By: Jonathan Szczepaniak | Shelby-Utica News | Published September 1, 2023
UTICA — With Utica High School football on the rise and Macomb Dakota a man down after quarterback Jadon Ford suffered an injury in the team’s season opener, the Cougars faced a difficult road matchup on Aug. 31 at Swinehart Stadium.
Add a 72-yard pick-six by Utica defensive back Numehnne Gwilly to give Utica an early 7-2 lead in the first quarter, and Dakota needed to step up in all facets of the game to avoid the upset.
“We knew it was going to be tough,” Dakota defensive back Jacob Bajis said. “Even though it’s not a rivalry game or anything, it was our first away game and we knew we had to step up, and that’s what our defense did.”
Collecting two safeties, two blocked punts, three interceptions and imposing a dominant run game on the Chieftain defense, Dakota overpowered Utica in a 32-14 win.
Following Gwilly’s pick-six, it was all Dakota as they posted 23 unanswered points behind the running back trio of Brady Hamby, Austin Tuchowski and Skyler Simmons.
Quarterback Andrew Chadwick tacked on a rushing touchdown late in the third quarter to take a 25-7 lead, but Utica found life from a 58-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jack Miller to pull within 11 points early in the fourth quarter.
Utica forced the Dakota offense into a punt situation on the ensuing drive, but a fake run to Hamby would pick up the first down and seal the win for Dakota.
Utica never had an answer for Dakota’s special teams, as players were practically getting a free run at the Utica punter, and when Utica finally had a window again, Dakota caught them flat-footed with a fake.
“We got to do things by any means possible, and our special teams coach Matt Carley does such a good job,” Dakota coach Greg Baur said.
Tuchowski would put the finishing touches on the win with a 1-yard touchdown run later in the drive, and also tallied two interceptions. Dakota linebacker Dimari Malone also had an interception.
Tuchowski got the scoring barrage started in the contest with a 10-yard touchdown run to take a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter, but Utica was starting to control the momentum again after forcing a Dakota punt to start the second half.
When Baur and his guys needed a big-time play, Dakota’s special teams showed up once more as a blocked punt from Bajis gave Dakota offensive possession at the Utica 30-yard line.
A 10-yard touchdown run from Hamby a few plays later would extend Dakota’s lead to 17-7, and the Dakota defense would flex its muscles, forcing a safety after a Dakota punt pinned Utica at the 2-yard line with three minutes left in the third quarter.
Dakota was inconsistent in the pass game, coughing up two interceptions, and the pass game’s progress will be something to note moving forward until Ford returns to the huddle.
The Cougars open up Macomb Area Conference Red play next week when they host New Baltimore Anchor Bay, the first game of a five-week MAC-Red stretch that also includes Sterling Heights Stevenson, Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, Romeo and Utica Eisenhower.
Dakota will continue to lean on its run game and stout defense heading into conference play, and maybe some special teams spark here and there.
“That’s how it’s going to be from now on,” Baur said. “When you’re without your quarterback, people are going to play you a little differently and dare you to throw the ball, and we have to be able to do that. I think moving forward we’ll be fine.”