Dakota wins MAC Red, carries senior-heavy group into playoffs

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Winning is contagious when it comes to Macomb Dakota athletics, and it all starts with football.

With two state titles and 21-straight playoff appearances, Dakota’s storied success has added another chapter this season. After falling to Macomb Area Conference Red Division rival Sterling Heights Stevenson in the regional final, Dakota dominated the MAC Red field this season en route to a title.

“I think we’re just a lot more mentally focused this year than we were last year,” senior quarterback Ethan Hamby said. “I think everyone has stepped up mentally a lot this year because we don’t want to see what happened to our seniors last year happen again this year.”

Dakota bested Utica Eisenhower 31-14 on Oct. 7 at Dakota High School to take sole possession of first place in the MAC Red.

Hamby, who has been dominant through the air this season, ran for three touchdowns to secure the win.

Dakota, which has averaged over 37 points per game this season, opened the year with an impressive 21-7 win over Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice and since has been electric en route to its flawless season.

“Everybody felt the confidence brewing from there, and it just kind of expanded from there,” Dakota coach Greg Baur said.

The scoring firepower has been provided by a veteran offensive line, carrying four seniors.

Seniors Joe Pruchnic, Bo Wheeler, Aaron Hodor and Sammy Battaglia work in the trenches, while junior Bryce Ward stands as the lone underclassmen on the line.

The players up front have paved the way for Hamby and senior running back Joe Cacevic to succeed on the ground.

“That’s kind of the unsung hero of our team,” Baur said. “I think our offensive line has been outstanding this year.”

Senior wide receiver Owen Colpaert leads the Dakota receiving core, while senior Blake Garbarino has made significant contributions from the wideout spot, as well.

Hamby has proven with his play this year that he’s one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the state. He has been the leader for not just the Dakota offense, but also for the team itself.

“Our No. 1 leader is our quarterback, Ethan,” senior safety Jacob Leija said. “He puts together speeches for us, and he makes sure everyone is on time and doing what they’re supposed to do.”

Leija himself has served as a leader for a defensive unit that has allowed just under 10 points per game this year, including 11 points per game against division opponents.

“I think we just play more as a team,” Leija said. “We don’t look for stats. We try to just play together as one.”

Alongside Leija on the senior-heavy defense are seniors Anthony Coleman (defensive end), Calvin Watson (outside linebacker), Tyler Harper (outside linebacker) and Michael Pittiglio (defensive tackle).

Coleman, who broke the single-season junior sack record last year, is currently on pace to break the single-season record in school history.

It’s been a collective effort on all three levels of the defense, and Leija said it’s also an understanding that every player needs to bring their best each game.

“We know we have to keep it going. We know we got Chipp (Chippewa) and Romeo, and they’re known to be good every year,” Leija said. “We know we have to take every game in the MAC Red 100% seriously because anything can happen in the MAC Red.”

While Dakota was able to get the better end of the MAC Red in the regular season, it will inevitably have to face a division rival throughout its playoff run.

Dakota has lost to a MAC Red opponent for six-straight seasons in the playoffs and hasn’t been able to get past the regional finals since its state championship in 2007.

Sporting a senior-heavy group and endless talent, Dakota will look to be a significant threat in the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs.

“We have our eyes set on that goal, and that goal is a state championship,” Hamby said. “We come out here every day, we practice hard, we lock in mentally every day and we prepare for each game like it’s the biggest game we’re going to play.”