Maybe the league is a little down this year. Thoughts?
I heard the better team won over at Navarre last night.
Hampton right, Hampton left, all the way down the field. Bring in a Trenton kid for a 2 yard TD run. smh
Huron doesn’t tackle very well.
I almost nailed a few of the scores yesterday.
I like Cesar Chavez’s approach, but they wouldn’t have won a game in the Huron League.
Riverview is my early pick for 2016 Huron League Champ.
Beautiful night for football last night
I’m working on my all league teams. Any suggestions?
18 seconds left, ball on the half yard line with one timeout and you only manage two plays?
Makes sense.
Info on Denby is tough to come by, but it sounds like they have a good coach and a good running back. Unlike last week's opponent, I would expect them to have a defense. Sounds like more of a Huron League game stylistically than what we saw last week.
The Milan/Denby game time change to 6:30pm was simply at the request of Denby, and the Miilan AD agreed to move the game up 30 minutes. Nothing more than that. Just a compromise between the two athletic directors.
Hope to see a big crowd in Milan on Friday. Should be a good game.
No problem, EM. Hope you're making the trip up here. I'm going to have to hustle out of work so I can get my usual spot in the bleachers. In week 11, that's a good problem to have. I'll take it!
I thought riverview had a really big senior class this year? How come you're going with them?
Makes sense Coach Tom. Thanks for the insight. Not that it's a big deal, it just struck me as odd when I saw the 6:30 start time. EM
I'm assuming it is because of the busing company that Denby most likely uses.
EM:
I have to believe that it has something to do with the visiting team, based on this quote in MLive from 10/26/15:
"High school football in Milan is at 7 p.m. on Friday night," said coach Jesse Hoskins. "It's my preference, as it is our athletic director's, to keep it on Friday night as long as we have that option."
Perhaps the 6:30 start was a bit of a compromise with Denby officials, who may have wanted the game played earlier on Friday or bumped to Saturday afternoon.
Dan K has done a great job no doubt. It took him a long time to figure some stuff out but he seems to be getting better. I'd like to see them run a different defensive scheme and be a bit more aggressive. Offensively will he totally change the O without Hartwick? We will see if and what he has learned. Before this he jumped around on O
Any particular reason the Milan/Denby game is starting at 6:30? EM
You could see the offensive talent on Chavez's team, along with what the coaches were trying to accomplish with their offensive scheme. Turnovers were the early key and perhaps a sign of their inexperience on a bigger stage. The first turnover was a pick in the end zone by Lindeman. It was Chavez's first drive of the game, and I would contend that it was their best sustained drive of the night. I think it was on a 4th down play where the QB was trying to make something happen.
The second turnover was on a bobbled snap, and you can't have that in that in the postseason. The snap was not great, a bit high, but there was no reason why it couldn't be caught. Milan pounced on it at the 5 and punched it in on one play to make the score 15-0 early.
The next two Aztec Eagle drives came unhinged when one of Chavez's leading receivers had the ball stripped from him after completions. Milan tossed in TD passes to cap each drive and the rout was on.
Props to Chavez on their season, but even if they took care of the ball better they weren't going to beat Milan with the subpar Aztec Eagle defense. Given their likely schedule, I'm sure they will have good seasons when their offense is clicking but in order to take that next step they have to find defensive players. They also have to bring more bodies into the program, as they do not yet have enough to field a JV or freshman team (according to a sports reporter from Bay City MLive). That will give them time to develop defenders, especially defensive linemen. FWIW, what shocked me was how many breakdowns there were in Chavez's secondary. There's no way they can prepare for a power run team, but as much as they pass I would think they could learn to cover receivers better.
OK, that should be all I have to say (ever?) about Cesar Chavez Academy. On to Milan hosting Denby!
Chris did you ever go to a Jefferson game?
I believe Jefferson's Humphrey ran for over 1000 he and his line deserves some recognition
Hands down, GI's #5, Neil Smorch at WR. The only thing better than his stats are his amazing catches. He could out-jump anyone on that field.
Nobody is trying to lure Kalby from Huron.
-bn
Players for all league #45 chase best fullback in the league #32 Rice best safety and special teams player in the league #12 Martin best Defensive end in the league. Just my opion
11:23 how is Milan the favorite next year? It's gonna take more than 2 players to be competitive in the league let alone win it. With major questions on the oline and defense you guys will do no better than 5th. Huron Riverview SMCC GI are all ahead of you going into next year. I wouldn't be surprised if Airport or Flat Rock beats you. Not hating just telling the truth.
That's true, they lose some key players up front and on defense. I think the top 3 in the league next year are smcc gi and riverview, in that order. Milan at a close 4th. The league will be vastly improved from this year. I personally know GI returns their entire offensive and defensive lines, and are getting solid skill players back along with a returning QB who is a 4 year starter (not all at QB).
I hope no one's suggesting that Milan has to beat Country Day on the road to justify the strength of the entire league. Last year's contest was quite the entertaining shootout, with both teams throwing haymakers throughout. I've heard that DCD's defense is vastly improved, so it will be quite a test. Of course if you wanna be the best, you have to beat the best, right?
I'm sure the Milan coaches and players are focusing solely on this week's game (a 6:30pm start, for those of you planning to attend). It's a great bonus to have one more home game at Milan. Sounds like weather will be a factor; we'll have to see which team can handle the elements better.
LaPlante , Woolford, Carrabino, Coombe for SMCC. Lindeman, Barnes, and Milan's LB. Chase for RV. Hartwick Huron.
Still not sold on HL's strength this year. Milan will beat Denby if they conrtol the ball and not turn it over.
Kick the field goal and win in overtime, no way play for the win. Call time out call to plays make them your best plays.
Michigan upsets OSU. MSU will lose to PSU. Iowa wins big ten!
I think msu and um can beat osu, too many issues over there right now. There's still a championship game to play for Iowa, which they will get demolished in by um msu or osu, who are all far better teams.
First off, yes I definitely think the league was down. When 2 of our 3 top teams lose the first weekend, that's pretty rough.
Many other programs are on the rise with many youth programs taking shape. That's great. Parity is much more exciting.
Nobody on hot seat at Jefferson, I don't believe a coach has ever been fired from there. They just leave. LOL.
I think Humphrey, Kull, and Wilkins should be considered for all league for Jefferson.
Lastly, GO BLUE !! A win is a win.
Gill or D'Alfonso should find a spot
Humphrey & Sovey were all league this yr.
I disagree saying those districts are not very good. SMCC, Clinton, and Madison Heights Madison. That's a gauntlet for a D-6 District. Madison has a very good team this year. A total of 2 regular season losses between those 3 teams. I believe the winner of that game will go to the state championship in D-6.
Detroit Denby is a good football team that is stuck in the top division in the PSL. 3 of their 4 losses are to Cass Tech, Martin Luther King, and East English. 3 of the top teams in the state and all in the hunt of a state title this year. Milan will have their hands full with a strong and fast Denby team.
Well if Redmon retires doesn't that open up a D1 opportunity to some successful HL coaches???? Or Monroe County coaches for that matter.
I hope Milan makes a run as the HL sole representative.
I think there is too much emphasis on JV records. They are not the best indicators or varsity success. Coaching and consistent programs are better indicators. Oh yes, talent helps too.
Whitehouse who used to be the QBs coach at GI and is now the OC at Monroe HS will be the lead candidate for sure.
Whitehouse is the assistant principle at Airport he's not coaching anymore…
Great points Chris, why the heck would Kalby be on the hot seat? As for Redmond to Airport I wouldn't hold my breath. I read yesterday in the Monroe paper Redmond sorta hinted at retirement. EM
Thanks Chris for the comment to my question. I agree that the Huron youth program is impressive. When you see it, every inch of the grounds at Huron High is filled with young football players. Better yet they are running the same offense/defense that the varsity runs just simplified. This is exactly what Terry Hessbrook does at Ithaca which for all us D6 people know the success he has had.
My concern for Dan K after his success was being lured to another school.
I did know that about Cisco. There are some Monroe county rumors of Redmon going back to AP.
I think Jefferson has too many head coaches and not enough assistants. Too many voices running that program. Need and Identity! Kinda of like the Lions right now.
I really dont know anyone on the hot seat.
I can only speak to Huron situation and I would like to do that now. Dan K is not going anywhere. Before Dan got to Huron 12 years ago, they had 5 coaches in 7 years and had won 4 games in those 7 years. It took a few years of changing the culture to get Huron moving forward. Many, many will argue that the only reason for Huron's success is the youth program and while that is a huge positive it took someone with patience to stick around and dedication and loyalty to the kids. Dan has shown that. He also was instrumental in getting the BFS program into the gym classes. That has had a profound effect on the program. Did you know that Marc Cisco went like 12 years before he had a winning season at Jefferson? Did you also know that Dan K is only 34 years old? He took that job at 22. One thing I know about football coaches is that they get better every year. Football is also one sport that relies heavily on quality coaching. Why would a school like Huron give up on a guy now? You know a guy that took Huron to the Division 3 semi finals? Huron has arguably the worst record in Michigan football history. Only 155 wins in 65 seasons. Dan has brought 49 wins in 12 seasons (49-67). Huron was 104 and 332 prior to his arrival. Huron is only going to get better and better. All you have to do is look at the lower levels to see that or come by and see the loads of young kids practicing in the youth program. This is the same youth program that has four coaches from Dan's staff coaching including himself.
Sorry, that needed to be said.
Milan and Clinton will not be good measuring sticks until they get out of their districts. Those districts are not very good. If they both win regional then maybe the league was ok. But overall it still seemed down from previous years, not just last year.
Teams finding a way to win even if it's mistakes by the other team is still a win. That means there was pressure in game ending situations and some coaches/players succumb to it, others rise and become winners.
Here's a follow up question to yours Chris for this week. How many HL coaches are on the hot seat or looking for new jobs? AP, Huron, Jefferson???????
Can't we all just get along? Let's both kick some Buckeye a$$. EM
As for Dantonio leaving to go to South Carolina.I would bet there is a better chance of Harbaugh leaving for the NFL than Dantonio leaving for SC State is a better job than SC and well many NFL stops are a better job than Michigan. Those NFL jobs have something Harbaugh doesn't have, but his brother does have. Can you say Super Bowl ring? You know it eats at him every day.
It doesn't take much to bring them out of the woodwork. I simply responded to BN and his statement that was directed at myself and State fans. I said there are probably a few lucky wins in the last 6 years for both teams.
Nice cherry-picking of your games there, Chris. You're wise in choosing 2010 – 2015 to boast MSU's program. Look back to the previous 74 games (2004-2009) and MSU won 36. Look back at any other MSU stretch of five years and find the same impressive numbers…you won't find many.
It's actually pretty fun going through the records of both programs throughout the years and seeing the difference between a program only recently finding success after decades of mediocracy and a program with decades full of Big Ten championships only recently not competing at a very high level.
You can argue that I'm being historic…that I'm focusing on the past and ignoring the present. That's fair with what I've argued thus far. But MSU fans seem to forget the past even happened. MSU fans will be quick to point out that MSU are 7-1 in the past 8 meetings. Then they turn away and scoff at anyone who points out the rivalry record from 2000-2007, arguing "yeah…but who's better now???"
At the end of the day, it's year one for a new coach taking over a 5-7 Michigan team…and it took a fluke bobbled snap for MSU to scurry away from Ann Arbor with a victory. Sure, MSU can look briefly into the past and at the present and proudly say, "We are the best team in Michigan." Ask them about next year and the years to come and they may not be so bold.
As an MSU fan whose team has won 61 of the last 75 games, I suppose their are a few lucky wins in there. I'm sure your team doesn't have many wins in the same 75 games. I'm sorry, I meant lucky wins.
Let's face facts Dantinio is a good coach but has also been LUCKY that it took Michigan 7 years to find a competent replacement for Lloyd Carr. You remember Lloyd Carr right he went 10-3 against your team (since you love to throw out numbers). Now I'm not saying Michigan would've kept dominating after Dantonio took over but I could see the series being pretty even had Lloyd not retired (or forced to step down, depending who you believe). In all honesty I hope the Dantonio to South Carolina rumors are untrue cause this could turn into a golden era of Big 10 football if Meyer Harbaugh and Dantonio stay put for the foreseeable future
Ok, I'm new to this. Michigan was very lucky to win this game. When do we start pretending like we dominated? Can any MSU fans help me out?
-bn
Seriously, we mostly ignore what UofM does. It was a bye week for us Spartans. I didn't do or watch anything football since reading the paper Saturday morning. Good luck to Milan, wishing you a long playoff run.
Clinton was not the better team. They won on a luck pass and was bailed out numerous times by stupid cc penalties. They will not be going very far.
The juniors at SMCC have only loss to Riverview as sophomores. SMCC will be at top next year.
So by your logic shouldn't they lose to Riverview next year?
It would be pretty interesting to see Milan and SMCC do against those teams. It does seem to be wide open. I expect SMCC to dip quite a bit. Milan should be alright. Michigan did get pretty lucky at the end there. Some terrible clock management from Minnesota. Minnesota got really lucky on some big plays in the first half, Leidner was just slinging it and his receivers somehow came down with the ball against great coverage most of the time.
In the second half Minnesota was rolling really well on offense. Hard to stop some of the great passes being thrown on that final drive from Minnesota. Getting only 2 plays off from the opponent's half-yard line with 19 seconds left is atrocious. But hey, after the MSU game it's nice to be on the other side of a close game like that.
The league might've been a little down this year, but man I would love to have seen Milan or SMCC play one of the top 2 from the Downriver League (I would like our teams chances). Riverview will be in the hunt next year, but they lose ALOT of talent. Next years league race looks to be wide open. As an Airport fan I would say Meiring and Mossberg should be considered for All League. And as a Michigan fan all I can say is they played pretty bad coming off a bye week and got lucky as F$!& at the end. But the Gophers had pretty good reason to play their best game. EM
I would have to think Milan is favorites with the QB and RB coming back.
Chavez would beat at least two teams in this league simply because they don't have the athletes to cover. The game at Milan would have been much closer if Chavez didn't have three strait fumbles I which Milan recovered. They were as good as FR or Jefferson although both teams would have scored on them, they wouldn't be able to stop them either. The QB was really impressive. I guess leads the nation in passing yardage with 4,000 passing yards.
Milan could have scored a lot more points of they wanted to. Reserve players in early ad waited til the last possible second to snap the ball on offensive plays.
League may have been down a bit this year. Hard to say until we see how Milan and Clinton perform this year. But honestly last year is hard to beat.
Definitely agree that Riverview is on the rise. Good team and it seems like they have a decent staff.
Also agree the better team won at Navarre, that's what I've heard as well. I'll be rooting for Clinton and Milan moving forward 🙂
Yes we will need to see how far Clinton and Milan go before we will know for sure.
The league was defiantly down this year if the league champs lost to a D6 team in the first round of the playoffs. Michigan indeed got lucky but after that MSU lost they deserve it. Bad coaching for the Gophers.