As a Hillsdale Falcon community member, I can say it has been very entertaining to follow this and a few other threads this football season. I'm not very good at banter, but I would like to throw my 2 cents in about the Falcons this season.
First, the team and staff should be very proud of their accomplishments. 14-2 and Division 7 OHSAA runner ups. Even though many of you would like them to...the "Lucky Falcons" probably aren't going to apologize to you for actually taking the trophy home yesterday!
So many times I have wanted to chime in this year. I guess better late than never?
I want to congratulate ML! In all my years of watching Ohio High school football, that was the most impressive team I have ever seen. The way they "conduct business" is impressive. That community clearly has it figured out. I know many would like to see them move up a division or divisions...IMHO, they don't recruit, they have the proper enrollment for D VII, and play where they are allowed to play. I'm not in Awe...I would say more envious! They are what almost every other community, when it comes to football programs, would like to be! The Hillsdale players I talked to after the game said the ML players and coaches were all class. Also, I truly don't believe they ran up the score. Hillsdale had no answer for anything they did....not ML fault.
Now for not having an answer, and what I am about to say is not to discredit ML in anyway....I already Crowned Them! Hillsdale was a shell of itself yesterday...they have been limping to the finish line for several weeks. Against Smithville, they lost their best offensive lineman. Against Windom a starting all league OLB tore his ACL. During the Cuyahoga Heights game, they lost an all WCAL ILB to a torn calf muscle and the back up OLB to a knee sprain. Then maybe the ultimate blow, possibly their best player, Sloan goes down with an ankle injury. Yes he dressed, no way he wasn't, but he wasn't close to 50 percent. In the state finals Hillsdale had a kid who started left guard change his number and play H Back. Another who played guard last year was carrying the ball. They had a freshman recovering from a sprained knee playing outside linebacker and another sophomore who has never played OLB in his spot. Super proud of all of them! Coming in to the season they knew depth was an issue, and late in the season it showed. Some of kids were willing to step up, others it was obvious did not want to be there after 2:00 minutes into the 1st Quarter. Again, as some said on here early...ML would win 100 out of 100 times(with a running clock) The team Hillsdale fielded Friday, might get a running clock put on them by the Hillsdale team that beat Dalton.
Dnis- Your support for the Falcons, when not playing the Cubbies, was appreciated. I am not surprised, I had been affiliated with the Lucas program in the past...it is a great community. But one thing for sure you said wrong about the Falcons, they 100% want to get back to the finals again next year, and if ML is there...what are the Falcons going to do in the next 12 months to prepare? Would it be enough? All they can do is "WHATEVER IT TAKES!!" and find out! Hillsdale returns A LOT next year. Including an starting lineman that tore his ACL during there first scrimmage. A DB/Slot, that started his freshman and sophomore year, that broke his ankle last year at basketball camp last summer. We only lose 4 seniors that played.
For those discrediting the Falcons, I hope they upset you again next year!!!
FYI: Hillsdale did not kick an onside kick against Chippewa. They fielded an all freshman KO team...including Kicker. The kicker nearly missed the ball completely...it dribbled 10 yards and a freshman unknowingly jumped on it. After the freshman scored another touchdown, the kicker once again nearly missed the ball and it dribbled 11 yards. This time our freshman stood around and waited for Chippewa to recover it.
I guess we have our "Onside Kicker" for the next 3 years, but in the mean time...Hillsdale will just stick to "Hail Marys".
