DEARBORN — They say most things in sports go in cycles, and for now, the Dearborn Fordson Tractors have firmly established themselves as the top football program in the city.

The Dearborn Fordson defense held Dearborn in check en route to a 35-10 win last Friday night at the Pioneers’ newly-renovated football field and stadium.

The Tractors won their third straight over Dearborn last Friday by a score of 35-10 in a game that has fans buzzing about the possibility of another long playoff run for the Tractors in the future after last season’s State Semi-Finals run.
“We still have a long ways to go but it seems that we are progressing,” said Fordson head coach Fouad “Walker” Zaban. “The kids played hard and we executed the game plan pretty well.”

Quarterback Ali Baidoun led the way for the Tractors, who are now 4-0 on the season, throwing for 151 yards and four touchdowns and running for 93 yards and another score. Baidoun’s growth is yet another reason for optimism for a team that is also capable of running the ball well.

“Ali has been tremendous, he has worked hard to improve himself and he has become a better leader,” said Zaban.

Dearborn coach Dave Mifsud was also impressed with what he saw from the Tractors.

“Fordson is an entirely different team from last year. Ali Baidoun is really playing great and seems really comfortable running their offense,” he said.

“I like what they are doing offensively a lot; I think they can make a big run again (in the playoffs).”

Fordson defensive back Mahmoud Alrefifeh (#2) gets ready to cover a receiver prior to the ball being snapped during Fordson’s win over Dearborn last Friday. PHOTOS: Nick Meyer/TAAN

Despite the loss, Mifsud was also proud of his team. The Pioneers fought hard but made too many mistakes including giving up a blocked punt early in the game that led to Fordson’s first touchdown and a key fumble in deep in their own end that Fordson cashed in for seven points and an early 14-0 lead.
“I think we played much more passionately than we did the week before (27-12 loss to Edsel Ford),” Mifsud said.

“I am pleased with our intensity and our heart, but we made way too many fundamental mistakes, mental mistakes. As good as they are, we gave them too many opportunities, so we are going back to the fundamentals.”

The night kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony prior to the game at the school’s newly-renovated athletic facilities, including a football stadium that features a new synthetic turf field. The $2.9-million renovation that started in spring 2008 also includes new grandstands, a press box, concession stand, new tennis courts, new softball field, renovated baseball field and a renovated track.

While Fordson looked great this week for the most part, they have some things to clean up before a showdown at home on Friday at 7 p.m. with their newest threat in the Western Wayne Conference’s Blue Division, Edsel Ford.

One mistake stood out, as receiver Baquer Sayed received two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for taunting on the same play, a 69-yard touchdown catch that made it 20-0 at the start of the second quarter. Sayed was ejected from the game.

Zaban talked about the controversial decision.

“From the ref’s explanation he was taunting as he went into the end zone, typically if a taunting penalty occurs the ref would bring the kid to the sideline and ask me to take him out before he throws him out.

“He made a mistake and now he has to live with it and pay the consequences. We stress not to lose your composure and he did.”

The Thunderbirds are 4-0 with a win over Dearborn and Zaban knows his Tractors need to be ready to go mentally and physically to avoid losing to Edsel Ford for the first time since 1986.

“Edsel looks real good on film. They play hard and come off the ball pretty well,” Zaban said.

“They are well coached and they will present a tough challenge. They run the ball extremely well and our kids had better be focused or it could be a long night.”

Meanwhile, Dearborn will play a rare out-of-conference game at 7 p.m. against the 1-3 Ann Arbor Huron River Rats on the road. With a 2-2 record going in, it could be a key game for triggering another playoff run for the Pioneers coming down the stretch, if Dearborn can play smarter football, that is.

“We have to eliminate the unforced errors we made if we want to be successful,” Mifsud said.