2022 Schedule Analysis: Huron Chiefs

By Frank Vajcner

We now head to the banks of the mighty Huron River for a look at the New Boston Huron Chiefs. It will be a new era for the Chiefs, as Tom Hoover takes over as head coach. How will the first year of the Hoover era look from a schedule standpoint?

2022 Schedule:

Aug 25 Milford

Sept 1 Milan

Sept 9 @ Riverview

Sept 16 Jefferson

Sept 23 @ Airport

Sept 30 Grosse Ile

Oct 7 @ SMCC

Oct 14 Flat Rock

Oct 21 @ Dearborn Heights Crestwood

Gut-Check Game: Pick your poison between Milford, Milan, or Riverview. I’ll comment more on Milford later, but the Big Reds have been a thorn in the side of the Chiefs. Milan has won the last five meetings, including a first-round playoff meeting last year. Riverview has been much tougher, as the Pirates have outscored the Chiefs 114-36 in the last four meetings. Oh, and did I mention that all three are the first three games for Hoover and company? 

Trap Game: The first game after what appears to be a murderous three-game stretch is a visit from Jefferson. Even though the Bears lost to the Chiefs 41-25 last season, and will be breaking in a new staff, this is a prime letdown spot. The same could be said for a visit from arch-rival Flat Rock in Week 8, which follows a road trip to SMCC.

Snoozer: There are no gimmes for the Chiefs. And I’m starting to notice half of the Huron League doesn’t have a snoozer game. Maybe certain individuals will stop the proverbial striking of a deceased equine about the Huron League being down. But I digress.

Non-Conference Challenge: Another swing and miss I have to own up to was saying that Milford would be a snoozer last season. The Mavericks proceeded to go 7-3 and make the playoffs. Included in those wins was a 21-20 squeaker over the Chiefs. Dearborn Heights Crestwood will host the Chiefs in Week 9. The Chargers went 6-4 last season, and qualified for the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons. Huron defeated Crestwood 42-27 last season.

Notable: The Chiefs are 6-0 against the Chargers on the gridiron…Huron’s schedule remains the same as last season in terms of opposition.

Thoughts from Frank: This is a tough schedule for Hoover and his squad. Weeks 1-3 offer a chance for a signature win. The rest of the slate isn’t as daunting, other than a trip to SMCC. The Chiefs should rack up plenty of playoff points based on strength of schedule.

Thoughts from Chris: This is a tough schedule for the Chiefs. Huron needs to win at least 1 of the first 3 games to have a legit shot at making the playoffs. Beating Division 2 teams Milford in week 1 and Crestwood in week 9 would go a long way toward securing enough playoff points, but games against Division 7 SMCC and Division 5 Flat Rock and Grosse Ile could offset those wins.

Thoughts from Gary: Not an easy schedule for the Chiefs. I do have to give the AD and Coach kudos for managing the schedule correctly. As we saw last year, scheduling two D2 schools got them in the playoffs at 5-4 and would again this year. By contrast, Airport, who scheduled two D6 schools, will not make it in at 5-4. So well done there. I see the bookend games, as well as @ Airport, as being big games for Huron.