Macomb Dakota outlasted Lake Orion 26-14 last Friday in a regional final, marking the third time in the past four years that the host Cougars have ended the Dragons? season.
Lake Orion hung tight with the defending Division 1 state champs until a costly turnover ended a potential lead-taking scoring drive midway through the fourth quarter. Dakota scored a touchdown on the subsequent drive to seal the victory and advance to the state semifinals for the fourth straight year.
‘We played hard,? Lake Orion Coach Chris Bell said. ‘It was a great football game.?
Dakota struck first, on a nine-yard pitch and catch from Mitch Lovett to Mike Kwiatkowski, to take a 6-0 lead (the extra point was no good after a high snap).
Early in the second quarter, the Dragons were driving, but a Kyle DeMaster interception deep in Dakota territory ended the scoring chance.
Dakota moved the ball all the way to LO’s 26-yard-line, before the Dragons defense stiffened and forced a punt (thanks in large part to a Kevin Loney sack).
The Dragons then put together a four-play, 80-yard drive to grab the lead. Eric Knoblock took a third down pass 25 yards to midfield and then Lake Orion got a big play from wideout Chad Nieswand.
The play, which came after a Dragons timeout, called for a sweep with a reverse, then a flip back to Lum, who heaved it deep for Nieswand. The senior receiver made a jumping grab in double coverage at the 10-yard-line and was the only one left standing at the end, taking it in for the score. Jeff Heath’s point after kick put LO ahead 7-6.
Dakota put together a nice drive before the half that resulted in a field goal, then expanded that lead to 16-7 early in the third quarter on a Rodney Hush 21-yard touchdown catch.
After the teams exchanged punts, the Dragons cut the deficit to 16-14, thanks to a six-yard Mike Nelson catch in the corner of the end zone late in the third.
After another Dakota field goal, Lake Orion used the bruising running game of A.J. Palko to go 70 yards and put themselves in prime position to take the lead, inside the Dakota 10-yard-line.
But an attempt at another trick play went awry, as Ryan Broth took a pitch from quarterback Chris Lum and attempted to throw the ball back across the field to Lum.
But DeMaster picked off the pass in the end zone and ran it back near midfield (it was the second of DeMaster’s three interceptions in the game).
‘This is what our team was all year long,? Bell said. ‘They don’t give up. We battled back and put ourselves in position to win the game, inside the 10, down six with seven to play and we gambled on a play call.?
‘That was my bad. I shouldn’t have called that play. We thought they were keying on Ryan so much that we could give him the ball and get the easy one back to Chris.?
‘The safety saw him and jumped it, and we tried to force it in there,? he added. ‘It was blown-up from the start.?
Like the first trick play, it was one that the Dragons hadn’t run in a game all year, but the Cougars played it perfectly.
‘When they lined up in the formation, we kind of knew a trick play was coming,? Dakota Coach Mike Giannone said. ‘We were double-teaming the receiver with Kyle, and he just kind of came off that route and covered the quarterback. It wasn’t really a designed coverage, but sometimes that works out.?
‘Kyle just is a flat-out warrior,? Giannone added. ‘He didn’t practice all week because he’s a little dinged up. For him to have the performance he had is special. He’s one of the best players I’ve ever coached.?
The senior defensive back is part of a unit that has allowed an average of just 10 points a game this season.
‘We know defense wins championships,? DeMaster said. ‘Our defense is always focused during practice and we had a good game plan.?
‘It’s the front guys creating, and then we have to make the plays,? he added of his unit in the secondary.
In spite of the mistake, the Dragons had a chance to get the ball right back with five minutes left, on a third-and-nine for Dakota. But a ‘too many men on the field penalty? negated an interception and kept the ball in Dakota’s possession. They eventually scored on a three-yard run by Terrence Shelby to seal the win.
Lake Orion’s season ends at 8-4, while 12-0 Dakota will battle Catholic Central in one semifinal and Troy will take on Livonia Stevenson in the other.
‘Dakota doesn’t beat themselves,? Bell said. ‘They turn it over very little and they don’t have penalties. They have good athletes and play good defense, so they’ll always be successful. You’ve got to come in here and beat them.?
Though the Dragons couldn’t quite get the job done, they did give Dakota its biggest scare of the season to date.
‘I’m just proud of my guys,? Bell said.
Game Notes?
*Dakota outgained Lake Orion 311-274, but many of the statistical categories were pretty even. The glaring difference was LO’s three turnovers (DeMaster’s last pick came in the final minute) to none by the Cougars.
*Senior Chris Lum wrapped up his Dragon career with 164 yards passing on 13-of-27, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Nieswand hauled in six passes for 98 yards and a score.
*Palko led LO’s ground game with 76 yards on seven carries, and Broth had a total of 56 yards from scrimmage.
*Lovett went 14-of-25 passing for 179 yards and two scores, while Shelby gained 106 yards on 23 carries to lead Dakota.
*Lake Orion’s three turnovers were their first since playing Pontiac Northern in Week 7 of the regular season.