Constantine and SMCC will be meeting Saturday on the gridiron for only the 2nd time in each school’s history. In 2004, the Falcons (of Constantine) scored a late touchdown against SMCC to win a hard fought semi final game 28-27. That win enabled Constantine to win the 2004 State Championship with a win over Suttons Bay at Ford Field.
Constantine started the season 0-2 and had given up 50 points in it’s first 5 quarters of play. The Falcons have rallied since reeling off 10 straight victories in what many thought might be a year where Constantine doesn’t make the playoffs. The Falcons only start 2 seniors on offense and just 3 seniors on defense. Many thought this team was probably a year away from a long playoff run.
Constantine runs the T offense and is a mirror image of SMCC. Jake Bower is the signal caller and hands off nearly every play to a stable of running backs. (sound familiar?) Freshmen Payton White is a star in the making and may be the Falcons best ball carrier. Look for Shawn Tucker and Zach Mallo to carry the ball numerous times and don’t expect the Falcons to throw much. (sound familiar?)
Defensively, Constantine is led by 5’10” 210 linebacker Ron Fancher and 230 lb defensive lineman Malcolm Wilson. The Falcons are extremely physical and have a loyal following from the football crazy town just miles north of the Indiana border. Many of the Falcons have been playing football since a young age as part of the youth football program in the town of Constantine.
I’ve been writing about SMCC every week since mid August and I think I just described them again as they are a mirror image of the Falcons from Constantine.
This contest should be a great game and shouldn’t last very long. Neither team will look to pass very often and both sides will try and hide the ball with a bevy of fakes. This game should go down to the wire and the winner of this game will no doubt get a date with Montague at Ford Field. I am going out on a limb and picking the Falcons to win this game 28-27. Ehhh, the Falcons of SMCC.
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I just want to wish SMCC and the other teams playing tomorrow GOOD LUCK! All the boys have played hard to get here, no matter the division. To SMCC: get pumped and get your mind set right for tomorrow, whatever happens its been a fun season and i've enjoyed every minute! GO SMCC, get to FF!!!
DDC is twice the size of SMCC and is in the Catholic league and has gotten handled two years in a row by the green and gold falcons..... look people... its about the huron league right now... GO HL!!!
Who from SMCC said they could hang with the likes of EGR? I said SMCC beat Airport who beat Bedford....... I mentioned nothing about EGR. We dont have to beat EGR, we have to beat the HL foes and our divisional foes come playoff time. Nobody in the state could beat EGR btw. If Airport were still in the playoffs I know for one that I would be rooting them on or any HL team for that matter. Why other fans in the league cant jump onboard and root for the HL and Monroe County rep is beyond me.
It seems to be that SMCC is doing as much or more of the smack-talking. I understand that there is nothing you can do about being in D6. I understand that you went undefeated in the league. I understand that people are popping off against you.
Bottom line: The thing that seperates a great team and an elite team is being able to win with class and lose with dignity.
As far as competing with OLSM and East Grand Rapids, you must first realize that both of these teams are perennial powers with many more students and SMCC would not be able to hang.
I know that makes me a "hater", but no team in the huron league could compete with them this year. East Grand Rapids has won 5 out of the last 7 state titles (and well on its way to win its fourth straight) and OLSM is a catholic school twice the size as SMCC.
Let's try to keep things in perspective.
I still can't believe, thinking back about the airport vs. smcc game, I was in the stands waiting, waiting for a beating from this amazing airport team. I waited, waited, then waited some more. What the heck happened airport? I know you guys are disappointed. Heck, a SMCC fan and I was disappointed. You guys didn't show us what you had. Now, you're bitter, taking it out on SMCC, saying this and that about the team and who they should be playing and all this talk about leagues and districts and all. But when it comes down to it, it's all about you guys having the chance to show everyone, and you didn't. It's typical for you to blame SMCC for showing you up, but, it's your own fault. Don't play the victim. Use it to motivate you next season. No reason to hate. It was all fair and square. It's just a game. You have to play it.
recruit? cream of the crop? you need to get serious. yes they try to get all the parochial kids, but look at the 5th and 6th grade rosters of these schools. 1/2 will attend CC. look at all region this year, how many public school kids played CYO? alot. the best kid at st mary is going to MHS. nothing against any public school, but lets get honest. who out there was approached by Joe Sanderson to go to CC? if you didn't want to attend his school, he didn't give a rats behind. he worked with what he had.
and he didnt take crap from anyone, parents, administrator, of kids. that was the difference.nobody told him what to do. and if his fund raising group wasnt 100% about TEAM, he would not have taken any money, or he would have disbanded it. a.k.a. first downers.
Congrats SMCC you know you have made it when the other teams in your league have to pit you against other dominant, private and larger schools.... basicaly saying "go beat them for a change". Thank you also for saying SMCC has the cream of the crop, I am betting their faculty are just as proud of the students and would say the same thing. I promise you this... more college football players come out of Jefferson, Riverview or Airport then they do out of SMCC. SMCC does not have the best players.... they have the best team. good luck boys!
SMCC has played 2 of the better programs in the history of the state their last 2 games in Manchester and now Constantine. There are only 2 programs in the huron league that can boast of better tradition those being Riverview and SMCC. Airport you rank 437th out of 630 schools.... yes the ex CC coach turned you guys around over the last 10 years but as soon as he leaves you will be right back to your garbage selves out their in Carleton. When compared against your peers(playoffs) Airport is an astounding 6-11, SMCC by the way is 19th out of 630 schools and holds a playoff record of 27-14. Yes I agree SMCC does recruit from all of the CYO programs. Good luck falcons, dont listen to all the haters and do your thing on Saturday so you can piss off all these wannabees some more.
You never hear SMCC make excuses.... only the other teams in the league. Losers make excuses.
People on here have said, I wanna see SMCC play OLSM, Dewitt or EGR, I wanna see them play this or or that team. Not many people say I wanna see Airport, Milan, or any other team to play OLSM, Dewitt, or this team or that team. It just seems like everyone always wants SMCC to play somebody else and not any of the other teams. Maybe it's just me it, but it seems that way. Just a thought, not trying to complain.