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Seaholm senior quarterback Colton Kinnie carries the ball during Seaholm’s 20-0 win over Avondale.
Photo by Donna Dalziel
BIRMINGHAM — The first true Friday night football rainfall hit Birmingham Seaholm as the Maples took on Auburn Hills Avondale Oct. 6 at Seaholm High School, and both teams took the brunt of it.
Combining for five fumbles in the matchup, it was going to come down to which defensive unit was ready to take control, and Seaholm’s defense answered the call.
“We all got our heads into a dark place,” senior lineman Luke Thurswell said. “We had the dark jerseys on tonight, and that’s what we call it. We call it the dark side, and we’re gonna lay the body.”
Behind two rushing touchdowns by senior quarterback Colton Kinnie, Seaholm picked up the 20-0 win over Avondale to extend the Maples’ win streak to five this year. Senior running back Granden Kinnie, Colton’s twin brother, added a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
If you were looking for an offensive showing Friday night, this wasn’t the game for you, as the Maples’ defense was on full display.
Avondale made a healthy number of trips to the Seaholm redzone, but Seaholm’s defense slammed the door shut each time forcing turnovers and fourth down stops.
Offensively, the game stood at 7-0 until the fourth quarter, largely due to the fact that Seaholm kept getting in its own way, turning the ball over three times in Avondale territory.
Seaholm attempted to go through the air in the first half, but after some early difficulties, the Maples went back to what they know best.
“In the first half, we got a little too cute and tried to pass the ball,” Granden Kinnie said. “Second half, we ground and pound baby, and we had towels so it helped our hands.”
Colton Kinnie’s second rushing touchdown of the day with six minutes left in the fourth quarter forced Avondale to move the ball through the air, but the Seaholm defense remained stout.
While many of the names and faces are familiar from the 2022 Seaholm team that fell to Birmingham Groves in districts, Seaholm is motivated and ready for the state playoffs this year.
The obstacle for Seaholm last year was overcoming its first loss after starting the season 7-0, which then propelled into a 1-3 finish in 2022.
This season, Seaholm decided to get that out of the way early with a week two loss to Detroit U of D Jesuit, and it’s done wonders for the Maples.
“Compared to last year, we had that loss late, which propelled us until a 1-3 stretch,” Granden Kinnie said. “A tough, tough stretch. I think this year, we needed that. We needed that gut check, and that has really propelled us forward. Our two-way guys are getting grittier and grittier, and our offensive line is just kicking ass.”
Seaholm will face Oak Park Oct. 13 at Seaholm High School in the most crucial regular-season game yet for the Maples. With a win, Seaholm would be crowned 2023 Oakland Activities Association Blue Champions.
