Stoppage just latest 2020 hurdle for DCD
Bumps in the road have been nothing new for the Birmingham Detroit Country Day football team during the 2020 season.
COVID-19 caused the Yellowjackets to have to pull out of their season opener with L’Anse Creuse North back in September.
It also caused them to have to take their first loss of the season, a forfeit against Armada when the virus forced Country Day to have to pull out of their scheduled game just hours before kickoff.
The latest bump is the threeweek shutdown of prep sports due to the epidemic order by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
As they did with their other bumps in the road, the Yellowjackets are staying focused on the task at hand and keeping a positive attitude.
“I have been really proud of them, because it’s been a tough year. The first game, we had to let them know on Thursday night that we wouldn’t be playing. The second time, it came on Friday afternoon when we were getting ready to eat our pregame meal and then board the bus,” Country Day coach Dan MacLean said. “That’s very tough as a coach to have to tell those guys when they worked so hard and do their best to stay safe. I am very proud of how they handled themselves in those situations and stayed focused on the team and staying positive.”
Country Day is preparing for a Division 4 regional final at
North Branch. Should the epidemic order not be extended past Dec. 8, that game will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. from North Branch High School.
“I am just hopeful that this gets finished out, as I know all other teams are as well. I appreciate the MHSAA and Mark Uyl doing what they can to see it happen. I think it’s really important to these kids,” MacLean said. “When you are going through what we all are going through, you see how crucial it is to have kids participating in team activities and having that group dynamic with other kids.”
The 2019 Division 4 runner-up came into this season focused on trying to move past last year’s finals performance.
After going 13- 0, the Yellowjackets suffered a 44- 0 loss to Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the championship game.
This year’s squad has a 6-2 record, but just one loss came on the football field and that was against Division 3 playoff team, Birmingham Brother Rice.
“I think this is a highlymotivated group of guys. It’s a veteran roster and a group of guys that have played together for a number of years now. We are a senior-and-junior- dominated team. This is a large group with over 40 players. That hasn’t happened for us since like the mid-90’s. The kids are invested, and I think that even goes back
to the way the season ended last year. We are unbeaten until the final and were very disappointed with our performance in that game. I think that’s been a motivator for them since that point,” MacLean said.
While last year’s team had 10 wins by at least 20 points, this year’s Country Day team has stepped up the competition level and grinded out four wins by 10 points or less.
Included in those wins was a pair of hard-fought victories over Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, as well as a 2010 win at Madison Heights Lamphere in the district final. In that championship, the Yellowjackets committed five turnovers, but still found a way to win.
“It helps to have some experience this time of year. Against Lamphere, to turn the ball over five times and be able to still find a way to win speaks to that,” MacLean said.
“Our guys didn’t press the panic button because they have been in those tense situations before.”
During the playoff run, the Yellowjackets have seen a big boost in offense from Parker Yearego.
The junior running back has racked up chunk plays out of the backfield during the last three wins and been a big spark for DCD.
“He’s really sparked us from an offensive perspective. When we were down against Notre Dame, he broke a big run that really sparked our offense and got us going in that game.
“He has really been making an impact for us during the playoffs,” MacLean said. “You knew watching him in
practice and in the weight room that he was going to have an impact for us and it has really come through in the playoffs. He’s quick and elusive, but he also is a physical player.”
The Jackets will need more of those kind of plays for Yearego during the regional final against North Branch. The unbeaten Broncos have been dominating the line of scrimmage to the tune of 43.2 points per game with their Wing-T offense.
“They are a physical team and they like to impose their will by running the ball on their opponents,” MacLean said of North Branch. “When you get locked in on that, they will hit you with a wrinkle and surprise you. They are a very tough team to prepare for.
“We have to be better offensively, and give our defense some assistance by having some lengthy drives and controlling possession. We need to be efficient and effective on offense.”
Beating teams up front has been a staple for Country Day this season behind physical linemen Caleb Tiernan, Nick Wachol and Will Leggon.
MacLean and the Jackets are now just hoping to see that matchup play out and preparing as if the game will take place on Dec. 15.
“It’s one of those things where you have to focus on controlling what you can control. You want to remain hopeful,” MacLean said.
“We want to be hopeful that all of this is going to happen and we are getting prepared to be ready when that opportunity comes.”