By: Jonathan Szczepaniak | Macomb Chronicle | Published November 21, 2022
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Macomb Dakota is a powerhouse in Division 1 high school football, and there’s no disputing that.
With 22-straight playoff appearances, two Division 1 state championships (in 2006 and 2007) and 19-straight winning seasons, Dakota has cemented itself as one of the best football programs in the state of Michigan.
Since its championship in 2007, Dakota has faced one problem in the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Division 1 state playoffs: the regional championship game.
Dakota was 0-6 since 2007 before this year in the regional championship, and their struggle there continued once more when they faced Detroit’s Cass Tech on Nov. 11 at Dakota High School. Three of Dakota’s previous defeats at regionals came at the hands of Cass Tech.
Dakota jumped out to a 14-7 lead at halftime behind senior leaders Ethan Hamby (QB), and Joe Cacevic (RB), who was electric on Dakota’s opening drive, breaking a 57-yard run to set up his 8-yard rushing touchdown.
Cacevic took the starting running back role by storm this year and finished the season with 1,535 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns as a first team All-County selection.
“Honestly, the first game, I was kind of slow,” Cacevic said. “I just kept working at it, and honestly, the Chippewa game was my best. I just kept going from there.”
Behind senior safety Jacob Leija’s interception and a Cass Tech miscue on a field goal, Hamby’s 14-yard touchdown connection to Cacevic would give Dakota a 14-7 lead at halftime.
Hamby earned first team All-County honors, as well as Macomb Area Conference Red Division MVP honor, this season.
“He’s (Ethan Hamby) just the ultimate leader,” Dakota coach Greg Baur said. “Everybody on our team could tell you that they look to him to lead. I can’t say enough good things about this team.”
Cass Tech would put another one on the board to even it at 14, but Cacevic would answer with 50 rushing yards on the ensuing drive, including a six-yard touchdown run to take a 21-14 lead.
Cacevic finished with 23 carries for 174 yards and three touchdowns in the loss.
It was all Cass Tech from there, as they scored 21-unanswered points en route to a 35-21 win.
“We want to run the ball against anybody we play, but I think we played well enough offensively to win the game,” Baur said. “I think, for the first time this year, our defense didn’t play well enough to win.”
Regardless of the regional outcome, Dakota was dominant in the 2022 season.
“The season was a great season. Eleven wins doesn’t happen every year,” Baur said.
Earning Dakota its highest win total since 2013, the senior class had a year to remember.
While taking the MAC Red title in a 31-14 win over Utica Eisenhower on Oct. 7, Dakota won the district championship in a 17-0 win over MAC Red rival Romeo. Dakota has now won the district championship over Romeo in back-to-back years.
Baur said there was one thing that was special about this senior group.
“This group was a little bit different because they were so tight-knit,” Baur said. “There wasn’t one superstar. Everyone believed in each other.”
Dakota will graduate 29 seniors this season, but another 29 will enter 2023 ready to continue the program where the previous class left it.
With key losses all over the field, it will be up to the incoming junior and seniors to fill the void, along with players from Dakota’s undefeated junior varsity squad.
“Every year, we think, how are we going to replace this senior class, and then the next 29 come in and do it,” Baur said.