Dearborn Fordson’s Slay Shajrah catches the game-winning pass against Canton during the second half of Fordson’s 40-35 win at Wayne State.
You might say Dearborn Fordson coach Walker Zaban is a gambler.
Four times Friday night he had his Fordson team go for it on fourth down. But is it really a gamble when you know what is going to happen?
Fordson converted all four fourth-down plays in its convincing, 34-25 victory over Belleville.
A nine-point spread certainly doesn’t seem like a one-sided game, but the Tractors didn’t allow Belleville to possess the ball for long periods of time.
Week 3 high school football scoreboard
“We dominated the game, but the score didn’t translate,” Zaban said Saturday morning. “They make big plays. They strike quickly. They had four big plays they scored on. It wasn’t like they drove the ball. They actually couldn’t move the ball except on those big plays.”
Fordson (3-0, No. 5 in Division 1), on the other hand, had no difficulty moving the ball. Quarterback Hamze Elzayat was his spectacular self, running and passing, and running back Aziz Alhanek gained 115 yards.
“Our quarterback played well, our running back played well, but I think you have to give credit to the offensive line,” Zaban said. “They controlled the line of scrimmage, and that’s why we were able to do the things we did.”
That is a direct reflection on line coach Jamal Hamid, who was able to overcome the loss of Zac Darwiche, Fordson’s top lineman, and do well with Mohammed Chami filling in off the bench.
“The next guy came in and did a great job,” Zaban said. “That’s a tribute to the coach for making sure he’s preparing everybody. He does such a good job and they keep working. Belleville is like Cass Tech. They bring people from everywhere, but they picked everything up and we were able to move the ball.”
Elzayat was terrific in leading Fordson back from a 21-point halftime deficit in the opener against Canton, and he was even better against Belleville as a game manager.
He may not have done anything as spectacular as rolling to his right, getting a cramp in his calf, and then throwing a 59-yard touchdown pass across the field for the game-winner against Canton, but his decision-making against Belleville was impeccable.
“I tell you what, he killed a few plays and changed them up, and we ended up getting touchdowns out of them,” Zaban said. “Two of the fourth downs he changed the call, and we got the first downs. Nobody would know that.”
Elzayat is capable of making those decisions on Friday nights because of what offensive coordinator Osama Abulhassan and quarterbacks coach Ali Baidoun work on with him earlier in the week.
“They teach him these situations,” Zaban said. “Honestly, if it was another kid, we would trust him as well. This kid is a little more athletic and has that experience, more than the 10th grader who’s his backup, but at least these guys teach him these situation that allows us to trust the kids.”
Because of what Elzayat has done this season, he has earned Zaban’s trust. The coaches will listen to Elzayat’s opinion when he comes to the sideline. Problem was he never came to the sideline against Belleville.
“He played both ways and he didn’t come out of the game,” Zaban said. “He’s probably our best defensive back, so we had to play him against all their skill kids.”
The last five Fordson playoff appearances have ended with losses to Cass Tech in the district, which is why no matter how well the Tractors are playing, Cass Tech is always in Zaban’s thoughts.
“You have to think about them,” Zaban said. “How can’t you think of a team that’s pretty damn good and full of Division I talent and more than likely you’ll have to see? So yeah, you have to think about them.
“They’re loaded again.”
So is Fordson.
Contact Mick McCabe: 313-223-4744 or mmccabe@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mickmccabe1.