There were plenty of cramps, penalties and all the things you'd expect from a high school football opener Friday when North Farmington squared off with Birmingham Groves at Tom Adams on the campus of Wayne State.

Trailing 13-6, quarterback Eli Cobb broke loose for the first time for a 65-yard run, setting up Ryan Jones from seven yards. Cobb ran in the two-point conversion to give the Raiders a 14-13 lead with five minutes, 25 seconds to play.

With a chance to win the game with 33 seconds left, Groves kicker Jack Frith missed a 20-yard field goal to send the North Farmington sideline into euphoria with a one-point victory.

"Eli's a heck of a ball-player; good leader," said coach Jon Herstein. "He made a big play and we were able to punch it in and get the two-point conversion. We told the guys this was a chance to make a legendary statement against a team that made the semifinals last year. I told them it was up to you guys to make a legendary moment.''

North Farmington started things off with a bang on a 60-yard kickoff return by Cobb.

However the drive stalled when Dominic Crocroft intercepted a Cobb pass in the end zone.

Groves quickly too advantage of the miscue when Whitley raced 75 yards for the score to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead. He finished with 176 yards on 26 carries.

Whitely, ranked as the No. 2 running back in the state behind Michigan commit Lundon Hampton of Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, suggested the Wolverines coaching staff watch tape, meaning he believed he was just as good or better than Hampton.

Undaunted by the interception and a penalty, Cobb, playing for his third different high school, hit Carter Asbell in stride for a 72-yard TD, but the extra point was no good as the Raiders still trailed 7-6.

Groves took a huge gamble in the second quarter, going for a first down on fourth and two at their own 24. Whitley broke through for 16 yards and a first down.

Groves finished the first half with 206 yards of offense to just 100 for the Raiders.

Whitley finished the first half with 160 yards on 16 carries.

After the early offensive fireworks, the game turned into a defensive struggle.

Groves' offense centered around Whitley, who kept pounding away at the interior of the North Farmington defense.

Led by quarter Ayrton Zeile, the Falcons managed to mount a fourth quarter drive, interrupted by penalties and leg cramps.

Zeile and the offense finally reached the end zone on an 11-yard pass to Malik Cipullo with 6:33 left to make it 13-6. Cipullo was a standout on defense with two sacks and a fumble recovery.

At one point Cobb had 20 yards on 15 carries, but broke the big one when his team needed it.

"We had a read option play,'' said Cobb, who finished with 87 yards rushing. "I saw them crashing it and all I saw was green grass. I got caught a little bit, but it led to a touchdown. I've been in those situations before. I was ready for the big stage.''
 
North Farmington MOP: Eli Cobb
North Farmington Ironman: Carter Asbell
 
Groves Ironman: Malik Cipullo
Groves MOP: Jeremiah Whitley