Fordson High School football players prepare for the season opener at a practice on Wednesday, August 25. The Tractors return just one starter from last year but are still expected to compete for a WWAC title this season. PHOTO: Nafeh AbuNab/American Elite Studios.

DEARBORN — Last year was a successful one for the high school football teams in Dearborn — until the playoffs hit, that is.

The Dearborn Fordson Tractors followed up a dominating, undefeated regular season with a shocking 24-23 playoff loss in the first round to Detroit Cass Tech.

Dearborn Edsel Ford, which has become one of the better programs in the area over the past three years, fell to Inkster and current University of Michigan superstar quarterback Devin Gardner in the first round by a score of 51-19 after an 8-1 record, one of the best marks in school history.

And Dearborn High School was nowhere to be found during playoff season as the Pioneers fell just short with a 5-4 record.

This season, all three teams have their sights set on redemption as play gets underway on Friday, August 27.

Dearborn Fordson coach stresses

teamwork

The Tractors made national headlines for their practice shift from day to nighttime during the beginning of Ramadan, but head coach Fouad “Walker” Zaban is ready to put all of the media attention behind him and is anxious to see what his team can do on the field.

Fordson has always been known for its toughness in the trenches and the 2010 team could continue that proud tradition if they play up to their potential.

“The strengths of the team will be the line, on both offense and defense once we get healthy,” said Zaban, referring to nagging injuries his players took into camp.

“Our quarterback is pretty good, our running back is pretty good, so we should have a good offense as well.”

Fordson has just one returning starter, however, meaning the team could need time to gel before beginning conference play.

Taking over at quarterback will be Mohamed Faraj, a 6-foot-1 senior Zaban calls “a physical running QB with a great arm.”

The running back Zaban mentioned is 5’10 senior Rabeah Beydoun who is also a physical runner in accordance with Fordson tradition.

The receivers will miss Michigan-bound graduate Baquer Sayed but Zaban likes the group he has there to round out the offensive unit along with a powerful offensive line.

On defense, Zaban expects defensive tackles Mohamed Kaid and Rami Jawad to lead the way along with middle linebacker Abraham Hojaije and safety Zain Baidoun.

But Zaban knows it will take a team effort to make a deep run in the playoffs and win the Western Wayne Athletic Conference, which he said were the team’s goals.

“Every coach wants to make sure everybody’s working together as a team and making sure they’re doing their job and only their job,” he said.

Pioneers eyeing playoff return

While Dearborn head coach Dave Mifsud’s team was understandably disappointed about missing the playoffs last year, falling short has served as motivation going into 2010.

“Last year’s 5-4 record has left a bad taste in our mouth. It is below Dearborn High’s standards and expectations,” he said.

“We all want to succeed this year and get DHS back to deep into the playoffs.”

Dearborn returns eight starters including offensive lineman/defensive end Feerooz Yacoobi, linebacker Hussein Sobh, and quarterback C.J. Mifsud.

Dave Mifsud believes that the strength of his team is the defense led by Sobh and senior tackle Gerald Moore, but injuries are a concern, especially on the offensive line where depth is an issue.

“The biggest thing is staying healthy, we have a core of kids who work hard and we have a chance to be successful this year. But if injuries occur at certain positions, it could change the whole dynamic of the team,” he said.

“For the first half of the season it’s very important for our team to do well.”

Edsel Ford building on success

After three straight winning regular seasons (including two 8-1 campaigns), Thunderbirds Head Coach Mark Tyler can be proud of the progress his program has made from mediocrity to WWAC contender.

But he has a challenge that the other two schools typically don’t face.

“I think that the program is going in the right direction but we’re caught in a numbers game all the time,  we have about 300 less students than Dearborn and 900 less than Fordson every year,” he said.

“But we have a good turnout of kids heading in the right direction and they’re kids that know football, that’s for sure.”

Tyler said his team will rely on the running game and believes the team’s strengths are on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

Edsel Ford will be led by senior quarterback Hassan Ayoub, who played on and off last year and is a pocket passer, running back/linebacker Lucas Luchonok, a three-year starter and senior, and massive 305-pound defensive tackle Rafat El-Hage, also a senior.

Dearborn Heights teams hoping for turnarounds in 2010

Meanwhile, Dearborn Heights Crestwood will look to improve upon their 3-6 record last season during which they started 3-2. 

Star International Academy will begin play at its state-of-the-art new $3.5-million stadium while hoping to improve on its 1-8 mark from last year.