Both of these teams enter this quarter-final game with 10-1 records. The Flying Dutchmen’s only set back was at the hands of traditional Division V power Hillsdale the last week of the regular season. The Falcons lone loss was a week 1 thriller to Detroit Crockett who is still alive in Division III. These two teams have met twice in the playoffs over the last four years with SMCC coming out on top both times. Last year SMCC made an amazing comeback as they trailed 14-6 with less than six minutes to play in the 4th quarter. The Falcons forced 3 straight Dutchman turnovers as they stole an 18-14 decision. In that game the ball seem to take some strange bounces that went the way of the Catholics.
Manchester is led by a dominant defense that has only given up 99 points in eleven games including 3 shutouts. Last week the Dutchmen shutout Clinton who came in to the game averaging 28 points per game. Defensively, Manchester is led by their athletic linebackers Brent Schriber and Kevin Mulcare. The Dutchmen are also strong on the defensive line with Dylan Neff and Ben Stachnik. Offensively, Logan Zigila leads the way at quarterback for Manchester. Zigila is known for his throwing ability but will run the ball when called upon. DJ Hone leads the running game for the Dutchmen.
SMCC will once again rely on their running game for success. The Falcons did not throw a pass last week against Blissfield but did display a little trickery within their vanilla offense and it proved to be effective as they blew open a close game with 21 unanswered points in the 2nd half. Defensively, the Falcons will need to be sharp against a team that likes to throw the ball as much as it runs. At times this season the Falcon defense has been suspect and this could be a potential problem for the hosts.
This years game like last years looks like it could be another great match up. It will be a battle of Manchester’s defense and SMCC’s offense. Normally I would go with the defense but the Falcon’s have too much fire power offensively for the Dutchmen and a pretty darn good defense themselves. I would save a spot in the State semi-finals for the Falcons and hopefully another date with Constantine with whom the Falcons owe some revenge. SMCC wins 28-19.
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MHSAA website has the SMCC/Constantine game being played at Jackson, Withington Stadium Saturday at 1:00pm. That's the same place they played last year right?
Ridiculous Airport fan here….. Airport fans are realist’s, we got knocked out of the playoffs by a better coached team, we will struggle next year because of lack of talent and our program needs help because the new AD and current coaches don’t get along, I see a change soon, not for the better. We don’t have much to talk about on this forum after a good talented team got knocked out of the playoffs which we may not see next year or the year after that. Good Luck SMCC the rest of the way!
this blog isnt nearly as fun without the rediculous over inflating Airport comments every week....
I took vanilla to mean plain, ordinary or boring... I personaly think The Straight T is a thing of beauty.
Vanilla isn't a negative canotation. I know many think that but that isn't what I meant.
SMCC's defense will decide the outcome of this game.
btw Constantine is full house T just like SMCC's. I was apart of that 2004 semi-final team which ended in controversy. I would love to see that rematch
Chris I thought you knew more than to call SMCC's offense "vanilla". Effective, efficient or overpowering would be the modifiers I would choose over vanilla.
Mr.HuronLeagueMan: Do you know anything about Bronson or Constantine? If SMCC wins how do you think they will matchup against one of those teams? Again they have to win. I am just curious!
Manchester has a stud on their d-line. I didn't catch his name but he was #72. However, Manchester just didn't appear to be the same calibur as SMCC when I watched them play Clinton last week.
SMCC should win this game fairly easily (28-6) and get a re-match with Constantine. However, it looks like Montague is well on their way to a repeat.
Good luck to the Falcons. Rep the league well.
34-14 smcc