DCD quarterback Steve Mann (left) and running back Larry Penson try to find some footing in Saturday’s snowy loss to Powers in the D-4 state semifinal game.
Detroit Country Day’s football season came to an end one win short of playing for the Division 4 state championship for the second straight season.
In Saturday’s snowy semifinal at West Bloomfield, DCD fell in a painful way to Flint Powers Catholic, 21-14. The Chargers rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit and scored the game-winning touchdown with just 26 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers turf was snow-covered from the opening kick-off and field conditions only worsened as the white stuff simply kept falling throughout the second half. The cold and slippery elements made Powers’ amazing comeback that much more improbable.
“It’s very disappointing,” said DCD’s veteran head coach Dan MacLean, whose team had its 10-game winning streak snapped with the untimely loss and ended with an 11-2 record. “It’s a game you should win. When you’re up 14-0 in these kind of weather conditions, I don’t really have any answers for that.
“You know, obviously for both teams, you had to really limit what you did offensively,” he said. “It was very difficult. But, both teams had to play in it. It’s not an excuse. They had a couple big plays at the end and you have to give credit to them. ”
Powers actually had the game’s first scoring opportunity midway through the first quarter, but kicker Morgan Livingston’s 30-yard field goal attempt fell way short. Kicking would prove difficult as neither team made an extra point.
Country Day struck first shortly after that errant field goal attempt when junior quarterback Steve Mann connected on a screen pass with junior running back Larry Penson that turned into a 63-yard touchdown. DCD went up 6-0 after Alec Jbara’s extra point attempt failed.
Mann then recovered a Powers fumble late in the first quarter at the Chargers’ 38-yard line. On its fourth play of the second quarter, DCD took advantage of the turnover when junior fullback Chris Bergin powered in from a yard out for a touchdown. Mann then hit sophomore Kolin Demens for the two-point conversion and took a 14-0 lead against a Chargers squad which had allowed only seven points in its previous three playoff games.
The second half proved pivotal for Country Day.
The Yellowjackets entered Powers territory on their opening drive of the third quarter, but were stopped on a fourth-and-one play. DCD managed one first down never got past midfield the rest of the way.
Meanwhile, Powers rebounded to tie the game with a pair of third-quarter TDs.
After stopping the Yellowjackets on that fourth-down play, the Chargers marched 64 yards on six plays. They capped the drive when senior quarterback Noah Sargent hit junior receiver Peyton Beauchamp up the middle with what turned into a 38-yard TD pass. Livingston’s extra point failed, but DCD still led 14-6.
Powers then took advantage of a DCD turnover to tie the game.
After intercepting a Mann pass deep in DCD territory, senior running back Reese Morgan romped through the snow on a straight dive for a 20-yard touchdown run. Sargent then ran in the two-point conversion to make it 14-all with 25 seconds left in the third quarter.
Country Day had two fourth-quarter possessions, gaining just 15 yards on nine plays. The Yellowjackets punted the ball away with 6:34 left in the fourth quarter, with Powers taking over at its own 33-yard line.
The Chargers marched 67 yards on 13 plays — which included a big fourth-down offsides call on DCD which game them a big first down — to take the lead. Sargent slithered in from a yard out with 26 seconds remaining for what proved the winning score.
DCD got the ball back on a nice kickoff return by Kone Bowman at its own 48-yard line. However, the season came to a crushing halt on three incomplete passes.
“The kids were very calm at the half,” said Powers head coach Bob Buckel. “We just told them we had a bigger deficit than this against Midland Dow (in a regular-season game) and we came back to score four touchdowns and should have won that game.
“The conditions out there were unbelievable. My center Jackinson Duffiney and my quarterback Noah Sargent, I have no idea how they handled the ball in the fourth quarter,” he said. “Noah’s hands were completely frozen and he completed a big pass down there. It’s unbelievable.”
Powers finished with 249 total yards, 169 of which came in the second half. Sargent rushed 20 times for 65 yards while Morgan carried 18 times for a game-high 80 yards. Sargent completed 5-16 passes for 98 yards.
Country Day managed 219 total yards, but only 60 in the fateful second half. Penson carried 26 times for 75 yards. Mann completed 3-13 passes for 97 yards.
“Larry Penson did a great job and the kids did a great job of executing,” said MacLean, whose team lost in the semifinals last year to Lansing Sexton. “But, if we could have done just a little bit offensively in the second half. I think we put ourselves in good position, but it just didn’t materialize for us.”
Powers (11-2) will play for the Division 4 state championship 7:30 p.m. Friday at Ford Field against undefeated Zeeland West (13-0). Zeeland West advanced to the finals with a 46-8 semifinal victory over Ada Forest Hills Eastern Saturday afternoon.