Thi is the Game of the Week in the Huron League. Grosse Ile (2-2) is coming off of a 56-14 victory over Flat Rock while SMCC (4-0) beat Huron 27-7. SMCC won last season’s match up 28-0 and leads the all-time series 39-14-2.
The Red Devils have strung together back to back wins after losing at home to Jefferson. Senior RB/LB Tim Beach is quietly having a solid season on both sides of the ball for Grosse Ile while junior QB Justin Moores has been efficient and solid in his first year leading the team.
SMCC simply does what they do very well. They run the ball at you every play with one of three backs then surprise you with a pass. Senior Hunter Coombe has shown why he is one of the best two-way players in the league. First year Varsity Head Coach Adam Kipf and his staff have quickly settled into being a solid staff that is molding a team that is capable of making another long playoff run.
The Falcons have shown that they are very good at stopping the run, but will see a very different look this week as the Red Devils will spread the field and then use every weapon they have to exploit you. SMCC’s defense is very good, but the secret to their success may be the fact that the offense eats up huge chunks of time with each possession. Pick: SMCC 34 Grosse Ile 19
This games outcome was decided years ago. GI has several kids that work hard, but SMCC just doesn't work hard during football season, they have been working for this win for the past decade.
I think I'd be more worried about Huron but what ever.
Milan is not looking past anyone. Too good of a coaching staff. That same staff has beat SMCC 2 of the last 3 years and won 2 of 3 Huron League titles. Not sure there's really any comeback for those facts lol
61 comments about GI and SMCC and less than 20 about Milan and Huron. Even #9's dad commenting about this match up. Why because you are all concerned that CC is going to run away with the league this year. You don't want this so you give advice on how to stop them. I'm hoping that Huron teaches Milan a lesson in humility because they are looking past them.
You couldn't be more wrong. I just like reading everyone's opinion and giving mine. That's what the blog is for. Milan is prepared for Huron. Maybe you guys are more worried about Milan and not so much about GI. Guess we will see tomorrow. Good luck.
#9 Dad
I completely understand. You should see the stuff I don't let through. Unfortunately I think it is a select few buttheads.
Thanks for reading.
This is the last time I will return to this blog. Chris, even though you and I do not see eye to eye on many things, I enjoyed your blog most of the time. However, I truly believe that it has turned into an SMCC "Slamfest". Almost every posting is from some mental midget who has nothing positive to say about anything. And when we SMCC fans cheer for our boys, we get slammed again for being pompous. If we say anything positive about the other teams, we get slammed for having some hidden agenda. We have been accused of everything short of "fixing" games. We have recruited and stolen every single student in our school, according to these "experts". And it's all because we win. I'm not being pompous, I'm just stating the facts. I'll be the first one to say that Fandom works both ways, but it is just getting too tedious. So good luck with your blog. Jealousy and hatred is a lot easier to spout than actually learning your facts.
Comment of the season goes to 1:37pm. This is an absolute gem – "Is it possible that keeping this stellar athelete off the field was just an early sign of the new SMCC coach becoming one of the best coaches in the league?
I'll be at the game rooting for GI. I hope they play well and keep it close and have a shot at the end. I believe the Devils can play with SMCC just not sure if tomorrow will be that day. Prediction: GI 28 MCC 31 I hope I'm worng!
Bottom line, we all give our input to see SMCC get beat. Fun to see the ideas.
If they don't mind, we don't mind.
Let on PREY on them!! LOL
Chris, could you maybe set up a link between the headset worn by the GI coach and this blog. We could all play "phone a friend" and "ask the audience" to try and beat SMCC. Maybe even #9 dad could toss in some advice during halftime of the Milan game.
I'm also trying to understand the comments about the dust and clouds. SMCC running backs combine for a lot of yards, probably some of the highest in the league. The passing game has also proven nice yardage results. If they play the game at this three yard a crack as you suggest I really don't see it possible with the total yards this team produces each and every year.
This clock control blah, blah occurred one time this year during their last game against a great quarterback. Is it possible that keeping this stellar athelete off the field was just an early sign of the new SMCC coach becoming one of the best coaches in the league?
39-14-2
Chris, what's the all time record between these two teams?
The problem with defending SMCC is their 3 yards and a cloud of dust mentality. They will go for it on fourth down every time if less than 3 yards. Fours downs X three yards = 1st down all day long. They will do it from their own 25. They will use the clock up on long drives while limiting your offenses ability to be on the field.
Well said Chris.
If the refs allow the kids who don't have the ball to be hit every play. SMCC will lose. GI can sub defense all game to keep hitting, SMCC is not going to sub out the QB and Carrabino. The defense can PREY on this offense. Everybody acts like its some superior thing. Its not. Stay home, stay with the guy that blocks you and roll of and make the tackle. Sounds EASY right.
We all have ideas. It comes down to discipline. The defense must have discipline.
The world quits turning when SMCC screws up, so their discipline level is pretty high. LOL.
How can people still continue to underestimate SMCC. The system works on both sides of the ball. Size, speed,athleticism help, but the overall scheme gives people issues. The teams that do beat them do so by being disciplined and very physical at the attack.
GI is very predictable by formation and down distance. If they are not creative or do not break tendencies. SMCC will eat them up. Could be a great game, we will see Friday night.
Again, Milan has won the last 2 out if 3 against SMCC. When has GI last won against them?
Milan should be 4-0 but that's done and over. SMCC are the champs and have every right to boast or brag about it until someone beats them. The last time I checked football has trash talk involved. It's part of it. I thought Huron would give them a scare at least. I thought RV would just over power them. So did a few others. We all were wrong. GI has a very small chance, very small, but possible. Milan has the best opportunity to win against them. Not saying they will, I'm 0 for 2 picking Against them. But from this point in the season, the only team left that actual can beat SMCC is Milan. And in a little over 2 weeks, it's going to happen. SMCC is a great team no matter how down people think the league is. Tradition to some people means something. SMCC is proof of that. Good luck again to both teams. Bring your A game GI. And "prey" that SMCC has a C game.
Had to throw the "prey" thing in, that's funny.
#9 Dad
Yes but. Red devils don't prey.
FR is not improving. The league is down except for Milan. Name a team that is improved other than them. Maybe rview by years end. GI is bad not close to what they used to be.
Coaches watch for teams that "key the guards" as #9Dad eludes to. The way to combat such a defensive tactic is to use "sucker pulls" or "influence" blocks. SMCC has an answer for every type of defense you want to run… since 2000 they have seen them all numerous times. Its usually not the style of D that beats them, its usually just the better teams. Those that block and tackle better than they do.. rather simple really
-bn
This guy actually believes that SMCC wins because the QB fakes and can or cant get hit. Pretty much has nothing to do with it but it does clue you in to how dumb people actually are.
Can't we all just bow our heads and " let us Prey "
I have watched a lot of film on SMCC. Since my son has been on varsity for the last 2 years. Everyone has their own opinions and rightly so. People hate on SMCC because of their success. They point out all the would haves and could haves but at the end of the game SMCC is on top. I certainly respect the program they have because the bottom line is they win. They are good at what they do. I personally like watching my son play against them cause it will make him and his team mates better.
Now if I was the D cordinator I would run a 5-3 to a semi 5-4. I would go man coverage on the wide out. Man up on 4 and blitz the hole with the pulling guard or tackles. They lead you to the ball. Just my opinion.
Good luck to both teams. If GI pulls this one out I will be surprised. Not saying they can't win, just saying it's not expected.
#9 Dad
I think the point here is that SMCC runs an excellent ground game with deception. The defense against this is just to hit everybody that looks like they're carrying the ball on every play. The reason this offense isn't seen at the next level is that you would be getting your skill players hit on every play. Once someone hits the QB when he was only "pretending" to carry the ball. both players will get up and complain to the ref. One saying he was hit late and didn't have the ball and the defensive player pleading his case that the QB was faking that he had the ball. What the ref says next is what will set the tone for the rest of the game. If he flags or even warns the defensive player about hitting the QB when he doesn't have the ball, this causes the the defender to merely cover but not hit the QB until he is 100% sure he has the ball. Needless to say, with the excellent misdirection that SMCC can execute, they will run all over you. If on the other hand the ref says to the QB (and his coaches who will be jumping up and down on the sideline screaming about how their QB was unjustly hit) that a QB or anyone else who is faking having the ball is a valid target, then the defense can put a spy on the three backs and the QB and SMCC will need adjust their offense.
Flat Rock did not give up against GI, but they weren't even close to "in the game" at half. I believe it was something like 34-7 at half. According to my calculations, that is a 27 point deficit at HALF. You are delusional if you think being down 4 TDs at half is still "in the game". Nothing against the Flat Rock kids though, they played very hard and it is nice to see them improving.
Clearly you weren't at the FR/GI game last week… I was. It was 14-7 with 30 seconds left in the half. GI completed a 50 yard pass to get the ball to the FR 10 yard line with 3 seconds left and then scored on the final play of the half. The halftime score was 21-7. Until this score, it appeared to be anyone's game. As you can see, the halftime deficit was 14 points, so apparently you are delusional.
It was only 21-7 at the half. And GI scored right before the half. So it would have been 14-7 at the half. So in fact they were "in the game" at half time.
Sounds like you know your stuff there 9:55. Glad to hear some comments from a GI coach.
SMCC is no different then Canton or Hudson, Zeeland West etc. You have to be well coached and have good smart players. Milan has beat them 2 of the last three years. Last year was a good example of being totally outmatched personnel wise. Those type teams don't come around very often. Plus jack is a really good coach.
Milan Fan
I agree and your about to find out that Kipf is a really good coach as well.
9:55 AM – great points. I doubt GI has anything close to a 6'7 monster that's committed to Minnesota.
It's a joke. The 6-2 stack monster is from the movie "All the Right Moves" with Tom Cruise.
Chris, REALLY? I surprised that you are giving pointers on how to try to beat SMCC. Man to man/stop one player, not letting TE out for pass, bad calls and they win, hiding the ball and they win, chewing the clock and they win, really? Then when this isn't working – they are small/we are bigger so we will win this week, they are slow/we are faster so we will win this week, they are weak/we are strong so we will win this week, their best are average/my son is better so we will win this week, really? Now in a couple of days the stack monster will be at the game, someone will try and stop Carrabino again, and I can't wait to see who can keep #81 tied up at the line of scrimmage (is it the stack monster) – anyway do these things and the other team will win this week, really? This has been the theme of your blog as far back as I can remember. I was looking forward to a blog as you suggested in August – player profiles, photos, celebrating the hard work of these athletes. We are only mid-season we've right where we were in past years bashing a good program – only thing that has changed is we've unleashed the stack monster to try and stop them.
The way you beat SMCC is by having better players then them and those players being discipline. If you don't have better players can't win. If you do then they have to do their jobs. That is what makes their offense hard to defend. When they do face better teams those players aren't discipline. That is the beauty of that Offense.
SMCC ran the Wing T in 1998, then moved to the straight T in 2002.
The T doesn't rely on deception, it relies on blocking schemes, and it is simple. Every play involves a double team (depending on the matchup) and a kickout block at the hole with a blocker leading through the hole (usually a guard). The theory is that you cave everything down, kick out to create a hole, and then "option" the remaining defender. Depending on how that defender plays it, that will determine the next play. If he bites inside, they run keep. Remember, this is not a home run offense. If they get 4 yards on you, they consider that a success.
You don't beat the T with lining up more guys on the line, that helps them. You do it by movement. If you beat the down blocks, hold your ground at the kickout, and LB's follow the guards to the gaps and THEN (not before) look for the ball, you win.
Also, CC changed to the 3-4 defense last year, and in addition to their talent last year, that scheme worked wonders for them against spread teams. So, yes, they did change their schemes.
P.S. Chris, LCC ran that "monster" look against CC last year, although it was Tony Poljan playing the monster, and is literally a monster. I'm not sure GI has a guy like that, but maybe they do?
Doesn't getting beat by a little D6 school with small lineman and slow players get old.. I mean there is film on Smcc and you still can't stop them? Everybody says run this D run that D.. Just maybe your team isn't good enough.. Just sayin..
Didn't the View lose that game?
I would go with a 6-2 stack monster with man to man on Carrabino while not letting the TE off of the line of scrimmage. This defense was made famous by Ampipe High School, Ampipe, PA (1983) led by all state LB Brian Christopher Penn and CB Stefen Djordjevic (Tom Cruise).
ACE might be a little out there, but he has a great point. SMCC's offense is successful because of the deception. What do you think is the best way to defeat this? Why do you think this offense is not run at the next level? If the QB is too good at this, he gets absolutely crushed. At the HS level the refs won't allow this and the flags fly. Good point.
6-2 defense, cover 2. 1 guy man to man on Carrabino. Game Over.
Ask the View.
Yeah ask the View how they Lost!
2 and 2 the last five years? Maybe math is different on the island. 2 + 2 = 4
Hahahahaha!! That's awesome
I'm including this year, congrats on great math skills though. I'm impressed *slow clap*
RN
We know RN is a GI guy now.
I'm betting RN is a GI GAL, not guy. She either knows her stuff or listens very carefully to others talk football. New to the varsity squad though. Betting a first year varsity junior, not using her/his real initials.
Pretty far off but A for effort I guess.
RN
SMCC started running the T in 1999. The 40 years Before that they were a Power-I team.
to be .500 vs SMCC is all most teams can hope for
SMCC wins because of flags on tackling the QB, that is news to me. great insight there.
Blogger ACE said…
The key to beating SMCC is unfortunately decided by the officiating crew. I have been on the sidelines for many an SMCC game and if the refs decide that hitting a guy who is only "pretending" to have the ball constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct, then SMCC wins. If the ref decides that "pretending" to have the ball is enough to warrant getting tackled, SMCC loses
LOL… Ya because they dont execute at all.
Someone sounds a little sour about SMCCs successful offense. The only time I remember a team being flagged for hitting the QB is when SMCC played Crockett 2009. Eventually CC stopped faking with the QB since they were nailing him every play. When the QB stopped faking and they continued to nail him, the flags flew.
SMCC hasn't changed either of their schemes since Nam. Don't you worry about GI's defense. If you seriously think you are facing the same D that played week 2 than you are sadly mistaken.
RN
It's possible that GI could score two touchdowns. However, after watching them play, SMCC will score 35 at least. GI can study all they want. Willing to bet money they play 4-4 cover 3. Their DC hasn't made an adjustment since he's got there. They do play tough D no doubt about it. But if u can't stop Jefferson running the ball, you're in big big trouble
This will be a well fought game, It depends on what GI team shows up. The battle will be won in the trenches. Look for GI to rely on the pass. Look for SMCC to run belding… Lol
RN
Nobody in the Huron league has will put up 42 points against CC. That prediction is crazy.
Ace sir that is very wrong because no ref has ever called an unsportsmanlike on hitting a man that is faking
On Friday the SMCC QB will take the snap, hand it off to any one of three running backs and then roll left with his left hand on his butt as though he still has the ball, maybe he does and maybe he doesn't, but if the DE bites on it and hits him… he'll draw the flag and SMCC will win the game, or no flag. If it's no flag, the QB doesn't feel like getting his head racked all night so he still does the little hand on his hip-roll left thing but he opens up waaaay early since he knows the defense just got the green light to ruin his night…. and SMCC LOSES. … LOL.. I'll be at the Milan game… but let me know if I was wrong. 🙂
Burger has stepped up big for the Falcons on both offense and defense, one of the better two-way players in the league IMO
Smcc to slow against the spread.. GI has to much fire power for Smcc.. GI has been studying the Riverview tape and will throw in a few wrinkles that will catch Smcc of guard.. GI 42 Smcc 21..
Lol Huron said they are too small. Now you say too slow against the spread. I believe GI has beaten SMCC once in the last 10 to 15 years. So I'm pretty sure they can keep up with your spread. SMCC wins by alot
We are 2-2 in the last five years. Let's stick with that stat boss
RN
It is so hard to take most of your predictions seriously.If SMCC does loose a game this year in this league it will not be more than seven. points- but no you think by 21 just like last week-Grosse Ile better work hard to just to keep it half way close. SMCC wins 28-14
Ok my mistake RN. GI has win twice since 2003. Still not real competitive.
Smcc will crush GI . flatrock was in that game till the half then gave up. Smcc will not give up they'll just keep pounding. Won't even be close.
My son plays for FR, and I can assure you that they did not give up. One player was taken away by ambulance during the game with a broken ankle, and one after the game when he collapsed on the field. FR was beaten and beaten up, but never gave up. Comments to the contrary are insulting.
I believe this will be a great game. GI's coach knows his stuff. A good game plan, a little film watching of Riverview's Defense and I think GI can win this. Clock control is huge. Watch the film, stuff the box and crush all avenues of the T offense, keep your fastest guy on Carrabino at all times. If hes not carrying the ball, he will be out for a pass.
I smell an upset. Go Devils!!
GI 28- SMCC 27
The key to beating SMCC is unfortunately decided by the officiating crew. I have been on the sidelines for many an SMCC game and if the refs decide that hitting a guy who is only "pretending" to have the ball constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct, then SMCC wins. If the ref decides that "pretending" to have the ball is enough to warrant getting tackled, SMCC loses.
It's always someone else's fault. It's a lot easier that way.
GI has been playing well, but if the Devils expect to hang it's going to take a mistake free performance. That means limiting CC's running game and hence their time of posession. Offensivly the Devils will need a balnced attack running and passing. I belive the Devils have a better passing attack than CC and the best receiver on the field and for thta matter is Smorch #5.