Congrats to Milan on the 2nd consecutive Huron League Championship.
Airport is now officially out of the playoffs for the first time in what seems like forever.
Can Riverview win a shoot out in the playoffs?
Pretty admirable the way Grosse Ile played against their arch rival.
Rivalry games are fun.
How on earth is Jefferson 1-7?
I’m sure Huron would like to have one of those four losses back.
Is Flat Rock’s Cody Radcliffe okay?
Expect the league to go 4-4 possibly 5-3 in week 9.
Is it obvious who the offensive and defensive players of the year are?
The league is not down, that is just a way that people from the past tend to look at things.
Did anyone else notice that all the real speedsters in the league also run track?
Playoff runs by league teams will depend on who they are matched up with.
Air Giarmo was back at it in week 8.
Should I just tab Milan as the league favorite again for next season?
Both Smith and Samuels would have CRAZY numbers if they didnt have to share carries. Both darn good.
-bn
If you are going to go by stats, then Josh Smith is leading the Huron League and Downriver League in touch downs and rushing. Josh Smith should be OPOY with 1315 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. All purpose yards are at 1700+. The kid has more heart then any other kid I've seen play ball. As for Samuels' numbers as OPOY, they don't even come close to Smith's. Those two are the best backs around. Smith plays both sides of the ball and special teams. Should be Player of the Year.
Their coaching staff won when the spread was non existant. Jeffy still doesn't know how to defend the spread not teams that are spread out. Look at Milan and Huron. gave up 48 to Milan and 37 to Huron. They have the best LB in the league and some huge kids up front. They're awful. Stergalas needs to figure it out.
This is offensive and defensive player of the year, not MVP. It will be stat driven when I pick but Team record will certainly play a past.
This might sound stupid but I agree with just about everything on here! There are so many kids that gave stepped up on every team. The problem is who do you choose for OP or DPOY? It's actually simple, you either pick the kid with the best stats, or you pick the kid that means the most to his team. Me, I pick the kid that means the most to his team. GI had a QB that didn't finish, not his fault, he got hurt. So, you have to go with Kanitz. He is not the sole reason Milan won the league, but if you remove him from the equation, Milan might be 7-1 right now or even 6-2. Milan beat Ypsi without him, a lot of kids stepped up that game. It's tough, but Kanitz should get it hands down.
Riverview's coach won a state championship which was led by his defense. I'm not sure I would say they have the worst defensive coaching staff in the league.
I'm a HUGE Mitroka fan, but let's put this into perspective folks. Judd, an excellent replacement, but only had the opportunity to prepare a few weeks, versus what? 8+ years at QB for Mitroka. Look how GI handled Riverview. They went from 24 rostered players to 16 just the week prior. Several JV players really stepped up and along with the rest, gave the View a real run for their money. So, it really does take an entire team and don't forget great, adaptive coaching. So to say that GI isn't anything without Mitroka isn't reality and an insult to the rest of the guys out there. If they would have had to begin the season without him, and had the time to prepare, Bodner would have been able to find the right fit for each position, the guys would have had the proper time to train, and frankly, could have very well taken the league. So to Judd, Vollmerhausen, Beach, Marko, McCartney, Moores, Zochowski, Ziberi, Moskall, Camilleri, Perry, Stewart, Gape, Groff, Gillam, Wilkes, Moores, Martinelli, Huckstein, Jones, Guzman and the fallen players, McAughey, Lowler, Tascoff, McCarty, Mitroka, Bolthouse- your Island is proud. You took an unreasonable situation and still gave your fans a great show. Coaches, that goes double for you! Thanks!
Milan faces a tough challenge this week. 8-1, 9-0? Hard to call. If they execute like they can, of course they will win.
But Lincoln has some big dudes so the win will have to come at the skill positions–and that has carried them all year.
As for next year…having experienced how everyone reloaded this year and having heard all the hoopla about RV, GI, SMCC, and then actually playing them and seeing what they had…
yes, you could put Milan up there at first or second place. At least we know they will have a very hard to stop running back.
People out there way overestimated the losses from last year's senior class and way underestimated this year's seniors.
So, the re-load for Milan will be significant next year. Probably more than this year.
A clear vote for a guy who gets little fanfare but has done it all for the Huron League's best team for years:
Austin Hoover.
3-year varsity starter;
Linebacker; H-back; Tight End, Kicker.
and even though i disagreed with the person for naming Mitroka OPOY for 3 games….I'd pick him, no question
Last 5 Years. I pick Robbie White.
Chris if you could pick one player to start a team with who played in the last 5 years in the Huron league who would it be? Some interesting choices
Reeferview 1 and done…worst defensive staff in the league..next to FR, but they really don't count.
How bout Sandore guys. Don't know his total yards, but I know he is up there. Just because Jefferson's record wasnt good, don't count him out. He did a heck of a lot for that team. If there was a stat, I would almost guarantee he had more yards after initial contact than anyone. He would defenders with him all the time.
Samuels is not the best back on his own team, definitely not the player of the year.
Now that I've seen every team here are my votes. Offensive player of the year=Samuels, cant argue with the numbers. Defensive player of the year=could be about 10 kids. Really I saw a bunch of good defensive players.
Air Giarmo!! Cover the 6'4" Vuich with a 5'10" guy and you are in big trouble. Im not sure the Jefferson kid was even that tall.
What about Smith from riverview the kid has 1300+ rushing yards and 22 touchdown?
Offensive players of the year Robet Kanitz, Jake Friese, Chris Stanley and Chad Hall.
The later 3 was a joke right?
Didn't he get hurt in the cc game that would only be 2+ games. As good as he is tough to put him up
League favorites next year: this should be fun: have to consider Milan ( they were supposed to be down this year, but found athletes and coached them to their strengths). A healthy Grosse Ile is sure to contend. And don't sell Riverview short : skill players return and undefeated JV squad eager to move up. .
OPOY is a 2 man race between Kanitz and Samuels. DPOY is a little harder to pick, i would probably go with Hoover. I would love to see a Huron League/Downriver district (Milan Riverview Melvindale Allen Park). That would be fun to see. EM
Gotta go with Kanitz for overall player of the year.
McCormick has 5 interceptions at safety dpoy
NEWS FLASH: Excellent players come from excellent teams, although that's not ALWAYS the case. If you don't like hearing about the best players on the best team in the league, don't read the blog! If I recall correctly, it was first Mitroka, and now it's Kanitz that people are complaining about hearing. THEY'RE GOOD PLAYERS! GOOD PLAYERS GET TALKED ABOUT!
2:23 poster. Andrew is certainly an incredible athelete, but, he is one of many key players that made GI better when the team was intact. McAughey, Gilliam, McCarty, Tascoff, Moskall, Groff….all of these young men missed some or all of the season. Your statement also diminshes the hard work of Vollmerhausen, Judd, Marko, Camilleri, and many others who stepped up HUGE and lead the team through a tough situation.
No he is THE key player. GI went froma team that could win double diget games to 4-5. All of these kids work hard, and that is a great thing. But hard work does not guarentee being a great player. Some kids do really well in school and yet not everyone can be a doctor, this kid is a
natural and just because other kids may work as hard doesn't make them great players. With that said he can't be POY with only playing 4 games.
No on Mitroka. A player who plays 4games honestly cannot be considered. Its not fair to the players who made it through the season. Sorry but he cannot even be the team MVP.
I'm still voting for Mitroka! Look at how much better he made GI.
He's not from Milan. So NO!
Josh czarnowski of smcc should get some serious consideration for offensive player of the year. He went well over the 1000 yard mark last week and leads the team in touchdowns. He may be the best back in the league
Idk about that. The versatility of Kanitz is what sets him apart from everyone in the Huron league.
Well kanitz is in the running for mr.michigan football and Hoover is just a beast
All Milan…All the time. Really dude.
They are part of the Huron league bud.
Robert kanitz (offensive player) and Austin Hoover (defensive player ) or max Blackburn
A look into the playoffs:
Riverview will have to outscore everyone. period. Everyone will be a tough match for them because they play zero defense.
SMCC has no idea what division they will be in. D5 is tougher from top to bottom but D6 has the best team, Ithaca. JLC will be their toughest foe before the Semi's if they are in the same division. It is possible that CC goes to 5 and JLC to 6.
Milan must avoid St. Clair and DeWitt if the are to make a longer run. East English will be tough as well. The rest I think are beatable. Lincoln will give them a nice playoff prep in wk 9. Looking forward to seeing that outcome.
-bn