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Both teams come into this matchup undefeated. Both teams won their first two games in impressive fashion.

I think Dakota will have the advantage in the trenches. The O & D line's had very good games last week for the Cougars. They really controlled the LOS on both sides of the ball. Romeo lost quite a bit in this dept from last year, and I believe they are starting 3 sophomores on their O and D lines currently.

Mark Morris is off to a good start for Dakota this year. He has thown 6 TD's and 1 INT.

Ben Brown is one of the best RB's in the county if not the state. His rushing numbers seem to be a bit off this year with 133 & 109 yards through the first two games. Romeo is now running their version of the "wildcat" offense. Brown lines up in the backfield alone, in a spread set with a run/pass option. Romeo seems to have a QB by committee this year. Laurain,Alcini and Brown are pretty much even in attempts,completions and yardage. Cougar RB Brandon Hughes is coming off a big game of his own rushing for 189 yards on 21 carries.

Both defenses have been tough this year. Dakota is giving up 3.5 ppg and Romeo 4.5 ppg. I don't think either secondary has been tested yet this year.

I would have to give Romeo an edge in special teams. Their K Robbie Flynn is one of the best in the county. Dakota's PR and KR have been solid this year, kick and punt coverage struggled last week. Romeo has blocked a punt two weeks in a row.

This will be Romeo's first visit to Dakota stadium.

Interesting stat: Dakota has lost only two regular season games in the last 3 plus years. Both losses came after wins vs CV. Coach Giannone will have to guard against a let down. After last year's game I can't imagine it will be too difficult to get his team motivated.

Yeah I know. I can't remember when a team did not get a single vote in a poll. Very surprising. I guess kidrocks22 does not frequent this site?

Dakota's defense

is dominant

Cougars return two picks for

scores in win over Romeo

By Chuck Pleiness

Macomb Daily Sports Writer

Romeo's offense took Dakota by surprise early

in Friday night's Macomb Area Conference Red

Division football game between the two undefeated

teams.

By the Bulldogs' third offensive

series, the Cougars had

Romeo all figured out.

After falling behind 10-0

early in the first quarter, Dakota's

defense pitched a shutout

the rest of the way and helped matters with two

interception returns for scores as the Cougars

avenged a loss last season to the Bulldogs, 33-17.

"Our kids adjusted very well," said Cougars defensive

coordinator Greg Bauer, whose unit held

Romeo running back Ben Brown to 88 yards on 15

carries. "A lot of teams may have folded after that,

thinking here we go again. But we fought back.

"We made a couple of adjustments

that helped," Bauer

added. "And then the kids just

played hard. Romeo is a heck of a

team. They have the best running

back in this area by far."

Romeo snapped Dakota's 24-

game winning streak last season

in Week 3. The Cougars had won

back-to-back Division 1 state titles

and last lost on Sept. 29, 2006,

to Ford.

"In the second half we pitched

a shutout and that's what our

goal was," said Bauer, whose defense

finished with four interceptions.

"I'm very proud of

them."

Brown capped a five-play

drive with a nine-yard TD run to

open the scoring for the Bulldogs.

Brown started the series by

hitting Joe Bacci with a quick

pass for a 46-yard gain.

On Romeo's next series, Robert

Flinn nailed a 48-yard field

goal with 5:17 left in the first

quarter.

"I'm pleased with how we

started, but it's hard to play at

that level, with that kind of intensity

for all 48 minutes," said

Romeo co-coach Jason Couch,

whose team falls to 1-1 in the

MAC Red and 2-1 overall.

The 10-point deficit seemed to

DAKOTA: Cougars' win

powered by defense

Continued from Page 1C wake up the Cougars' offense,

which netted a minus-seven

yards on their opening drive of

the game.

Dakota began to pound the

football. Brandon Hughes got the

call eight times in the series before

quarterback Mark Morris

went in over the right side of the

line for a 14-yard score. The Cougars'

extra-point attempt hit the

upright.

Dakota capitalized on its next

offensive series. Unable to pick

up a first down on its first three

plays, Morris ran a fake punt for

a 16-yard gain to the Bulldogs' 37.

One play later, Hughes busted

through a huge hole and broke to

his left for the 37-yard score.

Again though, Dakota's point

after kick failed.

Deandre Smith stepped in

front of a short toss by Jacob Alcini

and raced 53 yards to give

the Cougars a nine-point lead

after Kris Selita hit the extra

point with 6:38 left before halftime.

"I don't mind kids trying to

make plays," Couch said. "I can't

fault a kid for trying."

Christian Pletta got the score

right back for the Bulldogs (1-1, 2-

1) returning the ensuing kickoff

90 yards to paydirt.

"Our special teams, my gosh,"

said Dakota coach Mike Gian-

none, whose team plays at Port

Huron next Friday. "You have to

tackle when you play this team.

They're a good football team."

Dakota's offense continued

pouring it on to begin the second

half. Hughes (21 carries, 147

yards) scored his second TD of

the game, plunging in from three

yards out to cap a seven-play

drive.

Then, Deontae Rex sealed the

deal, stepping in front of a pass at

the Cougars' four-yard line and

racing 96 yards to put Dakota

ahead 33-17 after the extra point

with just over three minutes left

in the fourth quarter.

"I've never seen him run that

fast," Bauer said. "It was a great

play by him."

Gerald Jackson also picked off

a pass for Dakota, which limited

Romeo's offense to just 67 yards

in the second and third quarters

combined after allowing 97 in

the opening quarter.

Morris was 10-of-11 passing for

106 yards. He also rushed for 54

yards on eight carries.

--Send comments to chuck.

http://www.sourcenewspapers.com/articles/2009/09/12/sports/doc4aab301f38a20557932696.txt

By KEVIN LOZON

For seven minutes last Friday night, Romeo pretty much did what it wanted to against host Dakota in the teams' MAC Red Division clash.

However, when the Cougar offense got going, the Dakota defense decided to join the party and it spelled doom for the Bulldogs, who dropped a 33-17 decision to the Cougars.

"I'm pleased at how we started, but it's hard to play at that level and with that intensity for all 48 minutes," Romeo coach Jason Couch said. "I sure would like to find that spark or strength that would give you that. We have to realize good teams will make good plays and we have to step up and rally."

Romeo had the ball to open the game, starting at its own 34. On the first play, running back Ben Brown lined up as quarterback and dumped a pass to his tight end, who rumbled 46 yards before getting tackled. Four plays later, Brown scored on a 9-yard run, giving the Bulldogs a quick 7-0 lead.

After a Dakota punt on the ensuing possession, the Bulldogs started their next drive at the Cougar 44.

The drive eventually stalled at the Dakota 31 and Romeo kicker Robert Flinn came on and booted a 48-yard field goal, extending the Bulldog lead to 10-0 with 5:17 left in the first quarter.

"It was like here we go again. We couldn't do anything right," Dakota coach Mike Giannone said.

However, the Cougars got their offense going on the next drive, marching 79 yards in 11 plays, capped by a 14-yard touchdown run by quarterback Mark Morris. The PAT failed, leaving Romeo with a 10-6 lead.

On the next drive, Dakota running back Brandon Hughes had eight rushes for 52 yards, running behind an offensive line that averages 275 pounds.

"They're bigger than the Lions," Couch said. "They'll wear anybody down on both sides of the ball. They're a physical team and they never gave up."

After a Romeo punt on its next series, the Cougars went to their bag of tricks and it hurt the Bulldogs.

On fourth down, Morris, who doubles as the Dakota punter, faked a punt and raced 16 yards for a Cougar first down. On the next play, Hughes broke free for a 37-yard scoring run. The PAT failed a gain, leaving Dakota with a 12-10 lead with 8:56 left in the second quarter.

"They blocked two punts this year and they really didn't have anyone backing that guy up," Giannone said. "You can call it, but you have to execute it and (Morris) got outside, knew where he had to get and got the first down. That was a huge play in the game."

The Cougar defense came up big on the Bulldogs' next possession when Romeo quarterback Jake Alcini was picked off attempting a shuffle pass while getting tackled. Dakota's DeAndre Smith stepped in front of the Romeo receiver for the interception and raced 50 yards for a touchdown. The PAT by Cougar kicker Kris Selita was good this time and Dakota led 19-10.

"The kids were just trying to make a play," Couch said. "I can't fault a kid who's trying to make a play. Obviously we have to make the right decisions, but I thought a couple penalties hurt us even more."

Romeo answered on the ensuing kickoff when Christian Pletta broke into the clear for an 88-yard return for a score. Flinn tacked on the PAT, closing the Cougar advantage to 19-17 at halftime.

Dakota had the ball first in the second half and cashed in quickly, marching 80 yards in seven plays, with Hughes scoring from 3 yards out. Selita added the PAT, extending the Cougar lead to 26-17.

The score stayed that way until the fourth quarter when Romeo marched down the field, getting inside the Cougar 20. However, a pass from Bulldog quarterback Jake Alcini was intercepted by Dakota's Deontae Rex, who returned the pick 97 yards for a touchdown. Selita's PAT was good and Dakota had its victory.

"I thought our (defensive) coverage was pretty nice," Giannone said. "We mixed it up a little bit. They were prepared against a very good Romeo team."

Romeo was led offensively by Brown, who had 14 carries for 84 yards. Alcini added 17 yards on six totes. The loss dropped the Bulldogs' record to 2-1 overall, 1-1 league.

"Our guys are pretty young up front, but you're in the Red and it's time to grow up," Couch said. "This is a quick way to grow up. That's for sure."

Dakota was led by Hughes, who had 156 yards on 24 rushes. Morris, who completed 10-of-11 passes for 133 yards, added 64 yards on 10 totes.

"We were going to pound it a little bit and hopefully that will set up the pass," Giannone said. "I thought Brandon Hughes ran well and I thought Mark Morris did a good job controlling the tempo. He had a fantastic game."

The victory improved Dakota's record to 3-0 overall, 2-0 league.