For Detroit Country Day, much of this playoff run can be attributed to Parker Yeargo. His performance against Notre Dame Prep and the spark he has provided in the postseason propelled them all the way to the final game.
Against Cadillac on Friday, Yeargo did more of the same. He carried the load for his team as Detroit Country Day (9-2) beat Cadillac (8-3), 13-0, to win their first state title since 1999.
Before the victory on Friday, Country Day had been to the state final five times since their win in ’99, losing all five by an average of 21.8 points.
Country Day was able to change that narrative thanks to an all-around performance from the offense and defense. With the offense running early and often, it allowed them to control the game’s pace and move deep into Cadillac territory. Their first two drives both ended in field goals, but took up huge chunks of time. Country Day dominated the time of possession and made Cadillac play catch-up with limited time remaining in the half.
A similar drive to start the second half ended with a 4-yard touchdown run from Gabe Winowich, which put Country Day ahead for good.
Thirteen points ended up being more than enough of a cushion for Country Day’s defense. Coming into the game, they had held their opponents scoreless in both the Regional Final and the State Semifinal.
Cadillac struggled to find an offensive rhythm thanks to the tricky Country Day defense. Cadillac was held to just 150 yards total and was shutout for the first time all season.
Coach Dan MacLean secures his second state championship in his 23rd year as the head coach at Country Day. After the game, he talked about how special this win was, considering he gets to share it with his youngest son, Danny MacLean.
“I was a single guy when I started at Country Day 36 years ago, this is my youngest child of five now. It’s a joy. It’s wonderful,” said MacLean.
Danny MacLean played a big role on both offense and defense for his dad. His 3 receptions led the team on offense. On defense, he pulled in a sensational interception in the third quarter with Cadillac threatening. The replay official reviewed and confirmed the call that MacLean was able to get both his feet in bounds as he intercepted the ball on the sideline.
Yearbo, Country Day offense stout
Junior Parker Yearbo has been the spark for this Country Day team all postseason, so it was no surprise when they turned to him for a bulk of the carries in the title game. He carried the ball 12 times for 71 yards.
Also, junior quarterback Brandon Mann stood out as a leader in both phases of the offense. He rushed for 25 yards along with passing for 11-14 for 106 yards. He made some clutch throws, including a 3rd and 20 in the fourth, hooking up Luke Grove to move the chains and seal the victory.
Gabe Winowich had 5 carries for 15 yards and scored the game’s only touchdown.
Both Yearbo and Mann return for their senior season in 2021, making Country Day an early favorite to repeat as champions.
Cadillac struggles to find offense in their first state championship
Friday marked the first trip to the state championship game in its history for Cadillac, and they were hoping for a better result. The Country Day defense had them figured out from the start and kept them struggling to sustain a drive. A heavy run team, Cadillac could not find running lanes big enough to break off any type of momentum-shifting play.
“We just couldn’t get it done on offense, I think that is the story of the game,” Cadillac head coach Cody Mallory, “we struggled doing things we have been doing for a while. That’s what happens when you play good teams.”
Regardless, Cadillac is still going home as one of the most successful teams in school history. They finish the season 8-3, earning a first-round playoff bye and advancing the furthest any Cadillac team has in the MHSAA playoffs.
