Friday Night Kickoff

Before I start.   It's really starting to seem like fall, I stepped outside last night during the intermission of the Red Wings/Montreal preseason game (I really am a hockey nut), and the wind was really blowing, plus it even... "smelled" like fall.  It sure is cold enough

But now for the game.

As we continue our preview of the big St. Joe Lakeshore game this Friday, let's look at the visiting team for Friday. The St. Joseph Bears

It's hard to believe that the Bears were a winless team just three seasons ago.  The Bears only winless season in school history.  After John Van Wagoner was not retained as the head coach, St. Joe's coaching search was in the final stages before a resume came in very late.  That late entry into the coaching search would be the catalyst for the resurgence of the St. Joseph football program.  

Elliot Uzelac, a coaching veteran who served as an assistant coach for numerous college programs, including the staff of Bo Shembechler at the University of Michigan.  As well as head coach at Western Michigan University, and the US Naval Academy wanted to return to Michigan, thanks to a another former assistant at Michigan, he was informed of the vacancy at St. Joe, and made the decision to apply.  The rest is history.

St. Joe would finish 2006 at 6-5 including a playoff win over Gull Lake.  St. Joe would then would finish the 2007 regular season undefeated and finished the year 12-1, only losing to eventual state champion East Grand Rapids in the state semifinals.

This season the Bears seem well on their way to matching that magical run of 2007.

So far the Bears have wins over Battle Creek Harper Creek (34-0), Marshall (35-12), Portage Northern (20-7), Battle Creek Central 67-35, and Niles (34-3).

In week 1, the Bears only allowed 103 yards of total offense against Harper Creek.  The Bears got two touchdowns each from Drake Smith and Ryan Bock.  It wasn't know at the time, but that would be the last game Ryan Bock will play this season as he tore his ACL after falling in the second quarter.  Bock, who did play later in the game would get the bad news the next week at practice.

Drake Smith would then be called on to fill in that hole, and he filled it well.  Smith would rush for 178 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Marshall.  At Portage Northern, Smith ran for 214 yards with another touchdown.  But the one that turned heads was the 245 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns in the record breaking 67-35 win at Battle Creek Central.  Smith had another 156 yards rushing an a touchdown in the win over Niles.

Drake Smith also handles the PAT's and Kickoffs.

The Bears offense isn't all Drake Smith either.  Junior quarterback Sean Guinane is quickly filling the gap left by outgoing senior Ethan Schweir.  Guinane who served as the backup QB to Schweir last year has thrown for 7 TD's so far this season and is 43 of 64 passing.

The Bears wide outs are led by Senior Matt Jewell who has 321 yards on 20 receptions and 3 TD's, Jay Nimtz has 79 yards on 7 catches for 2 TD's.

On defense, beware of linebacker Johnny Schweir who leads the Bears with 39 tackles and 1 interception.  Also look out for Nose Guard Josh Weaver who has 17 tackles as well as three sacks as well as a blocked punt.

Recapping the season so far...

August 29 - St. Joseph 34, Battle Creek Harper Creek 0
at Dickinson Stadium, St. Joseph
The Bears would open the 2008 season the way they started 2007, with a blowout win over Battle Creek Harper Creek.  St. Joe got two touchdowns each from Ryan Bock and Drake Smith, and one touchdown from Jamaal Jackson.  St. Joe allowed only 103 yards of offense.

September 5 - St. Joseph 35, Marshall 12
at Dickinson Stadium, St. Joseph
Drake Smith scored two touchdowns and Sean Guinane threw two touchdown passes to Jay Nimtz in the Bears 35-12 win over Marshall.  The Bears also got a touchdown run from Jamaal Jackson.

September 12 - St. Joseph 20, Portage Northern 7
at McCamley Field, Portage
The Bears got 214 yards rushing and a touchdown from Drake Smith in the Bears 20-7 road victory at Portage Northern.  Sean Guinane had one rushing touchdown and Devonte Jones ran for a 80 yard kickoff return.

September 19 - St. Joseph 67, Battle Creek central 35
at C.W. Post Field, Battle Creek
A record setting night for the Bears as St. Joe scored a school record 67 points and Drake Smith had a record 6 touchdown runs as the Bears offense overwhelmed the BCC defense.  Jamaal Jackson scored 2 TD's while Chris Killebrew had another TD for the Bears.

September 26 - St. Joseph 34, Niles 3
at Dickinson Stadium, St. Joseph
The Bears showed that the passing attack is just as dangerous as the running attack.  Sean Guinane threw 4 touchdown passes, 2 to Michael Carter and 2 to Matt Jewell.  Guinane was 8 of 13 for 163 yards.  Drake Smith still added 156 yards rushing on 15 carries and 1 touchdown.  The Bears out gained Niles 392-113.  The Bears defense only allowed Niles a total of three net yards and zero first downs in the second half.

Coming up tomorrow, we'll look at the home team, the Lakeshore Lancers...