The Jets finished with a 1-8 season for the second consecutive season in 2016. That finish brought the resignation of Chad Baas after a 4 year stint and welcomed 2001 Airport graduate Jim Duffy. This is Duffy’s first year as a varsity head coach and last walked the sidelines as an assistant at SMCC in 2014.
The Jets return 24 letterman and boast a strong senior class. QB Tanner Jeska will once again lead the Airport offense. He will have three excellent skill people in the backfield with him as senior Mike Foor returns along with junior Bryce Bondy. Junior Steffen Dyl brings speed to the offense. Sam Johnson, a 6-2, 270lb senior should once again anchor the Jets offensive line.
On the defensive side of the ball, look for the defensive line to be the strength of the defense as Johnson teams with senior Logan Mays. The linebackers will be led by senior Chase Smith. Other players to look out for are senior LB Sean Gabbard and junior T.J. Potcova.
The Jets could be the surprise team of the league. There is good talent and depth in the senior class and the juniors have talent as well. Much will depend on the new coaching staff’s ability to scheme and motivate the troops.
Chris’s Pick: Huron 3-4 Overall 4-5
Gary’s Pick: Huron 3-4 Overall 4-5
I will be there supporting my Jets Friday night. I am sure that these boys are ready to strap those shoulder pads up and buckle their chin straps and starting making their own history. Back when we were on the playoff streak it started by making history one step at a time.
First winning season under Coach, First League Title, First Playoff Team, etc.
This team is ready to start making their own history and the next 9 Friday nights will tell the whole story. I'm proud to see the culture getting healthier in Carleton and excited to see these young men get after it in two nights.
#AllIn #BuildingChampions
Nice post. Thank you for sharing.
As graduating athlete from this team the fault isn't on the coaching staff. As always its on those who put on the pads and play. I learned alot if not more during my time as a Jet during these last two seasons. One is that those who place blame on others for their own failure are cowards. Our coaches were great coaches, they did an excellent job of scouting and preparing for each week.The blame is on our preparedness studying and getting better on our own. The problem we had lied in depth. We had roughly 30ish guys. 5-8 of them honestly weren't talented or fit enough to play. Then factor in only having 7 senior starters on both sides of the ball. The remainder juniors coming in cocky after a 8-1 JV season. These last two seasons almost had to happen for Airport to get in position to right the ship. The coaches should not have been treated as poorly as they were on the way out. Doing what coaches do taking the blame. We gave our damndest every game sometimes losing to lack of preparation on our own part (studying our opponent and their tendencies) and others just not having enough juice to finish a game. Not to mention that the senior class was dealing with several injuries other than just Brent Mossburg as well as the juniors now seniors. Looking at our situation there was no good season coming out of that. But we had fun, despite 1-8 we had fun playing the game of football and none of us regret the season we had and I dont regret the coaches we had. The talent is there with this group of upcoming seniors who worked hard to fill spots on Varsity that would normally be filled by Seniors. This group filled leadership rolls that the limited number of seniors couldn't. Last year they learned what it was like to play and compete at a varsity level. They learned alot. Their hungry to prove that there a much better team than what everybody thinks. Last year we had the talent for a 5-4 team but not the depth. This year they have the depth with alot of motivated and experienced seniors. They will right the ship and get Airport back to a winning season.
Yes agree Airport has superior athletes compared to Dundee and GI they open season 2-0 then hit rock bottom again losing next 2/3 then we will see what these jets are about
Well said!!!!
My point is this…..who wouldn't want to see these boys succeed?? What kind of person takes pleasure in tearing these hard working kids down? It seems to be the thing to do on this blog. At the end of the day, these kids all want to win games. How about building them up instead of hoping they fail and have another dismal season? I don't see another 1-8 record for them this year. The tides are changing at Airport starting this Friday! Go Jets and good luck to the rest of the league!!
I've been following this blog for about 8 years now and I must say Airport has just as many followers as any other team on here. After 2 consecutive 1-8 years they still go strong!! There's still a lot of pride in the program. Love it!!!!
JD TD TDsr lead them to V-I-C-T-O-R-Y week one and week two and three and the balll gets rolling again these guys no the game understand the kids and get it done and we're behind them Go Jets
Yeah- what a perfect world we all live in! I'm sure there are no other parents at any surrounding school that like to coach from the stands!! You see it at every school with every sport!! Wake up if you think it was just happening at Airport! Again-just let the boys play football!
Yes all 599 of you coaches in the stands along the fences lol all disagreeing
You could hear the coaches disagreeing with each other in the AP stands. They will be better this year.
What's up with all the Airport haters? How about just letting these boys get the pads on and play a great game of football!! Lots of excitement over here at Airport!!
Unless you were a staff member yourself, you don't know how anyone, player or coach, is being coached…coulda woulda shoulda
Playing under Redmond or any coach has nothing to do with being farther ahead coach. Baas played under Redmond for 3 years on varsity. So invalid point 10:13pm. All these AP "faithfuls" are clueless. Blame game is happening, varsity has a lot of returning players so I don't see much of a change. As well as coaching staff is mostly the same I'm sure.
Yes you AP faithful have all the right choices/ answers after the facts/games I would've done this they should've done this and that why did they call this I would've done this and in that situation I would've done this and put this kid here and on and on and on . Glad to see it doesn't take much to get the old AP guys going
Don't think it was said he was going to win every game or be Nick Saban. Just saying the team will be farther ahead by some things that will be emphasized more than in the past. If you were a true fan of ap you would embrace this. What would you rather be a frosh/Jv coach and in the box with varsity also win a state championship.. One of the reasons for Jacks success was the staff around him, because he coached his coaches. You win with players, sure, but jacks teams weren't always the most talented but were in games and they were not going to beat themselves. Unless you were part of the previous staff why wouldn't you be excited. Not poorly coached, putting kids in a position to be successful is a big part of it also. Having a kid punt return, play qb cost you one game last year. Not the kids fault but shouldn't have been put in that spot. That's coaching
makes you a good coachbecause you played for Redmond and was a frosh coach under Giarmo past coach played for Redmond? Players make coaches especially at this level this year AP is one year older so they are now walking not crawling can they run time will tell
Will be farther ahead coaching wise. Played for a great coach in Redmond and coached under a great coach in Giarmo. You will see a difference in the way this team is prepared and how disciplined they are. Those 2 qualities were were a staple of those 2 coaches and that will be a strength of this team.
Airport was not poorly coached last year. I think that's the blame game. Were they well coached? Maybe not but I think it's a mistake to think they will be better coach this year over last year.
Not a bad prediction with both saying 4-5, but I'm not seeing how they're gonna win 3 games in the league. Could happen, but it's tough to bounce back a little after going 1-8.
I assume you mean AIRPORT wins both non league games. Not Dundee
Dundee wins both non league games without a doubt. They beat Dundee last year and competed with Tecumseh last year even though they were not coached well and Mossburg was hurt. Airport should pick up wins against GI, Jefferson, and SMCC as well. Riverview and Flat Rock are toss up games. There is a legitimate reason to be excited about Airport football now 🙂 !
I actually think Airport has underachieved the last few seasons for what ever reason. The reason for my 4-5 pick is that the talent is there to be better than 1-8 and the schedule looks like 4-5 is attainable. I think the league this season will be very very tough and Dundee and Tecumseh are tough games as well.
I see Airport favored against Dundee, GI and Jefferson. I see Flat Rock and Tecumseh as tossup games. And most likely underdogs vs Huron, SMCC, Riverview and Milan. EM
Hey 2:04 pm- This is not Vegas. I think Chris and Gary do a great job. So it sounds like you would put them at 0-9? Hey all these teams did was practice and scrimmage so far. They know things will change as the season unfolds. lets be a little patient. After all this is really just for fun right? Lets get excited for some FOOTBALL next week uh? Keep up the great work guys.-JS
My 4-5 was based on a strong scrimmage. They have the talent there for sure. If this was Duffeys 4th season I would pick them higher.
That might be a first, me being accused of loving Airport. Gary picked them 4-5 as well!
No offense Chris, but you never get Airport right. In 2015 you picked them 5-4 and they went 1-8. Last year, you picked them 5-4 and they went 1-8. This year you pick them 4-5 and they might not win a game. They graduated their two best players in Mossburg and Goretski and they have a first year coach with no head coaching experience. Why so much love for the Jets every year?