Seneca seniors get fourth home semifinal game

SENECA, Mo. — Seneca’s seniors have been a part of 48 wins across their high school football careers, surpassing the mark of 45 set by last year’s senior class.

The Indians earned their fourth straight Big 8 Conference championship this season as well as a fifth straight district title — with most of this year’s seniors being a part of the last four.

“I knew it was a good group when I got here. They were eighth graders. Peeking in on them, you knew they had some talent and could be successful,” Seneca head coach Cody Hilburn said. “This year’s group, a lot of them have been playing since their sophomore year.”

To be a part of that group and to be able to host a fourth state semifinal game in a row is something senior quarterback Brodie Probert is happy to have his name attached to.

“It’s awesome to be a part of such a big part of history. But we couldn’t do it without the guys before us. They laid the foundation. Coach Hilburn and the other coaches, we couldn’t do it without those guys,” Probert said.

Seneca is set to host St. Clair at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Bulldogs (10-3) defeated Osage 42-28 last weekend in the Class 3 quarterfinals.

The Indians (11-1) are coming off consecutive 47-14 victories over Cassville in the district championship and Mountain Grove in the quarterfinals.

With a potential of two football games remaining, Seneca’s senior class could reach a total of 50 wins in their career. To have sustained success like that, all pieces have to be working.

Hilburn talked about what that looks like in the small Southwest Missouri town just south of Joplin.

“Just being consistent in what we do, and I think our kids would agree to that. We value the weight room a ton here. We lifted our rears off today in the weight room,” Hilburn said Tuesday afternoon. “I think it starts there. But understanding the total process from when we started June 1.”

Hilburn has posted a 56-10 record since taking over as head coach — winning 84% of the games in which he has coached.

“Credit to the kids. From that first group, they bought in to every change we wanted to make,” Hilburn said. “Credit to my assistant coaching staff. I’ve had the same exact staff for four years in a row now. No turnover at all. At a small school, that almost never happens. I think we have that perfect blend here.“

Part of that blend, he says, is having the talent — the coaching as well as “program” kids. Seneca has produced all-state athletes who went on to play college football and has seen 2,000-yard rushers behind its strong offensive line.

The program players are the ones who stick it out even when their name isn’t called.

“We live in a society and maybe a world that tells you if you’re not the guy by your junior year to maybe be done with that. We have several kids that have bought their time and are just now contributing as seniors,” Hilburn said. “You have to have kids like that. That’s your glue. We have several kids that have stuck with it."

About the game

St. Clair is a team that Hilburn considers to be “battle-tested.” They’re a similar team that wants to win the battle with the rushing attack and at the line of scrimmage.

He said things start with their 6-foot-4, 205-pound quarterback who has over 2,000 rushing yards.

“Everything goes through him,” Hilburn said.

The Bulldogs’ running back has run for 1,700 yards.

“This is a game that will probably be won on the line of scrimmage,” Hilburn added.

The Indians have their own two-headed monster in the backfield with Probert and Roman Miller, with Miller going over 2,000 yards himself.

The Bulldogs’ defensive front can be a three- and four-man front. Hilburn noted his guys will need to identify that front early and recognize which Bulldogs are in pre-snap.

Getting to play and practice on the week of Thanksgiving is something that the Indians talk about and take pride in.

“One of our core values is gratitude and what a cool thing to talk about on Thanksgiving. We talk about all the people in our lives that have made this possible,” Hilburn said. “We do talk about being smart about what all we put in our body that day.”

Some of the players joked about having to limit how much they ate during Thanksgiving meals with family.