, the varsity entered the Milan game with Adams back under center, and Milan entered the game with a 4-4 record, perhaps giving the Bulldog faithful high expectations.  Those expectations were shaken early: well into the fourth quarter, neither team controlled the game.  The lead changed hands several times, and the Milan offense seemed to have little trouble moving the ball.

In the fourth quarter, Chelsea seemed to stop the back and forth scoring, finally gaining a two-score lead.  But the game was meant to be stressful to the end; Milan quickly marched down the field to narrow the gap to four points.  Poor field position after the kickoff left Chelsea fans nervous, but Chelsea’s offense, keyed by an Adams pass, a Hill run and an Adams run, gained first downs and ran the clock to zero, giving the Bulldogs a hard-fought 33-29 victory.

On Sunday, the playoff pairings were announced; players and their families gathered to learn that they would be hosting Carleton Airport (7-2) in the first round.

After the playoff announcement, both coach Brad Bush and athletic director Wayne Welton had the same message: enjoy the ride.  We here in Chelsea have become accustomed to winning; the program has an outstanding streak of playoff appearances.  But Bush and Welton cautioned the players and parents not to take it for granted: wins and playoff appearances aren’t guaranteed.  Enjoy the wins when you get them.

Chelsea High School Football record through week 8: 17-7 (1-2 week 8; 15-6 SEC).

Near the end of last week’s victory over Dexter, it seemed Adams, the backup quarterback forced into the starting role, grew comfortable in the job and would be able to lead the offense into the playoffs.  This was a good sign for the team.

Well, that’s not quite true anymore.  Soon after the Dexter game, Adams was sidelined, too.  So, with only two weeks left in the season, the Bulldogs were left with their top receiver, Schwarze, taking snaps.  That’s right, the player best able to catch the ball was forced to throw the ball as the quarterback, a position he hadn’t played since middle school.

On top of that, to have a backup on the roster, the varsity pulled up the JV’s starting quarterback — except the JV’s first starting quarterback had sustained an injury in a previous game.  The varsity’s move to keep two quarterbacks on its roster took the JV down to its third quarterback.

So, to recap, the varsity lost two quarterbacks to injury and has its top receiver under center as its third starting quarterback, while the JV lost one quarterback to injury and another to the varsity, thus leaving them on their third quarterback.

Oh, and one other injury note: in the second quarter of this week’s game, the varsity’s starting center left the game with a season-ending injury.  So now it’s the second center snapping to the third quarterback.  The Bulldogs are becoming a mathematical equation!

Got it?  Okay, then, let’s get to the games.

The freshmen lost a close game; at the end of the third quarter they trailed by only one point.  The JV had a miserable first half, but they staged a comeback in the second half.  Really, just the fourth quarter.  A late fumble ended the comeback bid, but considering the disastrous start — 14-0 before snapping the ball once on offense — and the third starting quarterback this season, it was a fine effort.

As detailed above, the varsity also entered the Pioneer game with two quarterbacks in street clothes.  The game was a bit of a nailbiter; both teams scored on their opening drives, and then the defenses took over.  But Chelsea managed to score 20 points, and Pioneer managed to commit too many turnovers; Pioneer failed to finish a late drive, and Chelsea claimed a six-point victory.

In his first game as quarterback, Schwarze contributed an admirable performance.  Many of his passes were accurate, and his presence in the pocket was far better than adequate.  And his athletic ability — think small-town Steve Breaston – allowed him scramble for substantial yardage when he was in trouble.

Taking a top receiver out of the defensive backfield hurts, but as he becomes more comfortable in his new position, the offense should be just fine.  It may be a different offense from the one that started the year under Seelbach’s leadership, but it should be fine.  Even with its third quarterback and second center in the middle of it.

Chelsea High School Football record through week 7: 16-5 (3-0 week 7; 14-4 SEC).

The Bulldogs survived a scare this week. The freshmen and JV won easily, which wasn’t much of a surprise. But the expected easy win for the varsity did not materialize. In fact, they were 1:14 from losing to Dexter for the first time in 11 years. Dexter is massively improved from just a few years ago, but with Chelsea’s wealth of talent, few expected the varsity to have to struggle for a win on Baker Road.

This was the first game since the loss of the starting quarterback, so some offensive struggles were to be expected. They weren’t immediately apparent, as Adams led two early scoring drives, giving Chelsea a 13-7 lead. But after those scoring drives, the offense bogged down significantly … and Dexter’s offense, led by a dynamic quarterback (whose throwing mechanics resemble Michael Vick’s), came alive and gave the Chelsea defense immense problems. The Bulldogs were fortunate to take a 19-17 lead into halftime.

The second half was another rollercoaster. Dexter took a 23-19 lead, then Chelsea took a 26-23 lead in the fourth quarter — and with that drive, the offense also began to look more productive. Then, with 1:14 left, Dexter regained the lead, 29-26. The missed extra point left Chelsea the option for a game-tying field goal … if the offense could move the ball again.

A third-and-long situation on the third play of the drive left the Dexter student section confident enough to chant “S-E-C! S-E-C!” and to gather on the track to prepare to rush the field after the victory. But their celebration was delayed as Adams threw a short pass to Connell, who turned it into a first down. Several completions and one quarterback scramble for a first down later, the Bulldogs were threatening. And they did more than threaten; with nine seconds left, Adams threw a pass to Schwarze in the end zone for the winning score.

On the enusing kickoff, the Dexter return team elected to attempt to relive the Stanford-Cal lateral bonanza, but they succeeded only in losing yards and draining the clock as the stunned Dexter crowd watched.

Final score: Chelsea 33, Dexter 29.

A lesson for both sides: don’t assume victory. After 11 consecutive years of wins over Dexter, we Chelsea faithful got a bit comfortable on the winning side of the rivalry, and the near-loss was perhaps a bit more surprising than it really should have been. On the other hand, after a few minutes of superiority on the scoreboard, the Dexter faithful — really, just the students — forgot about the time remaining on the clock.

In any case, this game shows Dexter has closed the gap quite a bit; just a few years ago, the Dreadnaught football program was one of the most miserable in the area. That is no longer the case. In the coming years, we here in Chelsea should no longer be surprised if Chelsea/Dexter games are close — or if Dexter wins one before too long.

Encouraging: for much of the game, new quarterback Adams looked uncomfortable in the pocket, and his receivers did not help his confidence by dropping a few passes. But the last two drives of the game, he seemed to settle into the job. The last two drives were executed under pressure, trailing in the fourth quarter; on both drives, he led the offense to touchdowns. If those drives are any indication, the Chelsea offense is in good hands after the loss of Seelbach.

Eye-catching: Chelsea wore brand-new white pants for the game; the pants combined with the white away jerseys to produce an all-white look. It was an interesting move, but far too monochromatic. Without any color or contrast, they were just … white. The white pants with the home blue jerseys might be worth a try, but the all-white look was not the most appealing look the Bulldogs have displayed. And, after Friday’s close call, there’s no telling when they might choose to wear the white pants again.

Chelsea High School Football record through week 6: 13-5 (1-2 week 6; 11-4 SEC).

It was a very rough week for Chelsea football. The freshmen lost, and then the JV won a highly entertaining game, so Thursday was fairly standard. But it stopped there.

The varsity game against Saline had loomed large on the schedule since the beginning of the year. Both teams entered the year with high expectations, and both had maintained those expectations by staying undefeated through week 5. There was quite a bit of anticipation for the meeting of two of the area’s top teams. Unfortunately, though the game stayed close for much of the evening, Saline left with a 37-28 victory; Chelsea’s offense hit a lull it couldn’t afford, and the defense simply couldn’t make the big stops it needed. Those shortcomings were tough to overcome against a good team like Saline.

However, the loss on the scoreboard was not the most painful loss of the evening. On a second and goal play in the fourth quarter, quarterback Seelbach scrambled and met two defenders at the goal line. He did not get up after the collision. After several minutes, the trainers helped him off the field, but he required significant assistance, and he put no weight on his left leg. Later, we learned the difficult news: he had suffered damage to his knee, and his season was done.

This is hard news not just for the team — it is always at least initially difficult to lose a starting quarterback — but also for Seelbach himself. He is a senior, and this injury means his high school football career is done too early. I never like to see a senior’s season end prematurely like this. The team will work to adapt to the different skills of the next quarterback, but I wish Seelbach would not have to adapt to his unexpected role of spectator. Not during his senior year. But that is the reality.

Friday’s game against Dexter will be the first public indicator of the team’s state of mind; Seelbach’s state of mind will be difficult for anyone outside the team to gauge.

On a lighter note, among the many spectators at the Saline game was a notable former Bulldog: Tony Scheffler, the second-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos; he was the first Chelsea football player to be taken in the NFL draft. It was nice to see him keeping an eye on his old team.

Chelsea High School Football record through week 5: 12-3 (3-0 week 5; 10-2 SEC) .

Not much to say about this week of football. Lincoln put up no real fight at any level. The Chelsea freshmen won 36-6; the JV won 58-0; the varsity won 55-0. No drama.

The state of the Lincoln football program is dismal, and I hate to see it this way. Perhaps in the near future there will be changes on Willis Road, changes that will help the program begin its climb out of the basement. Until then, Lincoln football players have to suffer through miserable seasons of losing.

Eye-catching: 29 seconds into the varsity game, Chelsea led 14-0. McClendon returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, and on Lincoln’s first offensive play, Bradburn intercepted the pass and returned it for a touchdown. Seven minutes into the game, Chelsea led 35-0.

Chelsea High School Football record through week 3: 9-3 (2-1 week 3; 7-2 SEC).

Big set of games this week:

The freshmen lost to Adrian; this was not unexpected. The freshmen have always had a difficult time with the Maples. But the JV pulled out a close 14-12 victory, with the margin of victory being provided by Adrian’s lack of a JV kicking game. They went for two points after both touchdowns, and they failed both times. Let this be a lesson to you: find someone who can make an extra point. You may need it.

The varsity game was the biggest game in the area, featuring two of the area’s top teams; it has been widely acknowledged that Chelsea has a wealth of offensive talent, and Adrian’s quarterback has committed to Georgia Tech. To add to the game’s excitement, it was also the first varsity game at renovated Niehaus Field. An estimated 5,000 people turned out for the game, which many expected to be a tough, close game; through the first quarter, it looked as though the game would meet those expectations, with Adrian leading 15-14. But then something came alive for Chelsea, and Adrian never again had the lead. Chelsea dominated the last three quarters and left with a convincing 40-21 victory.

Eye-catching: Connell’s diving catch early in the game. Truly eye-catching! The Ann Arbor News photographer caught a great image of his catch. On that same drive, he made a nice grab in the end zone, too.

Also notable was the defense’s performance against a divsion 1a-bound quarterback. Chelsea’s offense gets a lot of attention, but the defense did a fine job of shutting down Adrian’s offense.

Chelsea High School Football record through week 3: 7-2 (3-0 week 3; 5-1 SEC).

Not much drama this week, as Tecumseh is enduring a serious down cycle right now, while Chelsea is enjoying a serious up cycle; all three levels defeated the Indians fairly easily.

Troubling: the varsity played a sloppy game. I know it was not expected to be much of a contest, so I can see why they might have played a bit loose. But Adrian is next on the schedule, and Chelsea can afford no serious mistakes against a team like Adrian. I hope their Tecumseh game habits don’t carry over to the next game.

Amusing: McClendon nearly broke one kick return, but on his way to the end zone, he was caught inside the 30. The tackler poked the ball free … and Connell picked up the fumble and took it the rest of the way.

Chelsea High School Football record through week 2: 4-2 (2-1 week 2; 2-1 SEC).

On Thursday, the freshmen lost at home against Bedford. In a stark contrast to the Novi game, they were tied at halftime, and the final score was 20-12. A late drive was thwarted by penalties, and by the end of the game. Still, an improvement over the previous week.

In another exciting game, the JV went back and forth with Bedford, trailing by 14 before returning a kick for a touchdown to gain momentum. They found themselves down midway through the fourth quarter, and with just over a minute left in the game, they found themselves facing a fourth and 7 inside the Bedford 20. The pass was deflected at the goal line, but the alert receiver managed to grab the ball just before it hit the ground, giving Chelsea the lead for good. (Those with a better view of the play than I told me it was not controversial, and that it seemed pretty clear that he caught the ball.) Final score: 36-33.

The varsity faced a bit of a struggle early with a strong Bedford quarterback, but as time went on they found their rhythm, and they left with a strong 31-7 victory. The offense again showed serious ability to gain yards and score points.

Eye-catching: varsity running back Nick Hill, a freshman, continues to be one of the most eye-catching elements this year; he started with a 45-yard run against Novi, and he did not slow down against Bedford. On an offense loaded with talent, he is carving out a place for himself among the upperclassmen. He is one to watch.

Also eye-catching was the JV receiver’s winning touchdown catch. Excellent awareness on a deflected pass, and a good catch.

I’m going to post about Chelsea football, because that’s what occupies my time these days. Deal with it.

Chelsea High School Football record through week 1: 2-1 (2-1 week 1; 0-0 SEC).

On Thursday, the freshmen lost at Novi. The JV took a 14-6 lead into halftime, and that wound up being the final score; a thunderstorm struck at the end of halftime, and they decided to end the game.

On Saturday, the varsity faced Novi at Eastern Michigan University, and they left with a 28-14 victory. After some time on the field together, the offense came together and looked exciting, while the defense allowed only one offensive touchdown. (The other came on a kickoff return.)

Eye-catching: Both the JV and the varsity used trick plays early in the game, both with great success. The JV used a hook-and-ladder that resulted in a first and goal; the varsity had a receiver throw a long touchdown pass on the fourth play of the first drive.

Next up: Freshmen and JV vs. Bedford on Thursday; varsity at Bedford on Friday.