BEVERLY HILLS, Mich. -- When trying to define just how good of a season the Detroit Country Day football team is having this year, there are many things to point to.
There is the perfect 12-0 record, which has happened only four times in the program's long and successful history.
There is also the impressive point differential, as Country Day has outscored opponents, 431-67. That's an average margin of victory of 30.33 points per game.
There's also the fact that Country Day is one of four remaining teams in the Division 4 state playoffs as it prepares to face Flint Powers Catholic (10-2) on Saturday for a 1 p.m. game at Parker Middle School in Howell.
However, longtime Country Day coach Dan MacLean has his own measure of success.
"When the team is responsible for itself, that's when you know, I think, that you've got a good product," MacLean said. "They're going to take ownership of their team. Coaching is doing less and less of that and the kids are doing more and more of it."
MacLean says he has noticed the responsibility and accountability in his program all year, making him less surprised to see his team one win away from a state championship berth.
"It's just a good group of athletes," MacLean said. "All solid guys who can multi-task. I think, too, a mentality that they wanted to have a great team and they were going to hold each other accountable. One of the big things we found as coaches is, the more we have to hold them accountable, the more it gets to be drudgery and a pain.
"The more they do it -- and sometimes it's not always pretty -- but they've yearned to do that. I think it shows their teammates that they really care about them. It's kind of a form of caring. Sometimes it's not really the most genteel way of dealing with things but they've done a really good job with that for the most part. I think it's really added to our team culture."
Country Day has won three state championships, with the last one occurring 20 years ago when the Yellowjackets won the 1999 Division 5 state championship. Since then, Country Day has played and lost Division 4 state title games in 2007, 2008, 2012 and 2016.
It is safe to say the players are eager to break through and capture the title that has eluded them these last two decades.
"There's definitely a buzz around school," Country Day quarterback Ahlon Mitchell said. "Everybody's excited. Hopefully we get down to Ford Field. Everybody's watching the football team to see what our guys do."
DOMINANT DEFENSE
If Country Day finally captures another state championship this year, its defense will likely play a large role. So far this season, the Country Day defense has given up no more than 12 points in a game, holding opponents to 8 points or less in 10 games.
Leading the way on defense for Country Day are three juniors in the trenches as Caleb Tiernan, William Leggon and Nick Wachol provide power up front.
"This year, I think, the foundation is we have Will and Caleb and Nick who are just really good players," MacLean said. "Really solid. They're big and strong. Nick is not the biggest, but he is strong (and) he's also very quick. Will is demanding a double team up front and Caleb is 6-foot-7 and 275 pounds. That's just a physical mismatch in many cases. He's really come a long way."
Tiernan's massive frame combined with his toughness has made him a top-level recruit. Rated as a 4-star offensive tackle by rivals, Tiernan has offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Central Michigan, Northwestern and others. Only a junior, his scholarship list has opportunity for continued growth moving forward.
"We have a very strong lineman and linebacker corps," Tiernan said. "If you're going to try and run against us, you're not going to get very far. If you're going to try and pass, I trust that we have Saborn (Campbell) back there, Jacob Yarberry back there. I just don't think they're going to get past us."
Tiernan sees Country Day as a favorite to win it all while Leggon expected the Yellowjackets to be at this point all along.
"We had no doubt in our minds that we were going to get to this point," Leggon said. "Moving forward, we just want to keep our humility and keep on going, keep on striving toward our goal."
After last year's 13-10 loss to Farmington Hills Harrison in the district finals, Tiernan and the returning lot of players made it a goal to surpass last year's result. While holding each other accountable throughout the offseason and into the regular season, the shared commitment has helped develop chemistry across the entire roster.
"I think we're all really, really, really close," Tiernan said. "I don't think there is one person on this team who doesn't know the other guy like a brother. I feel just that and the chemistry we all have really brings us together and has helped us win a lot."
MITCHELL STEPPING UP
While the defense has shined prominently all season, the Country Day offense has thrived under the leadership of Mitchell. The 5-feet-11, 170-pound senior has taken command of the Yellowjacket's offense this fall.
"He's just been a really bright light," MacLean said. "His development has been tremendous. Just taking a leadership role and making mature decisions, helping the guys on our team improve. And he's played really well. He's got deceptive speed, he's been a very accurate passer and he's done what you'd hope your quarterback would do."
Despite Country Day's success so far this season, Mitchell believes a perfect record means nothing unless it is perfect after the state championship.
“For us, our mindset is just to take each week one at a time and try to be 1-0,” Mitchell said. “We still have to get better. We’re not perfect yet.”
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November 20, 2019 at 10:01PM
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Country Day’s ‘responsible’ style has team surging into D4 semifinals - MLive.com
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