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.
Copyright Huron League Football Blog 2009 All Rights Reserved
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.
ok again with the enrollment crap!
i may sound like a hater but im anything but, im a realist.
smcc gets the cream of the crop, and anyone who they dont want they can not accept or kick out.
take airport for example, their starting right tackle went to cc freshman year and got kicked out, but he cleaned up his act at airport and had a great senior year. its not the public schools fault that they must provide education to everyone from athletes to drama kids to kids who despise athletics. its the law!
November 19, 2009 9:53 PM
whoever wrote this..i couldn't agree more!! SMCC can have more discipline because the scholarships they are providing pay for it..i know people pay some $ for their kids to go there, but seriously get a clue..don't tell me u breed great athletes at SMCC you've won 18-19 of the huron league titles in the past 40 years..it's not because of TRADITION..it's because u can recruit!
What do you mean by SMCC can not accept someone? Anyone can go there. From my understanding if you want to go there you have to take a placement test. The test shows what level of classes to put you in; concepts, regular, or honors. So can you can explain that to me? Also, I'm pretty sure that if a student is that bad any school can kick someone out. I'm just going on what I know. If I'm wrong someone can correct me.
by the way, do you know how much better smcc is now since week one? smcc crushed Divine child in WEEK 9. DC played olsm first round and put a battle, yes they lost by about 20, but thats pretty much the same amount smcc won by. Oh and for the record, i believe now smcc would BEAT crockett, much better team than before. Stop hating ang support the league!
ok then. HEY AIRPORT imagine what olsm, crockett and all of these schools would do to you!! after SMCC phycially was to much for you guys. airport would get absolutely demolished by these schools then, smcc smashed airport, so you do the math. smcc could hang with these guys (not egr) But yes crockett, olsm they could.
ok again with the enrollment crap!
i may sound like a hater but im anything but, im a realist.
smcc gets the cream of the crop, and anyone who they dont want they can not accept or kick out.
take airport for example, their starting right tackle went to cc freshman year and got kicked out, but he cleaned up his act at airport and had a great senior year. its not the public schools fault that they must provide education to everyone from athletes to drama kids to kids who despise athletics. its the law!
i'm so tired about everyone trying to bring cc down for playni in d 6. its not like they're cheating or playing in a lower division then they're suppose to. they play in the division THEY'RE SUPPOSE TO. cc is living proof that the division you play in does NOT dictate how good a team is. i'm pretty sure they've proved that by going 6-0 in the huron league and demolishing dc and losing a game to crockett that could most deffinately have gone either way. but do you hear cc complaining about losing to crockett all because they are d3. NO. cc keep it up and make sure you take it one game at a time, when your this close its way to easy to forget about the game ahead of you and start takling about ford field. CONSTANTINE first. good luck, represent the huron league well, you already have but lets bring it home down river. GO FALCONS
the crap talking always has to come up when smcc does good,
well airport if you played in a bigger league u would maybe be able to beat nick hills team. grow some and play bigger schhols like smcc does and maybeeee just maybeee you will win a district , regional and thats prob. about it.
im sorry the truth hurts.
and stop degrading smcc
2009- STATE SEMI-FINALIST- maybe more
2008 STATE SEMI-FINALIST
2007-District runner up
2006- playoffs.
2005- STATE FINALIST
2004- STATE SEMI FINALIST
2003- STATE SEMI-FINALIST
2001- playoffs
2000- District champions
That is sucess,
be a man and be a good supporter of the huron league come onn
please dont' compare scores..if CC had to play crockett right now they'd get destroyed..it was week one..if smcc had to play inkster their kids would get hurt..not a chance..southgate would beat SMCC, and you see what inkster did to them..different world..
hahahahahahahah Orchard Lake St. Mary's, or East GR would destroy SMCC….those teams are loaded with athletes…SMCC could run all the fakes they want, wouldn't matter, physical domination would take over..luckily SMCC hasn't played a talented spread team in the playoffs….easy with that comment..just because SMCC is making a nice run, beating teams that would be middle of the pack in the Huron League, don't blow it out of context..they should be proud of themselves, but reality will bite them hard at ford field..I wish them luck, but be realistic people
wow another arrogant airport fan, would be jelous over smcc. sorry we beat you and by the way, smcc would beat chelsea. they would put of a battle with olsm as well
Go SMCC!!! We are all rooting for you guys to go to Ford Field. You played hard this year and deserve it!! Keep focused on beating constantine and keep pushing, never give up! You should all be proud of yourselves for a great and exciting year!
The only teams that would make a run in D6(other than SMCC)would be Airport and Milan. However Airport and Milan more than double the enrollment that is required to play D6 year in and year out. All the other teams in the HL would have lost to Harper Woods in week 1.
SMCC dodges nobody when it comes to their schedule. They play large school, private schools, tech schools.. have play book will travel. This year alone they played Crockett(D3) Airport(D3) Milan(D3) DDC(D3)and so on and so on. They also beat Airport by 18 who beat Bedford by 5 who beat AAP by 7 who beat Inkster by 3 and Chelsea by 36. What this means is SMCC could compete angainst ANYONE…. and they do.
School enrollement places you in the division you belong in. SMCC's puts them in D6. Now going back to your statement, SMCC did play 9 schools in higher divisions and went 8-1. 3 of those wins came against playoff teams.. they trounced Airport 40-22, beat Milan 28-14 and dominated DDC 32-16. You were saying? How bad did Chelsea beat Airport? Was it by more than 18? Im pretty sure it went into OT, SMCC didnt need OT to beat Airport, they beat them by 3TD's. Anything else on your mind?
This will be a closer game than everyone thinks. Defense will decide who goes to Ford Field. SMCC 29 Constantine 24
Im just saying i didnt know the huron league was all about SMCC playing in division 6 where all the teams in the huron league would make a run…. I would wanna see SMCC play Chelseas nick hill or adrian or dewitt or orchard lake st. marys or East Grand Rapids
I was not there in 2004 but have heard the story quite a few times.
I plan on going Saturday.
I will take a one point win all day long Chris. No style points in HS football. Were you at the game in 2004? SMCC had them beat up 2 scores with 3-4 minutes to play. Constantine drove down the field in large part to a 50 yard run right up the middle(trap) and nobody on the defense knew he had the ball. Well to make a long story short, SMCC did nothing on the next drive and Constantine had the ball on the 40-50 with ONE second left on the clock. Well you know the rest of the story.
Like I said before I look for a beat down from start to finish.
You didn't see the irony in my score pick?
to add on smcc is just playing to good right now, much better than they did in the regular season.
once again your score is too close. last week you predicted a close manchester game, and i said smcc would win 35-14, this time around im going to say 32-13, smcc