by Brian Heard
Gazette
11-14-2007

Seneca Valley and Urbana have met just three times on the football field. But they’ve made those meetings remarkably memorable. In fact, the games and the circumstances surrounding them have featured enough drama to fill a year’s worth of ‘‘As the World Turns” episodes.
As for meeting No. 4 ... well, so far it’s just what we’ve come to expect when Seneca Valley plays Urbana.
The chain of events leading up to Friday’s 3A West Region semifinal playoff game at Urbana at 7 p.m. could not have been less likely. Three weeks ago, Urbana was not even in the playoff discussion. At 3-4, the perennial Frederick County powerhouse’s season was not over, but any hopes of extending it were. Things got even bleaker in week 8 as the Hawks trailed Tuscarora, 19-0, in the first half. But suddenly, the fates changed course. Urbana rallied to beat the Titans, 27-19, then upended 4A West Region playoff qualifier North Carroll (8-2), 38-24, in week 9. Still, there was no chance for the Hawks to make the playoffs as they prepared for the regular-season finale with arch-rival and then-unbeaten Linganore on Saturday. Then came the announcement Friday afternoon that Prince George’s County’s Gwynn Park, 33-26 winners over Urbana on Oct. 20, had used ineligible players in all six of its victories and had to forfeit each of them, taking Urbana’s record to 6-3, instead of 5-4. A 20-14 victory over Linganore the following day sealed the Hawks’ improbable turn of fortunes, and they not only made the playoffs but locked up the second seed in the region behind Damascus (9-1) and a home game this Friday.

‘‘I was definitely surprised by what happened,” said Seneca Valley head coach Fred Kim. ‘‘Nobody expected it. I don’t think [Urbana] even expected it. We definitely thought it was going to be Frederick [in the playoffs] all the way. Then, lo and behold, we wake up Saturday morning and find out it could be Urbana instead. And it was.”

As for the game itself Friday, it will have a lot of living up to do. The first time the programs met in Nov. 2001 in the 3A state semifinals, it took three overtimes to decide — 29-23 Urbana — in what was called the ‘‘Game of the Century” by participants and local media. Problem was a century is a long time and when they met for the third time in 2005 in the 3A West Region semifinals, the game was arguably even more exciting, with Seneca prevailing, 45-39, again in three overtimes. The second meeting was in 2003 (a 27-6 win for Urbana in the 3A West Region semifinals), the last game at Seneca for storied head coach Terry Changuris, who suspended five key players before the game because they violated team rules.

In fact, those triple-overtime Urbana games still play an every-day role at Seneca Valley. In the Screaming Eagles’ weight room is a sign that reads ‘‘What condition will you be in in the third overtime?”

‘‘All the kids remember them,” said Kim. ‘‘Yeah, they were younger then, but they remember. They were classic games, and even though we’ve only played three times, it’s like we have an instant rivalry with Urbana, because of those games.”

To even the series, the Eagles will look to an offense that has been dynamically balanced this year. With the fast progression of junior quarterback George Lerch (1,406 yards passing, 17 TDs), and its usual stellar ground attack, led by senior Jamaal Martin (1,345 yards rushing, 15 TDs), Seneca has been prolific on the offensive side of the ball, piling up 348 points, tied with Damascus for tops in the county among public schools.

Urbana has not been quite so effective or diverse on offense, scoring just 203 points and throwing for barely over 500 yards all season. But on the ground behind big Erik Saylor (6-foot-3, 270 pounds), a senior two-way lineman, it’s a different story. The Hawks can move the ball and grind up yardage and clock, especially since moving senior Chris Patton (a former wide receiver), who had 190 yards rushing against Linganore, into the backfield in week 9. The speedy Patton perfectly complements junior workhorse Kevin Wilkins (1,432 yards, 17 TDs), who was the only option on the ground for most of the season.

Urbana has a size advantage and is probably more physical than Seneca. But the Eagles have a speed and quickness edge. How will that play out Friday night just across the Frederick-Montgomery County line? It’s Seneca Valley vs. Urbana ... best stay tuned.