SMCC (9-1) is coming off of a 62-8 week one playoff win over Grass Lake. Clinton (10-0) defeated Manchester for the 2nd time this season in the first week of the playoffs 42-6. These teams have met five times over the years with SMCC having won all five games.
SMCC got to business early last week by scoring 8 TD’s in the first quarter and a half against Grass Lake. The Falcons are led by senior QB Bryce Windham. SMCC faces a bruising running game from any of a number of backs led by Justin Carrabino, John Lako and Mitchell Lamour.
The Falcon defense is fast and disciplined while giving up less than 7 ppg. Justin LaPlante, Troy Hilkens, Darius Marks and Travis Vuich lead the defense which will be challenged by the speed of Clinton.
Clinton made it to the state title game last season and boast a powerful offense that is averaging nearly 50 ppg. The Redskins have two 1,000 yard rushers in senior Collin Poore and junior Matt Sexton. Senior QB Ryan Karapas has thrown 8 TD’s in only 49 pass attempts this season.
The defense is led by a host of juniors. Speedy LB Noah Poore and DE Ken DeShano along with DT David Chantelois and LB Blake Rogers are part of a defensive unit that gives up just under 12 ppg. Perhaps the best defensive player for the Redskins is senior MLB Seth Sylvester.
This is a game that is worthy of a state semifinal match up as opposed to a district final. Clinton’s offense and SMCC’s defense will be fun to watch as they try to force their wills on one another. The problem for Clinton is they have to stop a Falcon offense who runs on everyone they meet including playoff qualifiers Lansing Catholic, New Boston Huron, Riverview and Grosse Ile. Prediction: SMCC 30 Clinton 21
Ithaca is irrelevant at this juncture we have a real opponent coming up in JLC. One week at a time.
I–T–H–A–C–A !!!
Congrats on Title. Pressure and attack Lumen Christi, get pass them and you win State Title.
Clinton averaged 50 points a game. They were just held to one offensive touchdown and one special teams touchdown by SMCC's defense.
Na na na. Na na na hey hey hey good by!
Congratulations to Huron for winning their District title!
Really proud of you…. CC alum
Congrats to Huron & SMCC. Way to represent the league!!! Huron just had too many weapons for a scrappy Trenton team. #5 for Huron had 2 kickoff return for TD's & Hartwick did his thing. Looks like SMCC is hitting on all cylinders. Should be a heckuva game vs Lumen Christi next week.EM
Hey Clinton where are your two fast running backs? That was a no contest game. Boy you sure so everyone just how strong hour team was. SMCC is now 6 for 6 against you with Jack at the helm. Those two backs just killed SMCC "D" HAHA!!
Clinton fan, and I actually think SMCC will win this one but one comment bothered me since it involved no research: In Clinton's history, they've never had anyone as fast as Justin Carrabino.
Unfortunetly there is someone faster on our current team: Sexton. Watched him blow him away in the 100 in track last year, plus he has run a timed 4.46 40. Otherwise our schedule of only 2 good teams may really hurt us this year.
Good luck Huron!! Do the league well. SMCC and Huron both moving onto round three.
Clinton is putting on their pads for the last time tonight!
FALCONS-FALCONS-FALCONS!!!! ENOUGH SAID!!!!
Hope you guys can make it to JLC to watch Clinton play.
Thanks for visiting our blog UWD. I know for a fact you won't be back after Clinton loses tonight.
SMCC by at least 2 TDs.
To say you'd rather have "Poore & Sexton than any of the SMCC running backs" is just foolish. In Clinton's history, they've never had anyone as fast as Justin Carrabino. Clinton played Summerfield… Summerfield has 2 players that transferred from SMCC (Van Kainens), they led Summerfield in receiving… neither of them would have made the varsity team at SMCC this year.
Which 2, 3, or 4, Chiefs are covering Travis Vuich? SMCC may only pass twice/game but Clinton will never have an athlete with Vuich's ability. NEVER.
I understand being prideful, hope both teams walk away healthy, but be real here, Clinton is the underdog.
SMCC-14 BOOK IT!
This league stuff is a riot to me. Obviously both teams played to their max in their leagues. There are some weak(shouldn't be Class b teams) in Smcc's league and some higher than their class teams(Morenci) in Clintons league.
Main thing here is game plan. SMCC can beat teams based on their knowledge of the team. They know very little about Clinton. They knew very little about LCC and Tecumseh. Fortunately Tecumseh was not good this year.
It will come down to talent, It sounds like Clinton has some talent and we all know what SMCC has, base on that, should be a great game. SMCC is a team of big plays mostly and so is Clinton. Should be fun to watch. It will be closer than everyone thinks.
Clinton 28, SMCC 21
Hahahaha …. you're so arrogant … and so wrong!
UWD
I didn't say I wasn't ready for college, but only that SMCC doesn't offer the number of AP classes that they ought to. I'm finishing my last year (4th) at the University of Michigan in the College of Engineering, and SMCC did just fine preparing me for it. But maybe if they offered more APs I wouldn't have had to take Calc 2 or the Intro Chemistry courses my freshman year. If SMCC does do one thing in academics well, it's forming you into a well-rounded and disciplined student, which has proved to be helpful here at UofM.
Can't wait for the game tonight, best of luck to Clinton, and if they do beat SMCC, I will be rooting for them to win it all. I respect Clinton, don't take my initial response before as anything other than an analysis.
FALCONS-FALCONS-FALCONS!!! ENOUGH SAID!!!
Interesting that Clinton's record was 33-2 over the past two seasons, when any given team would have only have a total of 28 games in two seasons.
stosento maybe you should spend more time studying since I read you were not ready for college. Since you are an SMCC fan I wish you luck because you are going to need a lot of it.
UWD
They're bigger…They're faster….They're stronger….blah blah blah. We've heard it all before. Clinton needs to worry about US. Go Flacons!
Interesting board you have, I have only seen SMCC play, they were by far the toughest game on our schedule of all B teams cant see Clinton hanging with them
Lansing Catholic fan
Good luck against JLC it should be a great game!
The Conference Clinton plays in, in no way compares to SMCC's conference. Although the Huron league had some weak teams, those being Jefferson, Flat Rock, Airport, SMCC also beat Div. 3 Tecumseh, Huron (still playing), Riverview (playoff team) and of course LCC who is 10-0 and still playing. Clinton played only 2 quality opponents in my opinion those being Morenci and Manchester, and neither of these schools would compete in SMCC's conference. That being said, they play the games for a reason. Clinton is very good this year and there is a reason that they are 33-2 over the past two seasons. SMCC is also very good and physically dominate their opponents. These two teams play two entirely different styles of football. I think Clinton will be need to adjust quickly when they see how fast and powerful SMCC attacks on Offense, if they do that I think they can play with them and make it a great game. Can't wait to watch this game tonight.
Clinton is ranked 3 and cc 6. How would that be an upset?
Clinton is not dual threat. They run run run.
Oh man, where do I start on this one? Hey look, Clinton people, that looks like a good place!
UWD Nov 6th, 10:58 AM
Welcome to the blog, you seem new here. I'll go through each of your comments and make my own.
1)"…will not be able to handle the speed of Poore and Sexton. I would rather have those 2 than any of the SMCC running backs."
I think Poore and Sexton are some amazing athletes. Those guys have incredible speed and they will be a challenge for SMCC, but remember that SMCC held Lansing Catholic Central to their lowest scoring outing with their monster of a QB that will be playing D1 at college more likely than not. Not dissing either of the Clinton studs, but I don't know if either of them are going to be playing D1 ball. CC has seen some great athletes and found a way to limit them. Furthermore, I could care less who the SMCC RBs are…it's all about the system at SMCC. They will always have guys who will do the job.
2) "I know they have moved the ball against everybody all year, but not Friday night"
Maybe you do fit in here!! Pretty sure that's exactly what everyone this year has said about SMCCs "tiny wittle lineman". Your defense gave up 30(!!!) points to a mediocre Ottawa Lake Whiteford team. I think SMCC will be finding the endzone frequently.
3)"Clinton will put up more points on SMCC than anyone has all year."
Welp, SMCC allowed a measly 34 points in their first 8 games combined, and then 27 to LCC. You guys aren't an LCC. I'm predicting 14ish points from you guys.
Anon Nov 6th, 12:08 PM
No no no no no to so many things you've said, man.
1)"SMCC had all those same reasons to win against Livonia Clarenceville. And I believe they lost."
Couple things here:
a) Livonia Clarenceville did play a bad schedule last year, I'll give you that. BUT, there's still a huge difference between playing bad Class B teams and bad Class C teams. Livonia did the former, which probably helped them the same way it helps SMCC come playoff time.
b) This isn't the same team that SMCC was last year. That SMCC team gave up 49 points to a good 7-2 Riverview team and 34 points to a 1-8(!!!) Jefferson squad. SMCC this year gave up 34 points total in their first 8 games. 6 of those 8 teams had at least 4 wins. 4 of those 8 teams had above .500 winning percentages this year. The point total of those winning record opponents in those games? 20. Comparing a team that gave up 34 points to a 1-8 team to a team that only gave up that many in 8 games combined this year is insane.
2)"Clinton will be ready and they have a veteran coach."
Veteran coach that lost to SMCCs coach Jack Giarmo 5/5 times that they've met. Nothing more to say about that.
3)"Teams that have dual threats have plagued SMCC."
Who has plagued SMCC this year?? LCC is the only team that "plagued" SMCC, and a lot of that has to do with their D1 caliber QB. Don't know who else you're talking about.
Summary
Clinton has been strolling through Class C schools with a close win to a good Class D school, handing them their first loss. SMCC has been strolling through Class B schools with a close loss to a good Class B school, and handed another Class B school (Huron) their only loss 40-7.
Coach Giarmo has beat this team 5/5 times and I don't expect this year to be any different. I get flashbacks to the 2009 year where Manchester rolled in suuuuper confident; they had a very successful season that year similar to Clinton this year. SMCC crushed them 49-6. I'm not expecting a beat down, but more of a controlled burn.
SMCC 35 Clinton 14
Come on Clinton you have to realize that you just don' t play anyone. Yes you have scored a lot of points all against weak teams. The top four teams in the Huron league could run through that schedule. The Falcons will win by at least 18 points. SMCC plays and prepares against much better teams.
Well CC gave up a 7 points a game so I say Clinton scores 8 points
Let's review
Manchester
Blissfield forfeit
Adrian Madison
Whitmore Lake
Morenci (class D)
Summerfield
Sand Creek
Britton Deerfield
Manchester United
Huron would run the table on this schedule
Anonymous Anonymous said…
The season is going to end on Friday night for the Falcons. They are a good team but will not be able to handle the speed of Poore and Sexton. I would rather have those 2 than any of the SMCC running backs.
The Falcons will not be able to move the ball against this Clinton defense. I know they have moved the ball against everybody all year, but not Friday night. Clinton is a very tough team that will be too much for this Falcon team to handle. You are going to see SMCC's offensive line getting pushed back play after play.
The Clinton defense is just plain tougher than SMCC. You will see it Friday night.
Clinton will put up more points on SMCC than anyone has all year. They have not played an offense with 2 great backs like this, too much for SMCC to handle. You are going to see a lot of missed tackles by the Falcon defense.
Good season SMCC you are just not good enough to beat Clinton. Plain and Simple.
Clinton 35
SMCC 21
UWD
November 6, 2014 at 10:58 AM
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
Heard it all before.
GO FALCONS!!
Dear Dad now that you have scared the hell out of us we should just forfeit like Blissfield.
I don't know if Clinton has the size to slow down SMCC. I also don't know if SMCC has the personnell on defense to slow down Clinton. Should be a great game.
Quick fact. SMCC had all those same reasons to win against Livonia Clarenceville. And I believe they lost. Clinton will be ready and they have a veteran coach. Teams that have dual threats have plagued SMCC. Clinton is one of those teams. It will be close but I think Clinton's offense is more explosive and can win in a tight game. SMCC has trouble when the game is close and the offense needs to score. Skins in an upset!
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
The season is going to end on Friday night for the Falcons. They are a good team but will not be able to handle the speed of Poore and Sexton. I would rather have those 2 than any of the SMCC running backs.
The Falcons will not be able to move the ball against this Clinton defense. I know they have moved the ball against everybody all year, but not Friday night. Clinton is a very tough team that will be too much for this Falcon team to handle. You are going to see SMCC's offensive line getting pushed back play after play.
The Clinton defense is just plain tougher than SMCC. You will see it Friday night.
Clinton will put up more points on SMCC than anyone has all year. They have not played an offense with 2 great backs like this, too much for SMCC to handle. You are going to see a lot of missed tackles by the Falcon defense.
Good season SMCC you are just not good enough to beat Clinton. Plain and Simple.
Clinton 35
SMCC 21
UWD
I won't comment on Clinton because their mascot name is racist. GO FALCONS!!
GO FALCONS-make it six in a row over Clinton!!
GO CHIEFS-you guys are making history each and every week!! Should be onto round three for both schools.
The fact that SMCC has played teams with a similar offensive style and played a much tougher schedule will be the difference. SMCC 35 Clinton 14. EM
Agree with the above. SMCC plays against much better teams. This is why SMCC has had the success in the playoffs for so long. Good Luck to Huron. For the same reason Huron should move on to the third round also. Falcons by 20. Chiefs by 14.
Won't be that close.
SMCC 42 CLinton 20