Jefferson(5-4) defeated Owosso 46-33 while Milan(8-1) dismantled AA Huron 48-0. Milan last defeated Jefferson on 16SEP16, 35-31 and leads the all-time series 14-8-1. The Bear’s last playoff appearence was in 2006, while Milan has been a mainstay making it 9 out of the last 12 seasons. Jefferson has an all-time playoff record of 10-8 and the Big Reds chime in at 12-15.
Jefferson “backdoored” into the playoffs winning 4 of their last 5 games, earning them an at-large bid at 5-4. The Bears seem to be playing their best ball offensively led by HL Blog POY candidate Nick Humphrey. Brandon Sovey will be behind center and is ready to go. I sat down with both at a recruiting trip last Saturday and they are very excited to be in the playoffs. Coach Pickens has stayed the course from some early season hicupps and has his Bears primed for the post season, when nobody thought they had a chance.
Milan, the Huron League co-champ, has looked like the team to beat all year long. Playing great on both sides of the ball. They too are led by a HL Blog POY candidate in Trace Lindeman. Trace, a 4 years starter, has racked up some crazy numbers over his years and wants to go out with a bang in his final season. Coach Hoskins is doing what he has always done since he came into the league and that is win win win. Milan is the cream of the crop this year in the HL and they are primed to prove it.
All points lead to this game being in the 30’s, points, not degrees, hopefully. Both teams have tremendous talent on the offensive side. Whoever can get a stop and not turn the ball over will most likely come out on top. Can Jefferson keep Barnes and Lindeman bottled up just enough? Can Milan figure out the T and Keep Mr. Humphrey and crew from chewing up yardage and clock? Rematches such as this, more times than not, have a different outcome than the first affair. My gut says pick the fiesty Bears but I am going with the Champs at home. They are the champs for a reason.
Pick: Milan 36 Jefferson 31
(Chris’ pick: Milan 27 Jefferson 21)
It will be a great game tonight. I would say most of us kept it a quality conversation. Many reasons either team could win or lose. The main thing, the Bears do feel we match up well with you and we like the fact that our team has scored the most points off of you of any team this season. That is a plus in our book. Also, we like the fact that SMCC did beat you and we run a similar offense.
They got 30 on you, we got 31. Of course none of that probably means a whole heck of a lot, but it is something for the Bears to focus on.
GOOD LUCK!! GO BEARS!!
To those Bears fans who are pretending that these two teams never played this season:
Hey, have fun. Support your team. Predict a Bear win. Knock yourself out, but feel free to tell us why. (I'll give you a freebie: SMCC beating Milan is not a reason why your team will beat Milan) While you're at it, because these two teams actually *did* play each other this season, please mention why your reason did not happen in their game earlier this season.
If your reason is that the Bears will win because the defense will key on #6 and #9, that's fine. Did they not do that in their first game? If health is a reason, I'll listen, but let me know who was banged up the first time around.
See you at the game!
My reply was to coach Tom. Sorry there 10:52. Its all good.
In laTe October when The air grow crisp… Are you a RockeT or a Piss-anT??? Sorry I jusT had To geT ThaT ouT! I agree ThaT There a lot of good Teams ThaT we are Talking abouT no maTTer how long or whaT decade They played in The Huron League. I love The banTer and The emoTion expressed in The blogs. My broTher was a Bear back in The laTe 70s and honesTly They were noT very good, buT These noT The same Bears ThaT will be Taking The field TonighT. Look at Milan's record This year and The Teams ThaT gave Them The mosT problems were T based offenses. Look iT up! LeT's Tee iT up and decide iT on the field! GO Bears!!!
Dude, you get an "A" for the effort in that post. Good luck tonight, but remember Milan is not the same team either.
aLthough Jefferson played a good footbaLL game, miLan won on pure taLent. feel free to foLLow miLan during the pLayoffs, since you're not aLLowed to continue. you should reaLLy start Lifting for the foLLowing season. Last but not Least, go miLan!
BEARS-BEARS-BEARS-They will tear up the rabbits just like SMCC did!!
How about those rabbits ran the Bears off
This was mainly about old school football. What went on back in the day, how the game was played, what the biggest rivalries were and what they meant to that community. The stat on HL champs is great, but the records do not represent the meaning of what is meant by old school football.
The bears have something to prove. This will be a close gameif they can control the clock and not have penalties.
Nice Stat. I would like to meet the guy who invited SMCC. LOL. Obviously, very even other than them. Can't imagine why.
I get what he is saying about proximity of the schools meaning something. However, Jefferson and Airport were not good at all for about 80% of the leagues existence. When the fermi money came in, Jefferson got good for about 10-15 years. When Redmond came in, Airport was good for about the same amount. But before and since, they both were sub-par at best.
The best programs over history are SMCC and Riverview. Milan has been good too.
5 of the 8 teams in the league have an overall winning % above 50%. That speaks well for the league.
That's going waaay back. Late 60's, early 70's. Your showing your age there Mr. Hauf. LOL.
HL Champions since 1959
MCC/SMCC- 22
Tecumseh- 8
Riverview- 8
Milan- 8
GI- 7
Airport- 7
Jefferson- 6
Flat Rock- 3
Dundee- 1
Blissfied- 1
Huron- 0
In the early days the HL was dominated by Tecumseh.
Flat Rock has also been around awhile, as some others I did not mention. The fiercest battles, the games with the most attendance, the games with a police presence were Catholic Central, Jefferson, and Airport. Those were the days of old school football. Jefferson marching out like soldiers, players escorted to their buses that were egged so bad you couldn't see out the windows. Players constantly played with injuries, concussions, whatever. It was about the guts and the glory. Not saying some of that didn't happen at other games around the league, but in my memory, those teams and games were old school football.
Yup
Did I ever say that Milan wasn't in the Huron league first or that I was talking about Milan at all? You all are a little sensitive. I think you need to relax and not worry about what people say about you or what you think people are saying about you.
-Original Huron League Fan-
Why did you leave flat rock out then?
Airport has been in league since 1959. Old school football absolutely includes Airport.
Was going to say the same thing, Chris! I've been around the Huron League since the late 70s. My recollection as a young one was that the league was essentially Riverview (where I grew up) and MCC. I took some time recently to examine the history of the league and concluded that MCC owned the league while Riverview (in the 80s-90s and some of the 2000s) and Jefferson (in the 90s) had some great run. Airport come on in the 2000s with Redmond but were essentially non-factors (along with Carlson and Huron) for the first 20-25 years of my experience with the Huron League. Grosse Ile popped up occassionally and also had a pretty good run recently along with Milan (who wasn't in the league for a long period of my formative years). Obviously this is generalizing as there were good years for some teams here and there but no consistency.
Rivalry is one thing but old school Huron League Football cannot include Airport IMHO.
Airport?
Uncle Tom, I'm sure if you paid attention to Huron League football for Milans 45 or 46 years that you guys have been around, that just being in the league is one thing, being relevant and in the mainstream of the league is another. You guys have done very well recently, so you have created a lot of attention. For the 35 years prior, we all wondered what the heck a Big Red even was.
Sort of like the Big Ten We have UM, MSU, OSU, then the others. Nobody pays much attention to Northwestern.
The Huron League, we have SMCC, Jefferson and Airport, then the others. Nobody pays much attention to Milan. I will give you guys credit, you have surfaced pretty well in recent years, same with GI and Huron.
But OLD SCHOOL HURON LEAGUE FOOTBALL is MCC, Jefferson and Airport. They helped evolve the league into what it is today. You guys may have been around for awhile, but the heart of the league really started from those 3 schools. I played then and it was the best of times for Huron League Football. Catholic Central, Jefferson, and Airport share a rivalry that goes way back. We all know each other well, grew up together and that makes for the best rivalries. Some of us have not always done our part with some rough years occasionally, but true old school HL football is at its best when these schools are playing.
Also, the 33 years you guys were not in the Huron League definitely do not earn you the right to declare anything about Milan and Huron League Old school football.
You have been in the league the least of any of us.
BEAR PRIDE !!
I'd like to say I'm feeling a Bear upset. But I don't believe the boys from Newport ever seen it any other way. There will be some Green and Gold sitting on the visitors side tonight. Go Bears!!!!
#47 brother
Good grief people………just buy your ticket and get to Milan and enjoy the game. I wouldn't wait to arrive at 6:45 or you may miss the first quarter getting in. Should be a good cool night for high school football, and let's just agree ahead of time, the team with the most points in the end deserved to win. Represent Huron League!
Wow that's right.
I just read it, I don't write it. There is additional posts regarding the same topic and not a whiff of a refuting post when someone pointed out the Milan fans despair.
Anonymous said…
In my opinion, there are way too many teams in the playoffs. If you are 5-4 that is pretty close to an average team and you don't deserve to be in. Football is a rough enough sport, deserving teams should'nt have to play those extra games. Hell, it's like the NHL, just let everyone in.
October 21, 2016 at 6:27 AM
Now that you quoted that I do remember that being said.
I disagree with that statement. At 5-4 if you get in then you did enough. Some teams actually play better come play offs.
2:39, unless you're arguing with the voices in your head, I don't know where that is coming from. Feel free to cite actual posts and people instead of using air quotes. As for me, I don't see a lot of–oh, let's call it Disrespekt–for the Bears from the Milan faithful. Respect All, Fear None.
Weird? Not as weird as the Milan faithful complaining about having to play a 5-4 team because they "don't deserve to be there".
Who said that?
He's right with his 46!!! Guess Google doesn't make everyone smart these days!!!
Milan lost by a TD to SMCC. I'm not sure they got their butt kicked lol. They had a 60 yd TD called back before the half for lining up wrong and fumbled the ball going into the endzone to cut the score to 2-3 points with 4 minutes left in the game. If you look at max Preps, Milan ran for 155 yds and threw for 160 yds. I'm not sure that's a butt kicking when you have over 300 yds total offense, but opinion's will vary.
That was a pretty good game if you watched it. Both teams hit on some big plays. Credit SMCC for making a few more and winning a game they needed to on their homecoming. Milan struggled to run inside with SMCC cutting the o line every play and Milan had to adapt which they did by throwing the ball and running outside. However, SMCC made some timely stops and hit some nice plays to win the game. Credit to them.
Milan Fan
45 it is. Let's all get smarter together, then. Works for me.
I like soup and if I did the math it is 45 years for Milan in the HL. Google makes us all smart
45 years for Milan but who's counting
Lots of teams end up with more 1st downs than Milan. You don't gain a first down for a 70 years touchdown run, just six points on the scoreboard.
Also, there are a lot of Jefferson fans who are talking up the accomplishments of SMCC this week instead of talking up their own accomplishments. Your team made the playoffs this season for the first time this decade despite having a coach whose back y'all didn't really have.
That should change now going forward, right?
You won your rivalry game, you made the playoffs, you have a POY contender. There's a lot for you to talk about without pumping up your rival's success against your opponent. That just seems weird…
5:56, you call yourself Original Huron League Fan? Is that like Lloyd Carr's Michigan Wolverines? Actually, you sound like a Sparty whose knowledge of College Football history goes back a whole nine years.
As always, The Google is your friend.
Milan is a charter member of the Huron League, with records going back to 1939 (http://frathletics.com/2014/10/30/history-of-the-huron-league/). Jefferson came on board in 1968, leaving something called the Lakeshore Conference, and in 1969 Milan jumped ship to the Southeastern Conference, coming back home to the Huron League in 2000.
If my math is right, Jefferson has been in the Huron League for 48 years, compared to Milan's 46 years. But when it comes to being an Original Huron League Fan, you'll be on the wrong side of Joe O'Donnell Field this Friday.
I like the "we played bad theory" lol. There is a reason you played bad. The other team had a good athlete guarding your good athlete, the other coach had a good game plan to defend your game plan. You don't just play bad, the other team creates your lack of confidence with good matchups and a good game plan.
Those who rise above will be winners !!
This week it will be JEFFERSON.
BEAR DOWN !!
Not according to Gary not according to GI. I bet you have even said Jefferson didn't play well in a game that they lost.
This should be a great game. The Big Reds are a great team an have earned it all year. Don't count out the scrappy Bears! The teams they lost to have a combined record of 30 and 6. The Big Reds know how good the Bears are and it will be settled on the field. #7 and #2 are as good #9 and #6 but this is a team sport and my money is on the team from JEFFERSON!!!
This should be a great game. The Big Reds are a great team an have earned it all year. Don't count out the scrappy Bears! The teams they lost to have a combined record of 30 and 6. The Big Reds know how good the Bears are and it will be settled on the field. #7 and #2 are as good #9 and #6 but this is a team sport and my money is on the team from JEFFERSON!!!
Who is SMCC playing this week? That's what I though.
How thoughtful
Humphrey & Sovey are a tough duo no doubt. Flaherty now. 3 hungry seniors. Great game at Milan this Friday night. Milan will have to earn this one.
I totally agree with you. It will let be a very hard earned win for either team. Jefferson has something to prove and MIlan wants it just as bad. Should be a very fun game to watch .
Had to say nice things about Milan in this or the little babies might have cried again.
Bear Down!
-Original Huron League Fan-
Your just pissed cause they didn't pick the da bears to win. Bear down alright, bear rug.
If Jefferson comes up with a defensive scheme as SMCC did to stop #9, they will win this game.
I believe it would be easier to devise a defensive strategy to Milans offense then it would be to stop Jeffersons offense. Teams have loaded the box all year, we still get through.
The big plays are what Milan thrives on. A big play knocks the wind out of a team, keep those at a minimum.
Humphrey shadow #9, Sovey shadow Barnes.
Game Over.
How can they shadow 6 and 9? 6 and 9 will blow by them. If you can't win the line of scrimmage then you will not contain them. They only need a creece. A small crack. Then it's BAM, gone. Your 2 kids are good, strong. But are in no way as quick or fast as 6 and 9. Speed kills.
LoL good luck with that
Matchups!
I am not sure you can take much from the SMCC game with Milan….outside of the fact they won. Milan was coming off an emotional Homecoming game against an undefeated GI team….which also included a venue change and other "flow" changing things. The next week, they went to SMCC who was 1. playing for their playoff hopes and 2. it was Homecoming. Milan was perhaps a little flat and SMCC came ready to punch them in the mouth. That loss probably did Milan more good then harm.
The Milan/Jefferson game will be awesome. Weather should be COLD enough that ball security will be huge. Early indications are the both teams will have really nice crowd support. Should be a fun game to watch.
I don't disagree but SMCC might.
Smcc played bad against Jefferson.. 3 turnovers and a personal foul late in the game that would have forced a punt but ended up keeping a drive going and scoring a TD. Hey give Jefferson credit that's part of the game.. Bear down..
Milan didn't play well at SMCC, and they didn't play well the 2nd half against Jefferson. They put 4 strong quarters up this Friday and it's no contest. But if they take plays off and let them hang around till the 4th then they could be in trouble. I don't think they will, kids I know and talk to daily want to go deep in the playoffs. Hopefully they will.
SMCC kicking Milan's butt all over the field had everything to do with Milan not playing well.
Every team on here makes excuses. They didn't get their but kicked either, they lost. Mostly because the defense let down their guard. I think 9 carried the ball 8 times. He didn't even play defense. Why I don't know. But a 1 loss team non less. In the play offs, where is that mighty d 6 team at right now? Yep, that's right, home, wishing they did something different.
When a team loses a close game but has more yards and 1st downs than the team that won, they can make the statement that they could have won. How many 1st down and yards did Milan get vs SMCC's yards and 1st downs? That's right, it was a butt kicking.
GARY PICKED MILAN! GARY PICKED MILAN!
Just kidding, you both are right. Jefferson is coming to win no doubt. But I think Milan is playing better than they were in the first game. Good luck to Jefferson.
Watch out big reds!!!
It's tough to beat a team twice unless the one team is just better period. I think Milan is the better team.