Airport finds themselves in the MHSAA playoffs for the second time since 2012. We last saw the Jets defeating Romulus in round one of playoffs 40-26. Airport has an overall playoff record of 7-15. Milan has qualified for the MHSAA playoffs 13 of the last 16 seasons. The Big Reds are coming off a round 1 forfeit by the Adrian Maples. Milan has an overall playoff record of 17-19. This will be the 56th meeting between these two schools on the grid-iron, with Milan leading the series 39-15-1, including the last 10 meetings.
Carleton Airport Jets (4-3 Huron League)
Airport once again has seemed to take strides forward under 4th year head Coach Jim Duffy. The Jets feature a strong run game behind RB ’21 Jacob Pac and RB ’22 Nick Hammond. Under center for the jets will be freshman Cooper Nye. Leading the charge up front will be returning starters Eli Krimmel , Noah Umin , Evan Kemp , and Sheldin Baldock.
Coach Duffy’s Outlook: “We are excited to have the opportunity to play football this fall. We have a core group of seniors that are all 3rd year varsity starters. They all have been key contributors in helping us establish a winning culture and continuing to help lead our program in the right direction. We will lean heavily on our seniors to help some of our younger players develop and continue to build.”
Milan Big Reds (5-1 Huron League)
Under Head Coach Jesse Hoskins, the Big Reds are a playoff mainstay with their 6th consecutive trip to post season play. Do everything, QB ’22 Cole McElvany leads the team in both rushing(85 yards per game) and passing(100 yards per game). He is not alone however, the Big Reds boast a very athletic and powerful offense, RB ’22 Jett Isaacs, WR ’21 Kendrick McBride and WR ’22 Connor Dessellier will give fits to the opposing team. Other standouts include OL/DL ’21 Dylan Beck, RB/LB ’21 Ethan Griffin and OL/DL ’21 Kaleb Monahan.
Comment from Coach Hoskins following the week 5 victory over the Jets:”I feel like the game took a couple years off my life. All of our Airport games are like this. They’re weird games. A bunch of weird things happened tonight, a bunch of different momentum swings. I just told the guys at the very end, we made a lot of mistakes, but our guys are winners, and they find a way to make plays when we need to make plays and that’s a special quality.”
FNV Thoughts: I think Coach Hoskins said it best, weird things happen when these two teams meet. The Big Reds have won the last 5 meetings by an average margin of 6.2 ppg. Why would this game be any different? Two teams who are very familiar with each other and it is hard to beat a team twice in the same season. I look for a special teams play to win it at the end, possibly in OT. This should be a another dandy out of these two squads.
- Gary’s Pick: Airport
- Chris’ Pick: Milan
- Frank’s Pick: Airport
Thanks.
I’m expecting another nail biter just like the first game this season and the playoff game last year. My opinion Nye’s performance in the first game was his coming out party, he made some big plays with his arm and his legs. Here’s to hoping Airport can finally get over the top against Milan and win one of these close games.
I’m just a local high school football fan. Would I be allowed into the playoff game at Airport this Friday?
Yes. You have to go through the app GOFan. Search the school you want and it will list if there is tickets available. They have an allotment available to the public but once they hit their number you can’t buy tickets anymore.
FYI. The game is in Milan.