Experienced Dalton prepping for big football season

The OHSAA is permitting unlimited coaching days for high school football teams this summer, but Dalton coach Broc Dial is sticking with the traditional 10 days teams have used in past years.

Who can argue with Dial’s logic? The Bulldogs have annually been among the area’s best teams under his leadership.

Dial owns a 34-10 mark entering his fifth season at the helm, highlighted by WCAL titles in 2019 (9-2) and 2017 (12-1, Div. VI regional runner-up).

Dalton finished 6-3 overall last season and 4-2 in the Wayne County Athletic League.

“(Ten days of coaching) is quite a bit, and I think that’s plenty for our kids to be able to get ready for the season,” Dial said after morning practice on July 9. “We have lots of kids that are participating in multiple sports in the summer: baseball, basketball
and wrestling.”

Dial runs his summer training camp from 7:30-11:30 a.m. He splits apart the skilled position players and linemen at times to work on position-specific drills while mixing in meetings, running and lifting.

During June the school was open most days for players to work out. Fifty players grades 9-12 are a part of the program.

“Our score count for the whole school is 116 boys, so we have close to half of them playing football,” Dial said.

The Bulldogs boast lots of experience on their squad.

Seniors Jaiden Malone (WR-DB), Owen Beatty (WR/DB), Tate Geiser (RB/LB), Jaden Schlabach (RB/LB) and Lucas Oswald (RB/LB), along with juniors Ethan Stutz (QB/DB) and Grant Johnson (RB/LB), return as starters at skilled positions.

“I’m really enthusiastic for our team,” Dial said. “We have great kids, some with a lot of varsity experience and others who will push to contribute. We have an awesome community here too. I’m excited to be working with this group, and hopefully, knock on wood, after what we dealt with last year with the coronavirus, this will feel more like a normal year.”

Malone will be one of the most athletic area players this fall and line up in a variety of spots, from wide receiver to running back or wildcat.

Last season Malone carried the ball 77 times for 433 yards and seven touchdowns, caught 11 passes for 140 yards and two scores, and passed for 367 stripes and a pair of TDs. As a sophomore Malone had 1,188 yards receiving and 10 TD catches.

“I’m really excited for him,” Dial said. “He’s working hard this summer, and I think he’s coming into his own entering his senior year. He really understands the game, so that’s gonna allow us to be able to move him around. He’s obviously a phenomenal athlete.”

Geiser returns after leading the Bulldogs in rushing (147-903, 10 TDs) and tackles (79). He then went on to become the Div. III state runner-up at 152 pounds in the State Wrestling Tournament.

“Tate’s a throwback-type player,” Dial said. “He’s a tough kid who likes to hit. He’s not into the glamour stuff, ESPN-like effect.”

Stutz played five games at quarterback last season, completing 32 of 52 passes for 146 yards and three TDs and rushing for 110 yards. Competing for the signalcaller job with him will be sophomore Colin Pearson.

Back to anchor the line are senior starters Austin Ryder and Tyler Ramseyer, along with junior Quentin Lehman.

“They’re all third-year starters, so we really like our experience there,” Dial said.

Ryder will play guard and defensive tackle.

“Everybody’s working hard and picking things up quickly,” said Ryder, who placed seventh at 220 at the State Wrestling Tournament. “The new guys are gonna get things going for us.”

Ramseyer will anchor the line at center and play defensive end.

“Winning the league is our first goal and then just keep going and hopefully make it to state,” Ramseyer said.

Lehman will return at tackle and defensive end. He said the coaches have stressed “accountability” during workouts.

“They’ve told us, ‘Just be a man. Do what you’re supposed to do when you’re supposed to do it.’ Consistency is very important. There are a lot of kids showing dedication, and that’s what we need in this program,” Lehman said.

Dalton will host Woodridge in a 10 a.m. scrimmage on Aug. 7 and then visit Triway for a 7 p.m. matchup on Aug. 13.

The Bulldogs will open the regular season by hosting East Canton on Aug. 20. They’ll visit defending WCAL champ Norwayne in week 10 in what looks like a marquee matchup entering the season.

Aaron Dorksen can be emailed ataarondorksen24@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AaronDorksen.