On Friday, November 15th, the Seminole Chieftains traveled west to take on the Heritage Hall Chargers for round one of the OSSAA Football playoffs. In their first postseason game in three years, the Chieftains fell to the Chargers by a score of 43-20, ending their 2024 campaign with a record of 7-4.

Heritage Hall would get off to a quick start, going up 14-0 within the first three minutes of the ballgame. With the Chargers back in the redzone and threatening to go up three scores, Seminole Defensive back Donavin Garfield forced a fumble and pounced on it. The Chieftains would capitalize on the turnover and marched 85 yards down the field, finishing off the drive with a two-yard touchdown run by RB Reed Bowers.

Starting the 2nd quarter down 14-6, the Chieftains would pick up another huge play from their defense. DB Jay Ladd intercepted the Heritage quarterback and returned it back 84 yards for a touchdown. With a successful two-point conversion, Seminole had the game tied at 14-14 with nine minutes left in the half.

However, three scoring drives for the Chargers and none for the Chieftains in the remainder of the halfhelped Heritage Hall take a 36-14 lead into the locker room.

Seminole could never gain any of their momentum back in the second half, turning the ball over on their first three possessions and falling behind 43-14 late in the game.

Quarterback Dontre Garfield scored the final touchdown of his high school career and Seminole’s season when he ran in from six yards out with 3:08 remaining in the game. A Heritage Hall punt allowed the Chieftains one more possession, in which they ran out the clock, ending their 2024 season with a 43-20 loss.

Here is what Head Coach Mike Snyder had to say about the loss. “We had 4 turnovers in 10 ballgames and had 5 turnovers tonight, that was the difference in the ballgame. We could not keep the ball in our hands. They are a good football team; they are a really good football team.”

The Chieftains gained 251 yards of total offense, with over half of that on the ground. 37 carries as a team for 165 yards as well as both of their offensive touchdowns coming via the rushing attack, one from RB Reed Bowers and one from QB Dontre Garfield.

Garfield finished the game 9-21 for 86 yards through the air with his favorite target being WR Landon Bowling who finished with five catches for 40 yards.

Seminole’s five turnovers proved to be costly like Coach Snyder said, as Heritage scored 21 points off takeaways.

Coach Snyder was asked about the season as a whole. “It was a good year; you are always disappointed if you lose that last one. You know we will bounce back and start getting ready. Get after it in the winter and summer and come back.”

The 2024 Seminole football season has come to a close with a 7-4 record and a playoff appearance. The Chieftains will be back in action in August of 2025.