This is the game of the week in the Huron League. Grosse Ile (3-0) is coming off of a 42-7 home victory over Flat Rock. SMCC (3-0) won on the road at Huron 28-0. Grosse Ile won last season’s game on the Island 21-15. SMCC has won eight of the last ten meetings.
The Red Devils go on the road for the first time this season as they travel to Navarre Field. The offense has been impressive this season averaging 35 ppg while the defense has given up only sixteen points all season. The offense has been-multi dimensional this year and seemingly gets all the accolades but the defense has been more impressive.
SMCC must find a way to get over the injury bug as two important defensive players (Antonelli and Courturier) are likely to miss Friday’s game. The offense showed it was more than just a running team last week by airing it out a bit when needed.
This has all the makings of a great game as each team has high hopes of dethroning Milan this year for league supremacy. There is high rankings, star power, great coaches and a historic field all involved in the match up. Pretty tough to pick a winner here but I will give it a shot. Pick: SMCC 22 Grosse Ile 21
CC has injuries. But no excuses
I wouldn't pick against SMCC, unless its Milan they are playing.
So this week Milan will beat GI and the Huron League championship game will take place a week from Friday with Milan hosting SMCC.
On a well-lit field with guys healthy on both sides, in a pressure game, it will be interesting to see how it turns out: disciplined running attack vs. a spread offense.
Thank you everyone for doubting smcc. They shut you up.
I was hoping that Charlie Chapman of Airport would develop into a player at Indiana. He never got much PT, but was a 2-time Big Ten All-Academic selection and graduated this past May. Props to him and his family.
http://www.iuhoosiers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/chapman_charlie00.html
Grosse Ile also had Blake Smolen who was considered "too small" to play D1 football but went on to be an all american at the D2 level at GVSU while also setting numerous records there.
Tre Bishop played DE at WMU. EM
Yes Chris he did. And everybody snickered and said I'll believe it when I see it, when writers like you made predictions about him being a D1 player in his junior year.
Most successful player from HL to play D1? Maybe Corey Gildersleeve from SMCC (92) played at CMU. Still has record for tackles in a game. Blew out his acl his senior year or else would have gone in the second or third round.
Current Huron League Players at Wayne State:
Thom Box (C) – Milan
Majd Khytaz (K) – Grosse Ile
Alex Kish (LB) – Grosse Ile
Al Saad (RB) – Riverview
Yea, I'm pretty sure Frysinger ended up playing DT for the Wolverines at about 290 lbs.
Just so you all remember, Jake Frysinger, LB/RB, Grosse Ile, MI. 6'4", 235 lbs, 4.75. Frysinger committed to Michigan in March of his junior year.
Jake Notario.(Monroe) Not HL but close enough. LOL
D1 Southern Illinois. Actually on TV on opening weekend.
Will yuall PLEEEZE stop the D1 talk. I have heard it every year for the last 7-8 years and the HL is LUCKY to have 3-5 players per year ATTEMPT to play D2/3. MOST don't make it there either… so enough pleeeeze!!
I would LOVE to see a bunch of HL kids with full rides to D1 schools, it would be great…BUT IT AIN'T HAPPENIN' PEOPLE so stop pumpin' up all your little Johnny's on this blog 'cause it WON'T MATTER.
It takes: (1) SIZE, (2)SPEED and (3) "1 in a 1000" god given skills…. and the HL numbers just don't add up. Maybe someone with speed, or size, or 1 in 500 skill pops now and then but almost NEVER all 3 elements. (hence 1 in 1000 skills)
Oh Yea…almost forgot, they gotta go to school too, some guys can't hack it in college curriculum's.
BTW…GI wins 3 straight over the Catholics. 1st real test for GI D so we'll see if they're for real or just a bunch of blog "hot air". Hint: 3 in a row!
SITOFN
(former D1 player to keep things in perspective about my comments on D1 above)
Chris, the kid from GI is good. You've been doing this site for a while now and seen the devils each year. Since you started writing the blog, who is the best GI player out of all those years?
I believe it will be GI 28 – SMCC 21
Rain will help CC!
Gilliam's hand is broke. Only time and healing can work on that! He's out!
SMCC 21 GI 14. SMCC's depth will be the difference. EM
Yes he's a big loss for them, more at DT then C though because of CCs offense
Yes it does thank you 1:54
I heard Gilliam might be able to play now. They are working on it. Not sure of your source, but my kid is on the team.
The two years GI has picked SMCC apart. 2011 was Kish scoring all the touchdowns. Last year it was a combo of Mitroka 2, McCarty 1 and Cristen 1. Mitroka and McCarty are still there. Cristen has been replaced by Volmerhausen who is a horse. (sp).
I will be the game of the week and GI will provide SMCC with a skill set that they have yet to see this year. Can't wait until tomorrow night!
Gilliam GI center and biggest lineman is out and leaves GI with no viable back up center. Not a good situation for GI.
Huron League overall playoff record:
SMCC: 35-17
View: 11-11
Milan: 9-13
GI: 9-9
Jeff: 10-8
FR: 2-1
AP: 6-14
Huron: 0-1
Best finish:
SMCC:State Champs 1991, also lost in finals. Several semi final loses
View: Lost in finals 1997 and 2002
Milan: Lost in regional game twice
GI: 2 trips to semi-final game
Jeff: 1994 state champs
FR: 1976 State champs
AP: Regional game, twice
Huron: Pre-district.
Does that answer your question 11:18 post?
I believe it will be a fairly wide margin of victory for GI because of their passing game. Their QB has improved each year and nothing beats a great QB. I think a great QB can pick apart a defense at any level.
Please remember one thing about this kid. He is only a junior.
At this point I don't anticipate Mitroka playing QB in college. I don't believe I ever said that. At 6-1 175 lbs, he does have room for growth but I see him being recruited more as an athlete. Like I have said, he can play at an Eastern but will most likely play at a Wayne State or GVSU.
We in Milan will watch the GI v. CC battle with interest.
We hope for a fair, safe, fight on that barely lit field.
And to both teams: have fun and go beat each other up!!
In 10 days the dust will have cleared.
Chris, did you see Tecumseh quarterback Ben Dreslinski play against Milan last year? If so, how does the GI kid compare? That guy dominated in that game. He ended up D-2.
Where people end up is speculation, but can he dominate the next two Friday nights? A good QB can pick apart teams in this league. If he does, we should all be impressed.
Anyone able to Live Stream this one… I'm headed out of town and this game along with their respective contests at Milan, should be the best games in the league this year… Good luck, Stay Healthy… GO Falcons…
I am planning on coming to this game. Hopefully the weather doesn't prevent this game from happening.
Even with both teams having injuries it should still be a good game for us to watch. Smcc has lost the last two years against GI but both teams have lost talented kids and gained talented kids so you can't base it on previous wins. Both teams have received a lot of press and hype. Lets just hope it's a good game and not a blow out like the season has been so far
I really only follow a few schools so im Just curious how far GI goes in the state finals every year. I know Smcc always goes far but wondered who has the better record.
CC will also miss Antonelli on the offensive side of the ball. He has been a work horse the last two years running the ball.
I find it funny the wide margin of victory that people are predicting for GI, the last 2 seasons CC has not been good. 2011 was brutal and 2012 was average at best. GI beat them twice by a touchdown with much more talent. Now that CC has gotten much better and in my opionin GI is about the same as last year how do you figure a 17 point win?
These are all opinions folks. Relax, this is for fun and make our work day go by. If Chris thinks a kid is a great athlete, he is probably correct. He has more knowledge about this than most of us or he wouldn't be running the blog. Theres lots of great kids in the league, we all have our thoughts depending on what school we are associated with.
This will be an awesome game no matter who you like. Thats all you can ask for.
Looks like I have to have played college football to understand what it takes to play at the Division 1 level.
Really is that the best you have (as I am shaking my head in utter disbelief)? Nevermind, don't respond, I can't really take much more.
Should I shred his sophomoric argument people or should I just let that post stand on it's on for all to see and chuckle.
Let's focus on the game please: Gilliam being out is huge for GI. The Red Devils already have depth issues.
Yes because I don't think you know what it takes to plat at that level?
Did you play college football?
Really, so who did impress you when Huron got thumped by GI? And I mean Thumped!!
I'm sure your dad did great in the band. Hope he's reading what you wrote.
Listen here, anyone who has attended West Point has my respect.
Most of us will never have that privilege. I'm sure that man is a quality person and I assure you he is raising a quality son. Obviously you have no idea what it means to go to West Point.
Mitroka will definitely grow up to be somebody, unlike yourself.
Did you really just ask me that stupid question?
Seriously read what you just posted!
Think about some of the Huron League players that have been on D1rosters over the last 10 years. If you think he can't make a D1 roster then you're crazy. I personally think he will play D2 unless he goes the West Point route.
Apparently you're the all knowing expert so we will go with your knowledge then.
I was at the Huron game and I saw him live. I think he is talented, not D1 talent. Have you ever watched Division 1 football in person? Even if he grows and gets bigger he is not a D1 player. Maybe a D2 player at Receiver.
I wouldn't base much on what his "father" did. My father was in the band and I was an all state wrestler. Maybe he will prove me wrong this week? From what I hear he is a tad arrogant and needs a boost of reality!
Gilliam out for GI, thats a 2 way starter
You do realize that Mitroka is in the 4th game of his junior year right? He is a division 1 talent. Oregon? No, Eastern? Yes! I say he goes to a Wayne State or GVSU instead unless he plays at West Point where is father was a LB and team captain.
Have you seen Mitroka live this season or just on film?
GI has the most overrated play in the league. I've been hearing Oregon and D1 talk are you kidding me? He will struggle to play at Olivet. Plus, he isn't even the best QB in the league. Kanitz from Milan is on a different level. How many Turnovers has the GI QB had in the last 2 games? 4, yes I believe 4. Against Huron and FR? Not sure if that will cut it against UCLA USC and Arizona State. let alone Albion, Alma, and Hope
Should be a great game. I think GI's spread offense and passing attack will prevail. SMCC has passed some this year, but still got the old school offense and continue to run most of the time.
GI 35 SMCC 17.
Chris,
SMCC wins by 3TD's. GI is overrated! TRUST ME
Antonelli and Couturier are out for sure.
This pick surprises me, GI has the best player and have won the last 2. I don't think they can make up for the losses to injury against a great team like GI.
It should be close… I say its in the 30's. Extra points decide it. 35-33 Red Devils.
-bn