Here's the preview story I wrote for this weekend's semifinal football game between #9 Shelby and #4 Clinton. The winner will play the winner of #1 Ithaca and #3 Montrose next week for the Division 6 state championship.
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The field hadn’t even been cleared from Shelby’s state semifinal loss to Ithaca last November when Tigers’ coach Lorenzo Rodriguez intoned that his team planned on returning the following season and changing the outcome.
That moment has now arrived for the Shelby Tigers, courtesy of a dominating 33-7 win over Schoolcraft Saturday afternoon in the regional finals. Shelby will go up against its toughest opponent yet, the Clinton Redskins, Saturday afternoon, with a 1 p.m. kickoff lined up at Thornapple-Kellogg High School in Middleville.
Clinton, making its first semifinal appearance since 1990, will enter the game undefeated, out of the Tri-County Conference. The Redskins have won every game by double digits, 10 of them by 20 or more points, and are coming off an impressive 47-28 win last week over Constantine, the state runner-up the last two seasons.
However, apart from studying the teams’ formations on film, Rodriguez and the Tigers aren’t too concerned with what Clinton has done leading up to the game — only what it will do Saturday.
“We try not to look into that too much,” Rodriguez said of Clinton’s season. “We can only control what we can control. We just have to take advantage of every opportunity we get and limit their opportunities.”
Shelby’s biggest advantage might be that semifinal game it played last season. Clinton’s team hasn’t even been out of the pre-district round since 2009, so the edge in playoff experience is clearly in the Tigers’ favor. “You’ve been there before,” Rodriguez said of the experience the Tigers banked a year ago. “You experienced the difference in atmosphere. This week we’ll be on a high school field, and not a college field. That will help both teams to soothe the nerves. We’ve told the kids it’s just another high school facility like ours.”
That moment has now arrived for the Shelby Tigers, courtesy of a dominating 33-7 win over Schoolcraft Saturday afternoon in the regional finals. Shelby will go up against its toughest opponent yet, the Clinton Redskins, Saturday afternoon, with a 1 p.m. kickoff lined up at Thornapple-Kellogg High School in Middleville.
Clinton, making its first semifinal appearance since 1990, will enter the game undefeated, out of the Tri-County Conference. The Redskins have won every game by double digits, 10 of them by 20 or more points, and are coming off an impressive 47-28 win last week over Constantine, the state runner-up the last two seasons.
However, apart from studying the teams’ formations on film, Rodriguez and the Tigers aren’t too concerned with what Clinton has done leading up to the game — only what it will do Saturday.
“We try not to look into that too much,” Rodriguez said of Clinton’s season. “We can only control what we can control. We just have to take advantage of every opportunity we get and limit their opportunities.”
Shelby’s biggest advantage might be that semifinal game it played last season. Clinton’s team hasn’t even been out of the pre-district round since 2009, so the edge in playoff experience is clearly in the Tigers’ favor. “You’ve been there before,” Rodriguez said of the experience the Tigers banked a year ago. “You experienced the difference in atmosphere. This week we’ll be on a high school field, and not a college field. That will help both teams to soothe the nerves. We’ve told the kids it’s just another high school facility like ours.”
Clinton boasts a potent offensive attack that’s scored 39 points or more in each of its last nine games. Like the Tigers, the Redskins have several players that can provide the fireworks at any time. All-purpose threat Matt Sexton scored five touchdowns for Clinton against Constantine, while Collin Poore has amassed 400 yards rushing over his team’s last two games.
T.J. Baker is the Clinton quarterback, and he is more than capable throwing or running. While the Redskins generally don’t throw much — Baker’s season high in pass attempts is 16 — the senior is efficient when he does, with over 14 yards per attempt. He’s also amassed 641 yards rushing this season on over nine yards per carry.
“They throw the ball really well,” Rodriguez said of Clinton. “They have some great athletes, the quarterback and (Sexton), and they all have great speed.”
Sexton is also Clinton’s leading tackler, with 73 total takedowns this year, nine of them for loss. Baker, meanwhile, is the big-play man in the secondary, with four interceptions on the year.
Shelby will counter that speed with its power. The Tigers have built their identity on their success on the offensive line over the last two seasons, and it was rarely more evident than last week, when Devin Mussell and David Guerra combined for nearly 300 rushing yards behind the front five.
Should the game come down to a pass, the Tigers will need to be more successful than they have been. Andy Fortier completed three of 12 passes last week, overshooting some open receivers. If the senior can find his targets, like tight end Brody Lee and the all-purpose dynamos Mussell and Guerra, Shelby could put up some big plays. Then again, if the Tigers can rip off long runs as they did so consistently last week, passing might not be necessary.
The biggest key for the Tigers, Rodriguez said, will be matching their strong start from the regional game. Shelby came out with purpose Saturday and surged into an early 20-0 lead behind defense, special teams and big-time runs. If the Tigers’ energy level leading up to the game is any indication, they should be able to do it again versus Clinton.
“The town is buzzing,” Rodriguez said. “The kids are energetic. We have a new boost of confidence and energy. That’s a great thing for us at this point.”
