Memory Lane

Just to add a little to the predictions this week I would like to repost my league predictions for SMCC and Airport. I posted these on August 26th, 2009 and feel pretty good about what was written.

Take a look, these are the exact post from just over 1 month ago:

Airport

Well I am down to two teams and I probably need to pick somebody to win this darn thing. Both Airport and SMCC have competed for the league title virtually every year this millennium. SMCC is rich in it’s football tradition and Airport has an excellent overall athletic program.

Airport finished last season at 7-3 and finished in a 1st place tie with Milan for the league title at 6-1. Airport was hit pretty hard with graduation but return 22 seniors to the gridiron this fall.

Offensively the Jets will put up points and will center their offense around their QB Daniel Jones and RB Jodeci Mays. The speed that these two possess will really put pressure on opposing team’s defenses. Look for Jones to throw enough to keep league foes off balance in order to set up the running game.

Defense has always been a strength under veteran coach Eric Redmond. Airport recorded three shutouts last year. The Jets pride themselves on playing good defense and this year will be no different. Michael Graves and Drew Nava are excellent linebackers who will give opposing offenses fits.

While Airport will be defending their league title this year and should have an excellent team, I can’t help but think that SMCC is just a little bit better. Look for Airport to finish 6-1 in the league and 7-2 overall.

SMCC

We have spent the last week working our way from bottom to top in an effort to predict who would win the Huron League. I have been cheered, jeered, booed and praised. None of it really matters including my predictions because high school football doesn’t start until Friday night. This blog along with these predictions were just one fan’s effort to add to what is one of the greatest times of the year.

SMCC has been a power in the Huron League for the better part of the last 22 years winning 8 Huron League title. Prior to that the school was known as Monroe Catholic Central and the Falcons won 10 league titles in a span of 20 years. No team even comes close to matching the dominance that the Catholics from Monroe have shown.

This years team has been chosen to win the league because they have every thing it takes to win the Huron League. I don’t know if they have what it takes to win a state title because I don’t know if SMCC has been working on the passing game.

SMCC returns a host of veteran players including 8 juniors who started at one time or another on varsity last year as sophomores. The Falcons have only 13 seniors but will rely on most of them in order to achieve football glory this fall.

Offensively the Falcons will run the ball right at you, although they will use some deception. As many as 5 or 6 backs could carry the load on any given Friday. Fullback TJ Lovell is perhaps the best player in the league. His bruising and determined running style make the Falcons physical. When you focus too much on Lovell, they will hit you with their speed.

Defensively, the Falcons will be led by Lovell at LB, Nick Wilson at DE and Mike Pannone who was an all-league defensive back as a sophomore. Scoring on the Falcons will be tough to do on the ground and teams may have better luck throwing on them instead.

I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t mention the coaching at SMCC. Jack Giarmo has been an excellent coach since he took over in 1998. He has gone an impressive 83-39 since taking the position while winning two league titles. Perhaps the most impressive part of Giarmo’s tenure has been the special teams play. Year in and year out the Falcons have had an advantage in field position because of their special teams. Last year alone Martellis Simon scored 6 times on returns.

Look for SMCC to finish the league season undefeated at 7-0. I do believe they will be challenged by Airport who skunked the Falcons 21-0 last year. Jefferson has won 2 in a row against their rivals and may have something to say about an undefeated league season. Riveview played SMCC tough last year and Jeff Stergalas should be able to match wits with Giarmo. A game that intrigues me is on September 18th when Huron host the Falcons. Huron will not be able to stop SMCC’s ground game but will the Falcons be able to stop the Chiefs?

I see SMCC finishing 8-1 overall this season. I think that loss will come opening night against a Detroit Crockett team that has an excellent run defense and will be able to match the Falcon speed. The Rockets were playoff qualifiers last year and lost to state finalist Detroit Country Day 17-7 in the opening round of the playoffs.

Not bad eh? We will see what happens on Friday. Look for my prediction later this evening.