UPDATED: Andover Football Can't Keep Pace With Seaholm

On a very hot and humid Thursday night, the Andover High School varsity football team just ran out of gas against Seaholm.

The Barons started out with a touchdown in the opening minutes and kept the game close through the first half. They went into halftime down only 21-14.

And then the wheels fell off. The Maples outscored them 35-7 in the second half and cruised to a 56-21 victory.

“Our biggest thing is the numbers,” Andover head coach Jim DeWald said. “We knew going into the year, we got 19 kids and with the heat, they were gassed. We played this team with 40 kids on their roster and we have no opportunity to sub out. It’s frustrating.”

Seaholm head coach Jim Poburksy saw the same thing.

“They got tired,” he said. “With only 20 kids, you are playing both ways and with the constant hitting, it’s tough.”

The Barons (0-2; 0-2 Oakland Activities Association Blue) tried to keep the ball out of the hands of the Maples offense, but it didn’t matter.

Seaholm (2-0; 2-0 OAA Blue) only had the ball for two minutes in the first quarter and still managed to score two touchdowns. It ended up with four touchdown drives that lasted less than 70 seconds.

“We put up 48 (last week) and 56, the kids are doing really well,” Pobursky said, smiling. “We are really pleased with the offensive line and their development. It’s been good, really good.”

Quarterback John Glazier was nearly perfect going 11-for-12 for 270 yards and five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing). He only made one mistake, throwing an interception to Barons defensive back Mark Andoman. The senior responded by throwing a 27-yard touchdown pass to J.D. Hess on the next drive.

Seaholm’s receivers consistently turned short passes into huge gains for the Maples. They finished the game with 10 plays over 20 yards and four of those went for more than 40 yards.

Hess and Chris Barr wouldn’t go down after first contact. Hess finished the game with six catches for 126 yards. Barr had two catches for 64 yards and added another 64 yards on the ground on four carries.

Barr re-energized the Maples with a huge a 64-yard run only two plays after Andover opened the game with an eight-play, 78-yard scoring drive. The Barons missed the extra point, so Barr’s touchdown put Seaholm ahead 7-6 with 7:58 left in the first quarter. It was the last lead change of the game.

Offensively, there were some things for Andover to build on. It was able to get first downs on the ground throughout the game.

Quarterback Winston Urwiller and running backs Juarrezz Smith and Sean Wilson were very effective rushing the ball. Wilson had the Barons biggest play of the night, a 61-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

“I believe in our system, I believe we have the ability to make big plays,” DeWald said. “I know it’s not the fanciest or sexiest offense in the world, but you have to defend the whole field and if you make one mistake we can beat you.”

It doesn’t get easier for Andover from here. It hosts Avondale next Friday (7 p.m.) who is an even better offensive team.

“We have a tough opponent in Avondale next week,” DeWald said. “It is probably the most athletic team in our league. We got our work cut for us.”