Congrats to T.J. Lovell for being the Huron League Player of the Week as voted by my readers.
SMCC or Milan?
What would you rather have good speed and average size or good size and average speed?
Boy can SMCC’s Pannone really lay the wood on people!
Will Stergalas get his first win this week?
Is Dex Teen the best running back in the league?
Glad to see SMCC’s #18 get a start against Airport.
I can’t believe Cisco ran a fake kick to win the game.
Look for Airport to rebound this week with a vengeance.
Is my 25th class reunion really happening at the Flat Rock Homecoming this weekend?
Are the expectations too high at Huron?
There sure are some great coaches in this league.
Wish SMCC’s #18 was still playing for my Alma Mater!
Who is the best coach in the league?
How will Airport fair against a Melvindale in the playoffs?
Did Ecorse win this weekend? I still can’t find a score.
Box is not overrated,he is good,the thing is he's not the only good one in this league there are some real good ones Burkhart,Collins,Wilson for CC to start and Hurons line isn't bad as well as Riverviews.Any of the four above could be linemen of the year and they are all,All Leaguers,maybe All State.
OMG…What was that after Friday stuff…CC manhandled Milan.If it weren't for the slow start in the 3rd it would have been a shutout..even so it took Milan 13:00 to drive 75 yrds.Not quite what you expected UHH..
Riverview is probably the best winless team of all time. anyone agree?
OMG, NO ONE WILL STOP MILAN!
Thank God we won't have to listen to that after Friday.
CC doesnt have the biggest line,but they are tough as nails..Burkhart and Collins are studs and started last year as sophmores and have handled everyone in their path..they have to right up at the top in this league or any other.Box is very good..I mean very good but some of his clout comes from his brothers coattails.I would put CC's line against anyone in this league
Yes Kitts was a starter. But another big ole' boy is taking his spot. It's (the leg) not as bad as it looks though. He may be back soon.
Thom Box is not over rated! He is the best linemen in the state. No one can stop him!
was he a starter?
just in case nobody has heard, Anthony Kitts of Airport busted up his leg on a stupid teenager accident right after practice Monday goofing around in the parking lot and is probabally out for the year.
Thom Box is VERY overrated.
Brad Bosman from riverview is one of the best d linemen in the state
Do Track!!! That would be great
White is decent but he plays on a team that is not good. I mean the best player imo play on the best teams, jones is alright, but i was not impressed in the game against cc, three two sure picks that were dropped
Thom Box of Milan is one of, if not the best lineman in the conference.
the gi o line gets no credit whatsoever for the powerful offense. take a look at them
Just courious on who everyone thinks are the best lineman in the Huron Lesgue ? I was on OL and DL in school and all you hear is about the runningbacks and QB's…So who the best on the O-Line and D- Line here in the Huron League or elsewhere ?
Lets go author give of some new Thoughts/Questions this is old.Keep up the good work love it.
I'm not sure about baseball. Track would be easier for me to do.
Just an FYI, a website covering the Huron League in general it not very far off.
You going to do a baseball blog for the Huron League?
HuronLeagueDude, great comments….did you happen to notice that GI had your top picks in your first 3 categories?? I think those picks are up for some good debate, but in general the numbers and witnessed performances of all mentioned players support your assertions.
Also, did you notice that GI didn't have any other picks down the line….what does this tell us about GI football and football in general?
First, great offensive talent at GI for sure and has positive coaching on this side of the ball.
Second, all the greatest offensive players in the world WILL NEVER create a winning program without a STANDOUT DEFENSE.
Third, GI coaching needs EVEN MORE focus on D vs the X's & O's….TOP DOWN. NOT BASHING here, just an observation for improvement.
This author has asserted all along that GI will surprise this year….(3-3 now…a lot of authors on this BLOG gave em a 1-8 prediction…where are ya boys??…busy writing pithy comments about winds of change and strap it tight no doubt!!)…..BUT to be clear the DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE must anchor the turnaround and it has not. Granted, the D is MUCH IMPROVED over the past 2-3 years but not where it needs to be. If it was, GI would easily be 5-1 right now. (and SMCC would not have put a 61 pt smack-down on em)
Fourth, notice how the 2 top teams in the Huron League lead almost every other category HLD referenced outide the top 3 offensive stats!!! O-line, D-line, LB's, TE, DB's. So again I rest my case…O stats are sexy and if that's all you have, they are ultimately for losing programs!! Show me the guys who hit, bring it in the trenches, thrive on D and I'll show you championship level teams…..hence the comment STRAP IT UP TIGHT BOYS!
O is icing, D is the cake…always has been and always will be.
Looking forward to this weeks games!
SITOFN
As the English say. "SPOT ON" Huronleaguedude.. Great summary.
The talent level and coaching in the regoin, and specifically the Huron League, is the best in years. Look out for Riverview in the upcoming years.
Other than the obvious choices (Alma Mater & where my kids play), week after week, its difficult to choose which game is going to be the best to attend. Great Athletic programs and Football Teams in our region. Goooo Bears & Jets.
Region Fan
cant stand island athletics, but Teen is the real deal, and hurons wecloski is a great defender
Best QBs: Robbie White from Grosse Ile and then Daniel Jones from Airport… White can throw good and run a little… Jones can run good and throw a little… Best RBs: Dex Teen from Grosse Ile Jodeci Mays from Airport and Labeau and Lovell arent bad… Dex Teen has very good feet.. Mays breaks tackles… Labeau and Lovell run hard… Leo Pittman from Milan has been doing better. Best WRs: Jim Cameron has very good hands and continues to have great numbers… David Stockert is tall and lengthy and can make plays… Baker from Airport doesnt have bad numbers with 200 yards receiving now from a more run based offense… Best TE: Close from Airport has had some pretty good receiving numbers and is part of a strong offensive line of Airport… Best O-Line goes to CC it was between them and Airport and CC one Friday… Best D-Line goes to CC or Airport … Airport is bigger and has a little better numbers but SMCC won so you tell me… Best LBs: Lovell is solid hits hard… Weclowski finds a way to get to the ball and does nothing but straight makes plays… He leads league in tackles… Airport has four good ones but none of them stand out over the other… Dan Chickeral has 80 some tackles and has been the heart of a struggling Ram team Best DBs: Pannone from SMCC is their leading tackler with 50 or so, makes play after play rather it be to the pass or run and should win first team all league safety… Baker from Airport has 2 interceptions and 40 tackles going by Monroe News… not bad numbers for either of them at all… Best Returner: Howie is the best kick returner he has taken many kicks all the way to the house and had a game changing kick return against airport to set up a touchdown right before the half… Baker from what i have read seems to be the best punt returner… He has gotten his team good field position this entire year… Best Coach: Giarmo continues to coach winning team after winnign team… We will see what kind of coaching Redmond has after a tough loss.. Will he be able to get his boys to respond and come back? I bet he will… What do all of you think about those picks
Chris lebeau and Lovell are better than teen is? really? i its a toss up between Teen and Mays.
MHSAA website has Ecorse winning 47-12 over Hamtramck.
i know tj lovell has, but not sure what colleges. i know last year he had people looking at him. i'm sure they are other players in the league getting looks as well.
I think Teen is the best rb in the league. (Good vision, good speed, very slick/ slippery to bring down, makes your eyebrows raise every now and then )Labeau and Mays are close. Qb: i think howey and jones are the top because their teams win. (howey does not throw the ball much, he still runs the o great, and he can fly, and is a capable thrower when needed)) Best Wideouts is Stockart( This can can jump and has great hands and awareness at the WR position), Cameron from GI is ok. LB: Lovell of smcc, wecloski of huron (They both can hit hard have a nose for the ball) DB: i would say pannone of smcc and baker of airport i suppose but there are not ro many that stick out to me. DL not good with names but airport and smcc have some good ones. along with the o line. The best in the league IMO.
SMCC(7-0), airport(6-1), milan(5-2), Jefferson(3-4), GI(3-4),Huron (2-5) FR(2-5) Riv (0-7)
as a SMCC fan.
-Congrats T.J. you earned it.
-Yes Pannone can hit, even with his size.
-and Way to go David Shirtz (#18), big game and way to step in there and do your job.
Im proud of you boys. Keep it going and get that league title all to yourselves.
Go Falcons!!!
And all other teams stay safe and good luck.
God Bless,
SMCC FAN
Any word on the FR player who was injured on Friday?
Ha remember last week when you said SMCC would be smashed by airport? Now your saying Milan will be smashed? You may speak to soon.
http://www.snooze2you.com/2009/Week6Map.php?division=3
this guy is pretty acurate when figuring out the playoff match up and at this time it Airport, Chelsea, Adrian and Milan. Melvindale is projected to have enough points and enrollment to be in Divion 3.
Division 6 is SMCC
SMCC looks like it might draw a brutal district with Manchester, Blissfield and Clinton.
As it looks now…. Airport would play at Chelsea and then play the winner of Milan and Adrian. They wouldnt play Melvindale til the state Semis.
Wouldnt be surprised at all if Airport and Melvindale are in the same division come playoff time.
How the divisions are made up for those who arent sure:
The divisions are not made up until the 256 team field is set. Those 256 are then divided into 8 divisions of 32. As it is right now http://www.michiganhsfootball.com/topic/7260 Airport, Milan, Crockett, Gibraltar and Melvindale will be in the same Division. Should be interesting.
are there any players in the league getting any college looks?
Just an FYI, divisions aren't determined until the Sunday the pairings are set. Most of the rankings are based on where they think the divisions will fall.
Let me give you something to chew on. This year Airports and Melvindales enrollments are separated by 120 students.
Two years ago when Melvindale spanked Airport 42-7 in the playoffs, they were in the same division and their enrollments were separated by 170 students.
Conclusion? Don't be surprised if they are in the same divisions this year, especially with all these smaller schools scheduling charter schools for gimmee wins. Those smaller schools will push up many of the tweener schools into the higher divisions. Make sense?
If there's one thing I've learned over the years of playing and watching football is that on any given Friday any given HS team Private or Public, can win if they are up for the game. Riverview has almost proven that twice this year, once against SMCC and again this week at Jefferson. It isn't the size of the school or the size or speed of the players on the field, it's the amount of pride and the size of heart they play with on Friday night. I'm proud to say I'm from GI, and though I didn't grow up here or play here, I love the way this team plays and each team in this league plays. They each have their own style, and try to adapt to their next opponet each and every week. Something we as parents and fans take for granted in this league, but other leagues would kill for. Our so called cellar dwellers in this league are giving some of the best teams not only in this league a run for their money, but have proven over the years they give Very Good / Great teams from other leagues around Michigan every thing they can handle and more.
Let's applaud the kids that come out and play and the people who come out to Coach our children on Friday Nights. As good as we were once upon a time when we played, do we really think we would be as good in this day and age? Remember, these kids have learned from You the their Coaches the tricks and knowledge that make them as good as they are and are absorbing it all, along with taking classes that most of us thought were so hard that we'd be lucky to get a C or D in when we went to HS. I have learned to tell myself after every Friday night game, that is just that, just a game. I don't worry what the score is , although I'd love to see my sons team win every week, but I've also watched both my sons and their fellow teammates grow and become better students and people because they've played sports and gone to school at GI, and played in the Huron League. These kids work hard at playing sports and working to get good grades in some very hard classes that prepare them for college, and I think that every Friday Night they show up, and give their heart and soul on that field they should be applauded whether they win or lose. I know that every week when each team is announced as they take the field, I stand up along with the rest of my family to applaud the dedication, commitment and heart that both players and coaches from both teams put into this sport as well as other sports on Friday nights. I don't mean for this to be a sermon or even a speech, it's just a statement of fact, that what these kids in this league are learning is amazing compared to what we went through when we played the game in HS and for some of us even in college!
first off great BLOG, i check it frequently, i wish we had one like this when i was playing in the league! second off i would take good speed with average size any day because you cant coach speed, and you can always work on getting your players stronger and bigger.
25 year class reunion?? If Flat Rock beats Jefferson you, and many alum will be ROCKIN it at the embers.
Melvindale is Division 4- Airport won't have to play them. (Thank God)
One Melvindale is in Division 4 not Division 3… Two Airports coach Redmond of SMCC coach Giarmo are the best i think they are pretty equal in terms of whos better… Dex Teen is not best running back in the league… JODECI MAYS TJ LOVELL CHRIS LABEAU those are the 3 BEST… I believe Grosse Ile is catching airport at a bad time… LOOK FOR AIRPORT TO TAKE OUT ALL THEIR ANGER… SMCC will smash MILAN… league looks like this #1 SMCC #2 Airport #3 Milan #4 Jefferson #5 Grosse Ile #6 Flat Rock #7 Huron #8 Riverview i talked to an airport player and he said he had absolutly no excuses for friday night or did the rest of the team… He said they straight out whooped us period… Great BLOG
Like I've said before, it can be anyones game up until that clock and quarter say "4" and "0:00". If Huron comes out off the ball and comes out strong and plays hard the rest of their season, these next 3 games are winnable. Just up to the Chiefs if they want those wins or not?.
This group of seniors at Milan had a very good record as sophs on JV… Robb isnt doing it with mirrors… Milan has talent.
i haven't seen milan play and know nothing about them. who are their best players?? what kind of challenges will they present smcc with? what are their strengths and weaknesses?
Becasue everyone in the Huron League though Milan would be one of the worest teams this year. Look what he had to work with, hit hard with graduation, smaller kids, and new players, now 4-1 with a chance of a 3 time league title. No one here thought Milan would make it this far, and no one here gives the team respect as a team. Great teams start with great coachs.
Steve Robb? Why?
Coach Steve Rob would have to be the best coach in the league.
I disagree on your assessment of Airport/SMCC. Airport has great size and excellent speed but I think overall SMCC was the faster team. Their overall offensive speed was better than Airport's defense speed. The same was true on the defensive side of the ball. SMCC's overall defensive speed was better than Airport's overall offensive speed.
The key is the speed of the lineman.
Airport was both bigger aned faster than SMCC… EXECUTION of your assignments is what matters most in HS football.
Milan thought the same thing last year.
It depends on what you do whether or not speed or size is better. I would rather have speed. The big play ability could win alot of games.
I do think Riverview beats Huron this year…
Some GREAT thoughts
No one here knows the surge of energy that Milan has right now. We want a share of the title and we will not stop! Nothing will stop us!