Just two Macomb Dakota players have experienced both the awesome scoring punch and debilitating defense the Cougars have this year.

Seniors Rodney Hush and Kyle DeMaster are two-way starters on a team still deep in talent a year after winning the state title.

Hush is a lockdown defensive back while DeMaster roams the secondary as a safety. Both play receiver.

As the owner of a 15-game winning streak and the target of every team on its schedule, Dakota has taken on and conquered all comers thanks to the focus and leadership provided by their two iron men captains.

"They just do so many things for us; they're game-breakers," Dakota coach Mike Giannone said. "Rodney ran back a 99 1/2 -yard kickoff return against Eisenhower when the game was tied and on the line. He ran it down the sideline and made some great moves. Kyle has come up with interceptions and fumble recoveries. He just does everything for us. Those are our two captains and real good football players."

In addition to their offensive and defensive duties, Rodney punts and Kyle plays on the kickoff team.

"We have two managers assigned to them for water and as soon as they come off the field they give them water," Giannone said. "They don't get much time off. We try to get at least 64 snaps offensively and I told them if they can go 64 and 64, that'll get us one more (state title). That's been the slogan for them. So far they've been pretty good. They're phenomenal athletes."

Both athletes also play other sports. They both play basketball, Kyle is on the track team and Rodney is on the baseball team.

"As athletes they are outstanding, and they also conduct themselves in the school as someone we would want representing our football team and program," Giannone said. "When you put a figurehead on Dakota, those are the things you're looking for."

Hush has 4.5-speed in the 40-yard dash and stands about 5-foot-8.

"Kyle is pretty fast himself," Giannone said. "He's on a 4-by-400 relay team and he has offers from Ball State and Eastern Michigan and probably more to come. He has had a good season."

DeMaster is a rangy athlete who likes playing safety rather than receiver because he loves doling out punishment. He played defense for the first time last year and "loved it."

"I'd rather hit than be hit," DeMaster said.

As far as the offense is concerned, DeMaster said: "Mitch (Lovett) just throws the ball out there and Rodney and I just go get it. We like to make plays in the open field. Rodney is really hard to tackle in the open field. He's shifty and quick."

DeMaster credited the Cougars' defensive line for helping him get his four interceptions this season.

"Our defensive line gets to the ball and forces the quarterback to make bad throws," he said. "Our defensive backs just jump the ball and take it the other way. I read and then react. We play Cover-4 and, depending on the formation, I'm playing the run first, then the pass. If the tight end stays in, I'll drop back and react to the other side. That's how I've gotten most of my interceptions."

When taking 128 snaps or more per game, conditioning becomes a major factor for DeMaster and Hush.

"We work pretty hard in practice and I know that during the game and in between plays we try to stand around as much as we can and get as much of a breather as we can," Hush said. "They took me off kickoff team because it gives me a big breather between touchdowns. Kyle isn't on the extra-point team, and I know he is on the kickoff team. The coaches call a timeout once in a while to give us a break, but most of the time they're so into the game that we're out there struggling a little bit. I know they have us so conditioned that we're not even thinking about it while we're out there."

DeMaster and Hush said the team met over the summer without the coaches around to address the challenge that was ahead. Losing all-state quarterback James Stallons was one of many obstacles the team had to overcome.

"We knew this was a new task to take care of," DeMaster said. "We came out to the football field and talked. We realized we had to do our own thing. Last year was nothing like we had to face this year. We have our rings, so we put that aside and started working during speed camp until now. We've had our downfalls even though we haven't lost yet. We still have to keep our cool and go out and win."

[More at www.freep.com]