By Frank Vajcner
It’s now time to head to the alma mater of Gary Hauf, and a school that has recently hired a new athletic director and friend of the blog Jared Janssen. SMCC has continued with consistently winning and qualifying for the postseason. Does the schedule allow for the Falcons to have another strong season?
2022 Schedule:
Aug 26 @ Warren Collegiate
Sept 1 @ Grosse Ile
Sept 9 @ Airport
Sept 16 Milan
Sept 23 @ Riverview
Sept 30 Flat Rock
Oct 7 New Boston Huron
Oct 14 Jefferson
Oct 21 Ecorse
Gut-Check Game: How many times have we seen this before? The Falcons schedule a season opener against a perennial blue blood. This year puts Warren Collegiate on the docket to kick off the season. The Cougars went 11-3 last season while reaching the State Finals where they lost to Lansing Catholic. In addition, the Cougars have qualified for the playoffs every season since 2009, with three trips to the State Semifinals. There will be more on this one later. The Falcons also venture to Riverview in Week 5, which has become their kryptonite in recent years.
Trap Game: Right after the season opener, the Falcons take a trip to “The Island” for a date with Grosse Ile. The Island has been a tricky visit for the Falcons, despite stealing a win there in their most recent visit. You can also look to a visit to Airport in Week 3, as the Jets gave the Falcons fits in last year’s meeting. Even the first two games in October don’t appear to be pushovers, as the Falcons escaped with single-possession wins over Huron and Jefferson last season.
Snoozer: Make it a clean sweep for all Huron League teams, who have not scheduled a single cupcake game!
Non-Conference Challenge: In addition to Warren Collegiate, the Falcons will also welcome Ecorse in Week 9. The Red Raiders went 8-4 last season, and qualified for the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
Notable: Continuing on with Warren Collegiate, the Falcons and Cougars have some history, with two meetings in the postseason. The Falcons have won both, with the most recent being a 44-14 beatdown in the 2019 playoffs (which was mostly due to the Cougars providing bulletin board material)…This will be the second meeting all-time with the Red Raiders. The Falcons defeated them 41-12 in the 2010 playoffs…Oddly enough, Warren Collegiate and Ecorse faced each other during the playoffs last year…The Falcons will open with three straight, and four of the first five on the road, while ending with four straight at the friendly confines of Navarre Field.
Thoughts from Frank: You have to commend Adam Kipf and company for not shying away from tough competition, especially with the Huron League always being a meat grinder. There is no question about being able to obtain enough playoff points, and there will be no better place to be than Navarre Field come October.
Thoughts from Chris: This is a typical SMCC schedule. The Huron league will be its usual self and the non-league features some solid teams. The three weeks of Airport, Milan and Riverview seems pretty daunting with two of those games on the road.
Thoughts from Gary: One of the best openers in the state vs State Runner-Up Michigan Collegiate. First 4 of 5 on the road is never an easy thing. Falcons find a week 9 in Ecorse…. before the season started. Something that had not happened the previous 3 seasons. Something yours truly appreciates.
The T never succeeds on the island. Check the recent years, it doesn’t. Too much experience and raw athleticism on this Red Devil offense to warrant any type of defensive success from the kestrels also. Devs by a million
It seems 2 years ago you lost to CC on the island and gave up about 550 yards of offense to that T that doesn’t work! Good luck should be a great game!
The T ran for a school record in yards in a game on the island in 2020. You’re good though.
Pretty sure their QB and Fullback combined for 400 yards on the ground vs Grosse Ile in 2020
If Smcc stays healthy they will be hoisting another state championship trophy.. with a 40 man varsity roster spells disaster for the Huron League and anybody in D7… they have all the pieces and then some.. yes.. Smcc is huge on both sides of the ball.. and have a couple Kids they are being looked at by D1 schools.. remember I said it first..
Gary.. What do the falcons look like? Do they have size? Give us your take on the falcons.. let us Prey!
A preview will be done on each team we cover, starting in a bout 2 weeks.
Size? yes.
They fit the mold of many other teams we cover. Play well, stay healthy, a very good season can be had.
They lost their QB, both halfbacks, and tight ends, and their all state defensive lineman. They will be young but Coach Kipf and his staff always finds a way to get the most out of every group they have. I have heard they have a bigger roster than normal.
CC went from Morgan to Jondro. From Flint to Smith. From Cousino to Leal. They have great coaches who will find and develop talent. I’m not concerned about who we lost. Next man up mentality.
Well not sure they will be the biggest team but always pound for pound as good as anyone. I still think they fall in at least 2-3 league losses this year. I think the league will be solid top to bottom this year with FR and Jefferson greatly improved…. sorry
Rumors around the league is that Smcc will be the biggest team in the Huron league.. if so that could be trouble for the HL this year.. of Smcc gets the trap working like they did in 2019 look for the falcons to hoist another state championship..
They will be a fun team to watch. They have size and speed and athleticism. Like everyone in the league they need to stay healthy. Good luck falcons!
Come on, SMCC is traditionally one of the physically smaller teams in the league. Unless they had 6-7 transfers that my family doesn’t know about, they will be middle of the pack in size.
SMCC ALL THEY WAY!!!