Looks like SMCC and Giarmo got the best of Al Romano who is one of the best coaches in the state. Maybe Giarmo is too!
Was that a good win for Milan? Marshall is a solid program, but some say no since the departure of legendary coach Rich Hulkow left for the college ranks four years ago.
Looks like GI’s Andrew Mitroka is fully healed. Look for him to play some defense this week if needed.
Nice comeback win for the Jets. Although Adrian was 2-7 last season, they handled Airport and returned a good portion of their line up.
Huron got a win, but Summit needs to open with someone like Annapolis or Flat Rock.
Riverview spanked Garden City who is favored by some to win their red division of the Western Wayne Athletic Conference.
I was surprised that Ida routed Jefferson.
Flat Rock looked 100% better than last year. I’m not sure where a win will come from though.
Best offensive performance week 1? Best defensive performance?
A few transfers around the league had a positive effect on their teams
Milan/Riverview should be an interesting match up. GI/Huron too!
Do they just grow kids bigger these days? I saw some big kids this week.
Is it fair to start the season before schools actually starts for everyone?
Is Milan the favorite in league play or someone else?
Don't encourage me, we've got a lot of season left to go! 🙂
Yes, last week's win was a good one for Milan. Based on the first quarter of the Marshall game, one might even say the win was an improbable one. Marshall was bigger in the trenches, more diversified in its offensive playcalling (because more skill position players were effective), and loading up against the run on defense. Linebackers were crashing in on the snap and Marshall was defending the edge very well against the run also.
Then, the 2nd quarter happened, and perhaps some of the jitters had worn off, perhaps the blocking schemes up front had been tweaked, but all of a sudden the QB keeper started to gain chunks of yardage. Anyone who has watched Robert Kanitz in recent years will easily recognize the play: QB fakes a handoff to a running back or a slotback streaking across, keeps the ball, and rams ahead downhill between the tackles. Medvecz racked up huge yardage and three scores off of this play; Marshall never really stopped it consistently after the first quarter ended.
The passing game was abysmal thoughout. Receivers weren't getting open (not having Duffiney hurts, for certain), but Medvecz was never able to throw the ball in any way that took the heat off the running game. This will need to improve.
For anyone looking forward to the 2014 debut of Trace Lindeman, they had to wait until the second half. Trace's talent was obvious, although it took a while for the offense to click again with him on the field. Lindeman also was part of the big play of the game as he launched a long halfback pass to a wide open receiver for a touchdown. With the defense selling out to stop the run, plays like halfback pass or double pass were available all game–it was just a matter of when the coaches would make the call and of whether the players could execute it.
With the Marshall defense having to play more honest, Medvecz was able to gash a bit more on the inside while Lindeman has a little more room on the outside to operate.
Milan played bend-but-don't-break on defense, but stood tall when they needed to most, including a red zone stop to end the game. Gray is a force anchoring the linebackers, but Hendricks had some big moments as well. As the game progressed, the temperature dropped and several players on both sides had to leave the game with lower body injuries. Cortez Gray was visably hobbled throughout the fourth quarter but gutted it out and even at less than 100% made some great stops with the game in the balance.
Milan has quite a bit of work to do to uphold their lofty standards. C.J. Duffiney's loss for the season is a huge blow and the team can't afford any more injuries to its top players. The offense will need to be more diversified and the defense needs to tackle better–both points echoed by Coach Hoskins after the game. It's still a young team and a small team and they will need to maximize their advantages in order to overcome the disadvantages they may face against the better teams on their schedule this season. Also, don't make the mistake I made back in the first quarter and discount that coaching staff. It's clear that they remain an X-factor in any close game.
Congrats on the longest post in blog history!
They were not in the first half. But they did prove to have a good ground game and that started working in the 2nd half. Old school pounding it, finally started to work. We will see how Ida ends up. I bet not too bad. 5-4, maybe 6-3.
Ida is not good
Jefferson will be fine. They are working the kinks out of a new offense. will get better every week. As each program changed their offense they struggled. It just wasn't well known. And the ones that will eventually change their offense, will struggle also.
JV looked decent. They will improve also.
Jefferson Jv lost 40-30 to ida
Jefferson Jv lost 40-30 to ida
Riverview 21 Milan 20. Milan goes for 2 and gets stuffed. Riverview breaks the streak.
SMCC 98 FR 2. A mercy safety
Airport 54 Jefferson 12..this isn't a rivalry anymore
GI 28 Huron 27 Kalby forgets the kicking block Huron misses the first extra point.
Does anyone know how Jeffersons jv did last week and do they have anyone who could help the varsity this year?
Does anyone know how jefferson jv did last week? Do they have anyone who could possibly help them this year?
yea yea lets play the games and see
I would suggest keeping an eye on Riverview. We are all concentrating on Milan, SMCC, and GI. I think Riverview will be right there with them. Coming off 7-2 season and some good kids from a great JV squad. They will be a contender also.
You might be right. Riverview will have a chance to prove that this Friday night. Just because I'm a Milan fan doesn't mean I don't know that anything can happen. I will not talk trash. I know there are several teams in this league that can beat anyone if the other team gives a "c" effort. Got to bring your "a" game every Friday night. Good luck to all.
Giarmo is one of the best coaches in the State of Michigan. Both him and his brother (who just won a state championship at Zeeland West) are very highly regarded among the coaching circles. A couple of Dream Team/D1 quarterbacks and a lucky catch are all that is between him and 3 state championships. He also has not had a Division I player on his team (I didn't count Howey, who went to Eastern after a Division II stint).
I was at the CC game and the team looked good. It was a good opening game for them to get ready for the league. Those CC GI and Milan match up will make for some good football regardless of there out comes.
Totally agree. We can argue all day who is better but they still have to play. The better team does not always win. One of the 3 will win the league and all 3 will make the play offs.
Milan should be the favorite to win the league again. Some say you shouldn't make that prediction based on last year, or the year before. Even though I'm a Milan fan, I do truely believe it's between 3 teams. SMCC , GI, and Milan. I watched SMCC against Tecumseh and they played strong defense against a slow offense. Both GI and Milan will be much faster. I think it was a good win for Milan against Marshall. By no means was Marshall a cupcake team. SMCC can say the same, all the other Huron teams played some weak teams. Adrian is not very good. Good luck this Friday to all and GO BIG REDS!!!
Cortez grey absolutely dominated the game at middle line backer. He was making plays no one in this league can make. D1 no doubt.