Milan (9-2) is coming off of a wild 67-44 victory over Detroit Denby last week in the District final while Country Day defeated Cranbrook 42-7. These teams have met 3 times over the years with DCD winning last year’s week nine match up 42-26.
The Big Reds find themselves in the Regionals for the first time since the 2007 where they lost to DCD 24-6. The offense continues to put up big numbers behind the 2 headed monster of RB Trace Lindeman and QB Demetrius Barnes. The two have combined for nearly 3,000 rushing yards and 38 TD’s on the ground this season. The defense has been somewhat of a question mark most of the season, but is led by one of the best LB’s in SE Michigan in senior Cortez Gray.
The Yellowjackets are led by QB Steve Mann. The junior has thrown for over 1,200 yards 15 TD’s while throwing just 2 Ints. Mann has a host of receiver but, perhaps his favorite receiver Roy McCree has missed the last two games. The defense is the strength of the Yellowjacket team, which is giving up just under 6 ppg. They have pitched 4 shutouts this season and UD Jesuit is the only team to score more than 7 all year. The defense is led by senior Jeremiah Tyler. The 6-3 205 lb DE has numerous Division I offers.
This should be a good game. DCD has great team speed on defense, but may be surprised by the offense speed of Milan. Look for DCD to defend the run and dare the Big Reds to throw the ball. Pick: Country Day 24 Milan 14
Milan didn't get pushed around either!! They lost but they played one heck of a game!!
20-13 final. Great game country day wins
Nothing is guaranteed. Don't be that fan we would be in the semi finals if we beat clinton. it's embarrassing. Reminds me of monroe last year after they lost to saline in the first round by 7 and said we were 7 points away from going to ford field. If Michigan would have beat MSU the might be close to the playoff.
Yea your probably right. CC didn't play very good and the unsportmanlike was pretty embarrasing as well. Sorry to bring up bad memory from last year.
Nice read from the Freep:
http://usatodayhss.com/2015/country-day-football-rebuilt-line-leads-the-way
It's a good example for what's right with high school football. Milan has several examples of players who have changed positions for the good of the team, and I suspect this is the case on every team, but it's still nice for those kids to get some recognition.
Milan will compete. Good luck to both teams tomorrow. The weather should play a factor as well.
#0 Dad
All the more reason to arrive early tomorrow; this is from the Milan Big Reds Football facebook page:
"PARKING AT DETROIT COUNTRY DAY (email from their school):
With all of the activities going on at DCDS this weekend, we are going to be utilizing a couple of overflow parking lots very close to our campus. Our transportation department will be running shuttles back and forth to the lots before, during and after the game.
One lot is right across the street and is walkable by patrons. The other lot is roughly 1/3 of a mile away, south on Lasher Road. Both location addresses are shown below. Our security department will be directing cars to both overflow lots should that be necessary. I just wanted to give you the information so you can send it out to your community. The biggest issue I foresee is getting into the game at 1:00PM if patrons have to park off-campus.
**Our Lady of Albanians Church – 1/3 mile to school by shuttle bus 29350 Lahser Road, Southfield 48034, south of DCDS and 13 Mile Rd/north of I-696
**Woodside Swim Club – Across the street from school, walk to game 22440 W. 13 Mile Road, Beverly Hills. 48025, across from DCDS and east of Telegraph Road
**Bingham Farms Elementary School – 1/3 to school by shuttle bus 23400 W. 13 Mile Road, Beverly Hills 48025, west of DCDS and east of Telegraph Road"
Too bad SMCC wasn't in Div 4… They had a much tougher draw at D6!
Too bad they didn't just take care of business against Clinton like they should have. They would be in semis next week. And yes I am a CC fan.
After 2 weeks, am I the only one who thought the play calling was a bit lackluster? I agree with everything you said, BTW. Taking nothing away from Clinton, Matthew Sexton is a great player.
Country Day is the favorite, but Milan definitely has a punchers chance with it's strong offense. Milan's defense will have to play it's best game if they are to pull it out. Wish I could make it, unfortunately I gotta work Saturday. I'm pulling for ya Big Reds, do the Huron League proud!! EM
Good Luck Milan. Represent the league well. DCD is good, but nothing a good game plan can't conquer.
That's very interesting, Chris. I think Milan would maybe have another loss to maybe to Brother Rice, but otherwise agree with Calpreps. Glad my pick seems reasonable! I'm giving DCD more of an edge than them, though. Considering how off I was regarding SMCC vs. Milan and SMCC vs. LCC it's hard to put any faith in my own predictions, though.
I ran some numbers on calpreps.com. I had Milan play DCD's schedule and vice versa. Milan was picked to finish with the same 10-1 with the loss coming to UD Jesuit. DCD was picked to finish 11-0 with the same schedule as Milan. Calpreps also picks DCD to beat Milan 31-19.
Should be a good game, word is CD lost a two way starter (LB and TE) to an ankle injury last week. We'll see if CD can step up and fill the gap
I give DCD a slight advantage in this game. I'll be pulling for Milan, though. DCD has been steadily impressive all year. I see 3 games on their schedule that are important to point out:
1. L (13-23) Detroit U-D Jesuit – I would argue this is their only game against a team that borders on great. U-D Jesuit is solid, losing to powerhouses OLSM, DCC, and DeLaSalle and beating everyone else. The fact that DCD played them in a close game is impressive, but shows that DCD isn't quite on that upper level of greatness. Not fantastic by any means, but quite solid.
2. W (70-6) Cesar Chavez – Only reason this game is relevant is because Milan played them too and won 48-18. Gotta take the difference of the scores lightly, though. Both teams won and won comfortably, so I don't think there's much to gain from saying that DCD was more impressive here.
3. W (14-6) Brother Rice – Interesting game here…I still think it's an impressive win for DCD despite Brother Rice's record (2-7). Quick aside, I would argue that Brother Rice is easily the best team with a losing record in the state, and probably better than a good number of playoff teams as well. Their schedule boasts 7 teams that made the playoffs. 5 of those are still alive in the playoffs. I don't want to go too much on a tangent, but the fact that DCD beat them shows that they are a talented team that is about on par with Detroit UD Jesuit, which is a solid squad.
DCD passes my eye-test. They seem to have some talent, as they beat some large schools well. You don't beat D1 schools, regardless of how good they are, without some talent. They also seem to have a fantastic defense. They posted 4 shutouts and only had one game where they gave up more than 7 points. I'd expect Milan to score more, but not much more. That will be the key to the game. I think they'll have to score at least 20 to beat DCD, but that will definitely be a challenge.
"Battle-tested" is the best description of DCD I can come up with in just my short analysis of the team. I think this game will be similar to their game against U-D Jesuit, except with them on the other end…
DCD 33 – 13 Milan
I hope Milan proves me wrong here! Good luck Big Reds!
Good luck to Milan this weekend. After experiencing our run to the title last season, I can honestly say that it is unlike anything else that I have ever been blessed to be a small part of. And I'm just a parent. Traveling the distances, the anticipation, the comradarie, the tailgates, and just experiencing it with your son and your family left quite the imprint on ALL of us. Hopefully the Milan faithful can get to see what we got to see last year. Another championship in the Huron League would show the rest of the state that we play some damn good football down here.
Give 'em hell Milan!!
(How's that? from an old Huron guy….)
DCD is very beatable. They aren't even close to as good as the DCD team GI played 3 years ago. Look for Milan to surprise some people here.
you can critique and still support you know. I for one hope Milan wins but I dont think they will.
The league may appear down now. BUT, what if DCD and Clinton make it to FF. I think they both will.
-bn
I have been holding these thoughts back but no longer can. If you can not support all of the young men in this league during playoff times, than get off the blog when your team is done. This is a place for encouragement not crying about how weak another school is after your program gets beat. The boys in this league deserve better! Grow up!
I agree. Well said. I will try and come out to support you. Lets go BIG REDS!!! Show DCD What the Huron league is made of.
Smcc fan
Great analysis, Chris, as always! DCD has a lot of weapons on offense and a stingy defense. If I were them, I'd try to force Milan to the air as well. Milan needs to diversify their attack enough on early downs to keep the DCD defense guessing.
Who are these guys popping in to tell us how weak the league is? If this is your first time to the blog, welcome! Sit down, grab a username, and stick around a while.
At the risk of fighting Haterade with Haterade, here is a rundown of DCD's schedule of opponents this season, with records (and playoff results when applicable):
Port Huron, 3-6
@ U-D Jesuit, 6-4 (lost to Detroit MLK 35-24 in 1st round of playoffs)
Detroit Allen Academy, 5-4 (lost to Detroit Loyola 67-12 in 1st round of playoffs)
Detroit Consortium College Prep, 3-6
@ Escanaba, 5-5 (lost to Big Rapids 21-17 in 1st round of playoffs)
Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy, 7-3 (detroyed by both DCD and Milan)
@ Birmingham Brother Rice, 2-7(!)
Muskegon Catholic Central, 9-2 (still alive in D8 playoffs)
@ Temperance Bedford, 4-5
This isn't an awful schedule, but it's not a slate of world beaters, neither. Some notes:
*DCD's only loss was a road game at Jesuit, who seem like a good but not great team. There's no shame in losing to ML King in the playoffs, though.
*I also give DCD credit for winning at Escanaba (and I thought the trip to Marshall was a long road trip).
*Brother Rice is always in the playoffs, but according to michigan-football.com this year's version had the fewest wins in a season since 1964. Don't know what the situation is there this year but saying that it was a down season for Rice is an understatement
*Muskegon CC is a decent D8 team, but I'd question the level of competition on their schedule as well.
If Milan can compete in the trenches (Tyler looks like a force for DCD) and weathers the early game storm, I think they can trade blows with Country Day, much like last season.
This will tell us how "weak" the league was. Look for Milan to compete here. DCC 31 Milan 25
Why are we haters. It's one thing to have a football opinion and another to degrade a team that is playing with heart. I don't know maybe your team is out, and that it a shame. But Milan is our HL representative so get behind them because they play for all of us. Hopefully when roles are reversed they will support us as well. Go Big Reds!
Country Day 42 to 7 Milan will get beat up
Go Milan! I always love a good upset, unless I'm the favorite
Milan won in a weak league this year minus the CC game who was their only real opponent in the league. They have dominated in an ultra weak district division last two games so this week against CD will be their biggest challenge all season. They have not played anyone yet that will prepare them for the game they are up against. Sorry Milan but you will be enjoying your off season starting Sunday. Will be able to clean your lockers out Saturday after your game.
Have you followed the Huron league? I could say the same about DCD and their last 2 games. Milan will not get handled. And if it's a close game come the 4th quarter, it could very well go Milans way. This is why they play, we have a good team and if they play to their ability they can win this.
Good luck to DCD.
#9 Dad
I agree-Country Day-35. Milan-7
Its my feeling Milan will get pushed around.