SMCC (12-1) defeated Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian 28-0 in the semi-finals last week while the four time defending state champ Ithaca Yellowjackets won their 69th straight game by defeating Boyne City 20-16 in the other semi-final. These two teams have met once, that was in the 2010 Division 6 State Final in 2010. Ithaca won that game 45-35.
Ithaca is led by junior QB Jacob Smith. He has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards and rushed for another 1,300. He has accounted for 45 TD’s through the air and on the ground. Senior Dallas Reeser has rushed for 758 yards and 12 TD’s. Smith has three very good receivers in juniors; Spence Demull, Grant Gimmey and Tyler Spitzley. Demull has 57 catches and 15 TD’s.
Defensively the Yellowjackets give up a paltry 8.3 ppg and have forced 40 turnovers this season. Junior LB’s Jace Demenov and Aaron Barnes leads the defense along with defensive linemen Jonah Loomis and Derek Teed. Many of Ithaca’s best players play both ways.
SMCC runs the T offensive formation with two backs doing most of the damage this season. Senior John Lako and junior Justin Carrabino have both had outstanding seasons. Senior QB Bryce Windham has a solid offensive line that is led by Kyle Bausman and Hunter Coombe.
SMCC’s defense has been outstanding all season and into the playoffs. The Falcons are giving up 8.5 ppg. Perhaps the best performance of the season was holding Jackson Lumen Christi’s high powered offense to 26 points. The defense is led by Troy Hilkins, Travis Vuich, Justin LaPlante and David Howey.
This is a game that many have been hoping for most of the season (at least I have) and for some since 2010. SMCC has defeated eight playoff teams this season while Ithaca has the most impressive resume of any in the state as they hold the longest winning streak in the country.
Both teams are extremely well coached. One of the best matchups of the day will be between Jacob Smith and Bryce Windham. Both players play QB and defensive back while each lead their teams in interceptions. SMCC 30 Ithaca 19
Ithaca has not seen a defense all year like SMCC's. SMCC will win by 2 TD's. EM
Good luck CC play hard we are all routing for you. Coach Baugh
HUDSON TIGERS SAY GOOOOOOO FALCONS
72 IN A ROW !!!!
1:29: Ithaca has won 69 straight games and your picking SMCC. ??
Mixed feelings. SMCC is good but being a private school is an asterisk to me. Sorry.
Okay so Ithaca has won 69 games in row. So what? All that matters is how good they are this year, not about what they've done in the past, and SMCC is better this year.
Would it be safe to say SMCC has played the toughest schedule in D6 ?
1:29pm
It isn't crazy to pick SMCC in this game. Keep saying what you want to say about an asterisk, if they win they will prove that they are the best team in Division 6. No reason to be sorry, just know that no one cares about your sour comments.
You know what you can do with your asterisk? Stick it in your asterisk.
I'm 9-0 in my playoffs picks this season. I would bet on SMCC.
RIVERVIEW FAN HERE: Will certainly be at Ford Field to support the Huron League and SMCC. You've had a brutal road to the finals and stood up to every opponent. GOOD LUCK !
Ithaca has won 69 straight games and your picking SMCC. ??
Mixed feelings. SMCC is good but being a private school is an asterisk to me. Sorry.
That's why we have a 5ft 7in hundred and sixty defensive lineman and fullback
Good luck cc! Hopefully I can say my only two loses were to state champs my senior year!
-Huron player
WE BELIEVE!!!!!
Happy to see so many people rooting for SMCC. If you are torn about rooting for them or not, think about what it means for the league! That being said, you GI, Milan, Huron fans all rooting for CC are great! Go Falcons!
Yes I agree, each time a Huron League team makes it to the finals it reflects on all of us. It is so difficult to win a state championship. The air gets really thin at Ford Field.
The team that commits the fewest turn overs will win this game. Good luck Falcons do it for all the teams that came up short. 1991 seems like a life time ago.
As a Huron and father of a Huron football player we will be at Ford Field Friday and will be rooting for CC. I believe many of the football players will also be there rooting CC on.
GO F ALCONS bring home a State title for the HURON league
This is a game that not many of us have experienced in our lifetimes. The Falcons have practiced hard ALL year. They have come together as a team. They have proven themselves at every level. They have made us all very proud. The job is not yet done. You have ONE more game to play, this one for everything. You have to play this one with every fiber of your being. Make every hit count. You've got the strength of the alumni of 70 years behind you. Take what they give you and give it back to them twice as hard. Run hard, run strong, run fast, and RUN THEM OVER! Leave everything you have out on that field. Make Ithaca know who the Falcons are. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Make it snow down touchdowns on Ithaca. You can do it, boys! FINISH THE JOB!! GO FALCONS!!
No matter what your feelings are about CC, they are still a Huron League team. We should be cheering them on to victory. Go get'em Falcons!
All League will come out next week.
As an Airport guy, i'm so torn about whether i want CC to win or not. Go falcons, I guess.
301 poster:
Outstanding summary of the games many of us remember CC suffering bitter losses.
I think the CC coaching staff has made the long awaited adjustments we fans had been hoping for: better pass coverage on defense and more passing on offense. That combined with this year's TEAM of young men who make the most of their size and talent, will result in a long overdue State Championship, in my opinion.
WE BELIEVE!
GO FALCONS!!
If cc can play solid D like they have all year it should be a W for the Falcons. Would love to see coach Giarmo along with coach Hogg get this long time coming Victory.
When are you posting all league Chris?
Wishing SMCC the best. This Milan fan will be watching! Good luck and play hard.
#9 Dad
Good luck SMCC! The whole huron league is rooting for you! -Huron Fan
Go Ithaca beat c.c.
Good luck fellas. I'll be rooting for you! I've watched the damage be dealt from you guys all year. I was sour after watching you beat Huron but I will still support my league contenders. Continue to roll on. Do what you do best, play the best game that you can, and make us all proud! I will be praying yourselves and OLSM for wins at Ford Field. Atleast then Huron can say their 2 losses came from State Champions 😉 good luck boys and have fun!
KC
What would be sweeter than beating a team that hasn't been beat in 4 years and beat you to start it all? Nothing. If SMCC doesn't come out flying and hitting like crazy it will be a shame.
Kingsley 2005
Montague 2009
Ithaca 2010
Constantine, Ravenna, Leslie, Livonia Clarenceville, Blissfield.
SMCC should have plenty of motivation on Friday.
1 more game boys! GO FALCONS!
I hope CC kicks beats Ithaca. This is coming from a GI fan! CC is a great team and I believe poised to break the streak. GO Falcons!
This is the year Giarmo gets what he's been longing for since he began coaching at CC. Go Falcons! Take what you have worked so hard for!
I think that the fans attending this game from our area, half of them will be rooting for us, the other half of them, against us.
GO FALCONS!!