Alright, so after getting out and seeing some teams, as well as, talking to people and researching as best I could. I have come up with my picks for the 2014 football season. It looks to me to be a two or three team race, but most everyone is capable of beating teams that you wouldn’t expect. I have my list of predicted finish which also includes league and overall records.
1. SMCC 7-0, 8-1 The Falcons have been waiting for this senior class ever since they arrived and they may have the best RB in the league with junior Justin Carrabino.
2. Milan 6-1, 7-2 The Big Reds have won fourteen straight league games and boast some excellent transfers to go along with the talented C. J. Duffiney and Trace Lindeman.
3. Grosse Ile 4-3, 6-3 The Red Devils welcome back one of the best players in the league QB Andrew Mitroka. Depth will play a key role as injuries really hurt GI last season.
3. Airport 4-3, 4-5 People appear to be sleeping on the Jets this season. They boast a good stable of backs and may have the best lineman in the league in senior Tyler Girt.
5. Huron 3-4, 5-4 The Chiefs boast an abundance of talent offensively, but their defense is what will need to carry them. Look for junior QB Matt Hartwick to have a great season.
6. Jefferson 2-5, 4-5 The Bears appear to be headed back to respectability. They will not be an easy win for anyone this season. Senior Carter Paddy will be one of the best two-way lineman in the league.
6. Riverview 2-5, 4-5 The Pirates graduated a ton of talent from last seasons team. First year head coach Derek Mclaughlin’s team is probably a year away, but don’t be surprised if Riverview jumps up toward the top of the league standings.
8 Flat Rock 0-7, 1-8 The Rams will be much improved this season, but that won’t bring the team out of the basement. The offense is capable, but the defense will have to come together if the Rams are to have any success.
So there you have it. My opinion on the league this season. Milan will make a run, but I just don’t know if they have the team to win it again. SMCC has a ton of speed, size and talent so they will be a tough team for anyone to beat. GI has some great players, but I’m not sure if they have enough good ones to make a run. Airport is the team that may let me down this season. I may be giving them too much credit to win four league games, but we shall see. Huron has to find a way to play defense. If the “D” steps up then they may make the playoffs. I think Jefferson is going to be much improved. The Bears will step up and bite somebody ahead of them. Riverview is a real dark horse. They could make me look foolish. Don’t be surprised if they win 6 or 7 games. Flat Rock is just in a tough situation, getting better, but not quite there yet.
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Niznak passed for over 2,000 yards that season. Many passes lead to those short TD runs. Milan passes much more than it used too, Clarenceville beat us on a pass. More passing is coming. bottom line.
I think it would be cool to do a list of the top players in the HL. Have you ever thought of doing something like that?
Many teams that run the spread, do so to run the ball. Ithaca is one of those teams. In 2010, Niznak ran for 5 TD's in the championship game.
SMCC lost close games to really good teams. SMCC was the 2nd best team in the state D6, 2005-2009-2010. Its that simple.
2004 was the year that got away, if you ask me. That was our best chance.
-bn
Hey EM, who is going to quarterback the Jets this year?
The last 2 years milan twice Constantine and clarenceville have been running teams lost to GI but again more of a running qb ( a really good one though) the best in the league. Last year riverview and jefferson ran right at them and smcc couldn't stop them. So the last five year thing is out. Now if your talking about the 2 finals then yes they were beat by teams that were really good at throwing the ball.
Every significant SMCC loss over the last 5 years has been when they have run into a team with a good passing game. They hold there own against the mediocre passing games' but when then get up the ladder to the good ones, they get beat. They look good playing the lesser programs west of Monroe in the playoffs, but once they start heading northbound the competition is too much. I am SMCC faithful. Its a league thing, not much passing, things are starting to turn though, with GI and Milan passing a bunch, the rest will change their offenses'. Giarmo or not, CC will have to change someday also.
Not an Smcc faithful but…it is amazing that the high powered modern offenses run off five and six minute scoring drives on the SMCC defense, just to be baffled when the SMCC offense scores in four plays with the ball never getting more than four foot off the ground. Folks can tout the passing of program A or B and how that'll dominate vs SMCC, but the simple fact is most teams stop them less than enough to win.
If Tecumseh is anywhere near as good as last year, they will beat SMCC no problem. Passing offense is nothing like anyone has seen in huron league. If its clicking lookout. They have multiple formations and lots of weapons, way above a lot of the basic programs in Huron League. B.W. cant guard them all. Watch out for hook and ladder.
"Trust me Chris, Airport won't let you down."
He picked them to have a losing record.
Ya, SMCC gets killed in 3 games… run left run right… duh..
I thought Riverview pushed Carlson around. I think they'll beat Airport and Huron. I heard Huron looked good, but they didn't play anyone. The team I heard that was very very good was Airport.
How did Huron look?
Riverview was pretty bad at scrimmage. They couldn't stop Carlson's offense. They have one good linebacker that's it
Milan runs the table AGAIN!!! The only loss might, and I say might come to DCD. SMCC will lose 3. Tecumseh, GI and Milan will stomp them. SMCC is so predictable.
Advantage, why?
How much will the home field affect Tecumseh? Grass vs. turf could give SMCC a great advantage.
Tecumseh will beat SMCC. Too big of a school with a great coach and nice talent.
EM predicts Airport will go 7-2.. interesting.
-bn
No way will Tecumseh give them a game. CC is loaded.
They will not beat Adrian or Tecumseh. Nothing against their new coach, but Phil Jacobs and Al Romano are seasoned vets with really good teams this year. That's not saying anything against Airport. I compliment them for being one of the 3-4 teams willing to play at least 1 good non conference game. They are playing 2. Props to them for not being scared like some of the other unnamed teams in this conference lol
No way Tecumseh is as good as in years past. They have lost a lot. CC will roll them
Airport will win at least one non league game. EM
Tecumseh is very, very good this season. I don't see SMCC being able to stop them Offensively or sustain drives. Adrian returns pretty much their whole team from last year as they played almost all sophomores and juniors.
I think it's very unlikely Airport beats one of them. Heard that Jefferson looked below average in their scrimmage from an opposing coach.
Any word on how Huron and Riverview looked in their scrimmages?
Jefferson skilled positions on offense won't be a problem Qb has strong arm only junior a lot of upside receivers good tall have talent .problem is o- line need improvement inn pas and run blocking .
I'm not sure where they come from. I just don't see ten beating Adrian or Tecumseh. I can't see them beating SMCC or Milan either. We shall see.
Does anyone have Airport winning a non leauge game!?
Trust me Chris, Airport won't let you down. They will win a few more than what you predicted. EM
Numbers are low, they have no qb and a defense that is no better then last year. If they beat Jefferson they'll be 2-7.