Great win by SMCC going on the road and getting a victory.
Huron in the semi-finals? Who’d have thunk it!
Fifty carries for a high school player? Not sure if I support that.
Redford Thurston had three of the best players I have seen all season.
I figured SMCC’s John Lako would play.
I’m excited to see Huron’s Matt Hartwick on artificial turf.
Won’t find many all around athletes better than SMCC’s Bryce Windham.
Does anyone still think the league is down?
What is the forecast for Saturday?
I know there is one more game to go, but I’m pretty sure I said SMCC would be at Ford Field.
I also picked Huron to go 5-4, so what do I really know?
SMCC’s victory epitomizes The TEAM over talent.
How many college prospects does OLSM have?
How many college prospects does Huron have?
How many college prospects did Ishpheming have when they defeated college prospect loaded Detroit Loyola in consecutive state championship games?
Do you believe in Miracles?
I hope SMCC gets by NorthPointe Christian and puts an end to Ithaca’s title run!
Muskegon, Zeeland West, Muskegon and Huron. Wow!
Great job Huron League teams!
Good luck and good skills on Saturday!
There is a history of 1 team winning the league much more than anyone else. Guess who??
Of course you don't email Mr Anonymous. So typical.
I don't email but I'm sure I'll see you soon cup cake
Comments about teams leaving the league are silly. There doesn't seem to be a history of one team consistently winning over multiple year periods. Yes, you have a few teams that may win it a couple of years in a row, but no one totally dominating the league for years on end. I bet if you asked the past and present coaches and players none of them would think changing the schools within the league would be a good idea. One of the things that makes football (or any sport for that matter) so exciting is rivalries and there are many great rivalries with the Huron League. Start making changes and a lot of the excitement will go away.
On the Flat Rock discussion… that is tough, those kids deserve better. They can't coach themselves and they do have a lot of talent there. Best wishes to them, I hate to see young student athletes get discouraged when they don't have much control over their situation.
Finally… GOOD LUCK Huron and SMCC! What a great opportunity for this league to get noticed. All of the teams in the league and this region of the state should be attending these last few remaining games because these two teams are bringing a lot of attention not only to themselves but to all of the athletes that are playing in this area. I know it's not always easy when your rivals are still playing and your not, but the pros outweigh the cons in this situation. Lots of people are watching.
Great job to ALL the kids that played this fall. Win or lose I felt everyone left everything they had out on the field. I can honestly say that while watching many of the games this year I never felt like any one could have tried any harder to come up with a victory. It's great to see such hard work and dedication from our youth. Life lessons learned through the great game of football.
Harsh crowd today posting comments. Can't post many of them. I wonder why fools never post a name? Also, if you would like to get personal please email me. I would love to have a discussion with someone who is too chicken to put their name up on the blog when posting.
huronleaguefootball@gmail.com
Why are any of you guys comparing huron vs NPC. OLSM is bounds better the northpointe, Lumen Christi was bounds better than Thurston. Guess what it doesnt matter!!! GO CHIEFS! GO FALCONS! some of my alma matter fans need to stop saying anything except huge congrats and good luck to our neighbor league and county squad.
I personally think huron would beat grnp and smcc will beat them.. but the first half of that statement isnt relevant.
OLSM is a big timer, excited to hear about that match up. Go cheifs
cc alum
Sorry buddy, I'm not printing that garbage. Go away!
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[2014] NorthPointe Christian (Grand Rapids, MI) 28, [2014] Huron (New Boston, MI) 20
Skill people can't do what they do without guys blocking.
Didn't Milan win the league the two previous years?
Huron would not of even beat Trenton if it wasn't for Devon Collins an hartwick the only talent on are chiefs football team there the heart an soul of the team we are very lucky to have them if we didn't have them we would not be in this playoff talk. Go chiefs!
Smcc is the only team that can handle the downriver league an should not be in the Huron league. Smcc is in a league of there own in the Huron league not one team can touch them.
Makes sense bc this year is the first time cc has won the league since '10
Vote for Huron MLIVE game of the week… http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/1229116562359365994/final-mlive-detroit-game-of-the-week-poll-keys-in-on-area-state-semifinal-matchups/#pd_a_8453427
I don't think any team in the league needs a coaching change. They squawk at Jefferson, but that wouldn't make sense. He just needs time. Natives are restless at Airport, but Baas is a good young coach. I don't think you see any movement anywhere unless someone retires or something. I could see Hoskins moving on after next season, but Milan is home for him. I could see Giarmo retiring eventually and even Kalbfleisch just coaching baseball someday.
I agree with a lot of the things Chris says. A change is needed, and getting a coordinator from a decent school to become the head coach for FR would be great for them. That's the kind of change that could bring some athletes into the football program.
It's hard to get people to play for a team that loses week in and week out. That's the time that you need to bring a change and taking chances on a coordinator for his first HC job seems like the best move. A team can always come back, and I hope FR can compete again. It will be a process, but a good coach that believes in his system and has players that believe the same can go a long way.
Chris, follow-up, what team besides FR would benefit most from a coaching change, or which team would be hurt most by one?
I don't know if I have the heart to tackle the Flat Rock question. I was sad to see OC bolt for Dundee, but it was a full time AD job at a solid school. Those jobs don't open all the time.
FR can win in the Huron League, but they need to find a coach who also teaches, preferably at the school. I would hope the person has no ties to the program unless it was Cliff Mentzer. That isn't knocking anyone else, I am just personally very fond of Cliff and his coaching ability. I would also be interested in seeing a guy like Rob Hogg coming back to FR from SMCC. Good coach and seasoned veteran who has been around a winning program for a decade.
They need to change the culture over there. Somebody has to get the athletes out. Too many athletes at FR avoid football because they are afraid of losing. FR has some good kids coming up. They were fairly young this season and the JV team was competitive. There are also some athletes in the middle school. The best thing that could happen for the program would be for some of the parents to take their kids somewhere else or just sit back and be quiet. I mean never say a word to their child other than, "I really enjoy watching you play son or something like that. Everyone over there needs to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.
With all that said, will they win? Who knows? I'm sure I'll be attacked and someone will say they need to get out of the league. Those guys are part of the problem. That is taking your ball and going home when things don't go your way. They're teaching their kids to run away.
It isn't an easy fix. Who knows if they will find someone. I hope so. FR is a very cool place. Always has been. If everyone gets on the same page, good things will happen.
One man's opinion.
Nov 17, 3:31 pm : great question!
Because MHSAA apparently doesn't like R2 or R4 come semis. And then MHSAA further hates R4 in finals by making them the away team again. Whatevs, man.
Watched the film on those guys Chris, that RB looked shifty!
Also,
The Downriver league has 4 punching bag bottom feeder teams in your own league. It's no wonder your "top teams" usually see the playoffs. When you have 4 gimmies out of 9 games, you should be able to pull out 2 wins elsewhere to secure your playoff spot. Would it be fair to say that your teams got lucky playing the teams they did that granted them their spot? They were easy wins.. do you see us making excuses? Those teams being Taylor Kennedy, Taylor Truman, Lincoln Park (had a 40+ game LOSING STREAK) and this year Melvindale (I think last year's playoff was a hoax. Did good until their regionals and then choked.) We can go tit for tat with the whole who deserved a win and who didnt. Case being half your league had 4 freebies in their fight to the playoffs. Atleast the Huron League was a power house and not a single win was guaranteed for anyone but SMCC. As said before, if you're not cheering for them then cheer against them and quit making excuses and quit with the shoulda coulda woulda lol
KC
Chris
thx for all the Huron League News-u do a great job with this site. Now a serious question from one former ram to another. Can and will Flat Rock ever win in the Huron League? Tommy leaving wasn't a good sign-if he bails and I know how much he loved Flat Rock speaks volumes about the state of football at the Rock-don't pull any punches let us know your thoughts-can any one pull this together-thoughts on bailing out of the Huron league and being more competitive in another league-Erie Mason-Ida a conference more in line with their enrollment???
Anon,
Want to hear a funny story? Alright here it goes…. Woodhaven was knocked out by Wyandotte in districts. And wyandotte was knocked out in regionals by Southfield. And Huron and SMCC are still going in the playoffs. Moral of the story? You can keep on with your woulda shoulda coulda nonsense; but truth is? The Huron league is still alive and well in the playoffs. Don't be a sour grape buddy. You can make all the excuses you would like.
KC
The Downriver league is weak. They can only beat each other. Huron and SMCC would railroad any of those teams. That league is horrible and that's a understatement. If your downriver teams were so good then why are they not still playing ?
Gotta throw this out there for Mr. 1:20 pm… Trenton did lose to Wyandotte and Woodhaven, but both times by reasonable margins, and that makes me believe that Huron would fare just fine in both cases. However, Trenton did beat Southgate Anderson (one of your cited respectable teams) by a score of 33-7, which says what about Trenton and the DRL?
Yikes…get the facts straight before you start with the cheap shots at anyone. I don't think anyone here has said that Huron is the second coming of the '86 Bears, but you have to beat those put in front of you to have a chance at greatness, and so far, Huron has been able to do that, with the exception of SMCC. Can they do that this Saturday, considering the size of the obstacle in front of them? I don't know, but win or lose, I certainly hope they represent themselves, their coaches, the league and their families with pride and respect, because they have EARNED the right to be on that field and in this game. I do know that right now, these kids believe in what they are doing and believe they have a chance against anyone. You have to believe to win…
Go Chiefs!
Why would CC be on the away side if they are the "home" team according to the MHSAA? That doesn't make sense.
Alonzo McCoy, Chris Johnson and Giddings-Whatley
ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Seems like both Huron and SMCC fans will be in the away stands on Saturday. For some reason they have always put R1 and R3 winners on the home side. Wouldn't it make sense to put the team with more playoff points on the home side? It just seems strange they do the same thing every year…at least alternate so R2, R4 get the better stands for once.
Chris, who were the 3 players for Thurston? I didn't look into their personnel.
Huron would get beat by wyandotte or woodhaven an southgate if they played them they played Trenton witch is a joke in the downriver league. Like I said Huron has not played anyone good but smcc in witch they blew out Huron an would do again but they only meet in the regular season.
Are you going to cover winter sports?
mb,
The Catholic League has had multiple years with multiple winners. 1977 (Brother Rice, OLSM), 1990 (Detroit CC, Brother Rice), 1992 (Detroit CC, DePorres), 1995 (Detroit CC, DePorres), 2001 (Detroit CC, DePorres), 2002 (Detroit CC, Waterford OLL), 2003 (Detroit CC, DePorres), 2011 (Brother Rice, OLSM).
However, the Catholic League has a lot more teams to draw from. So, it would be more comparable to say that the Catholic League Central (6 teams) is similar in size to the Huron League (8 teams) than the whole Catholic League which currently has about 15 teams. Brother Rice and Detroit CC are both in the Centraal and won state championships in 1990. Brother Rice and OLSM did the same thing in 2011. Also, Detroit CC is was state runner-up 2011.
I imagine there are other big leagues who have had multiple state champions, like the Ottawa-Kent or Macomb Area. You can do more research at http://michigan-football.com/football.htm.
Too many movies hahahahaha
I suppose you're right, my thing was pretty cheesy. But hey, I think it would work on me! In all seriousness though, if you're going to focus on getting to Ford Field now, you have it in the back of your mind when thinking about what a win means this week.
KC, very well said.
You people watch too many movies haha
Do the players forget whats at stake or where the final is actually played?
Come on… once you get hit in the mouth the first time all that crap goes out the window. You must rely on fundamentals to get you to victory… and some breaks along the way.
Sensational things are nice to hear and say but they mean nothing once the ball is kicked.
Thank you for saying that. Exactly what I was thinking.
"Anonymous said…
I'm sorry Huron has not played anyone thats been on top of league besides smcc an that was a blow out so there about to play a team that is so will see. what happens.I wish them luck."
Its a good thing Chris gives you guys the ability to comment behind anonymity; otherwise I don't think you'd put a name to it. You're probably the 100th person to say that exact comment, even after a win. Instead of being the skunk of the league and making excuses for their wins [why bother] just congratulate them and move on with your life. If you're not cheering for them, then cheer against them. Can't play the fence there buddy.
KC
Nov 17, 7:57am
Wrong! If you don't think getting to Ford Field is a motivator for both Huron and SMCC right now, you're wrong. There's nothing wrong with the coaching staff saying "This team (OLSM, GRNPC) is the team that wants to keep you from going to Ford Field…" and so on. That's an awesome motivator for a team.
Back in 2010 SMCC was kind of taking Ecorse week lightly in practice. I think it was before practice on Tuesday after a weak practice Monday that Coach Giarmo told us "The winner of this game will go to Ford Field". Now Jack is the last one to say things about the future like that. But him saying that woke us up to the team Ecorse was. We practiced hard and went out and beat them pretty well.
Gotta have a light at the end of the tunnel to work towards.
Lako played on offense only. I think we could have held Willis to 350, maybe 358 yards with him out there on D.
It's all in which side of the fence you are on. Yeah, Riverview's losses were to playoff teams(2 to Huron), but their wins were against teams like Flat Rock, Jefferson, Airport, and Milan, etc. So does that make you a "good" team? It just means that they won the games they were supposed to. If that happens to get your team into the playoffs, then so be it. The playoffs are where the "good" teams rise to the top.
LOL
Does this mean that Riverview was better than most give them credit for? seeing that they went 6-4 all of the losses to playoff teams and 3 out of the 4 losses to semi-finalist. Just throwing that out there!
As a former SMCC player who was on the runner-up team in 09 and 10 I'm happy the way the program is moving. My teams major downfall was the lack of the ability to stop the spread offense. And they really have changed that with the new defense and adding some pass plays to the offense. I'm really hoping they can finally knock Ithaca off the top this year, although I can't say I won't be a little bitter about it if they do. Good luck Falcons, give Giarmo the win he deserves.
Chris in his glory-his two favorite teams(certainly the two teams he speaks year after year the most about)!
Windham just flat out makes plays on both sides. Right place, right time, all the time.
Both QB's left playing are pretty special. Hartwick will have to keep Huron in it and hope to steal it at the end. Go in at half with it close and you never know.
I can almost certainly promise you that neither coaching staff has even uttered the word Ford Field.
I'm sorry Huron has not played anyone thats been on top of league besides smcc an that was a blow out so there about to play a team that is so will see. what happens.I wish them luck.
That is true, but if you don't have Ford Field as a goal you can't get there either. You just have to keep things in perspective.
Both teams have huge games this week. One game at a time! You start thinking about Ford Field a week to early, that's how you don't get there.
how good would it be for the league if both our teams made it to ford field and won. Has a league ever had two state champs in the same league?
is there serious talk of the huron league expanding?
and what is the status of the state finals being played at ford field in future years. Like does the mhsaa have a contract with ford field?
mb