Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Only 2-8 a year ago, team played well at end of year
Several key Dallas players, from left, first row, are Paul Brace, Eric Baines, Adam Goeringer and Ryan Bump. Second row: Cody Plesnar, Joe Murray, Mike Adams and Damon Marth.
FOR THE TIMES LEADER/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK
Dallas coach Ted Jackson never experienced a season like 2008.
Not in his previous 23 years at Dallas. Not ever as a coach.
The Mountaineers’ 2-8 finish – the only time they had a losing record under Jackson.
“I’ve coached 35 years in three sports and never had a losing season in any,” Jackson said. “It was a rotten taste and everybody in this room has been in that situation of not losing. Former coaches, former players, for everybody that hasn’t been in that situation, I’ll tell you it was one of the more challenging years of my life.”
Jackson, though, saw some positive signs over the final five games of 2008. Dallas shut out Crestwood for his 200th coaching win and followed with a victory over Pocono Mountain East.
Also, playoff-bound Hanover Area and Lake-Lehman defeated the Mountaineers in the last minute and final seven seconds, respectively. Even a 35-6 loss to Berwick had some positives.
“Berwick beat us,” Jackson said, “but not as bad as some teams beat us in the beginning of the year.”
Jackson also feels good about the 42-player turnout. Dallas started last season with 34 players and attrition whittled the number to 28 by season’s end.
“It’s nice to have numbers,” Jackson said. “Last year we had trouble practicing at times with only five, six seniors. This year, we have 20 sophomores, so we’re excited about that.”
ON OFFENSE
Dallas’ offense scored just nine touchdowns last season and was shut out three times. The unit was held to 78 or less yards rushing for five consecutive games, abnormal for a program that thrived in the past on punishing ground games.
The key will be up front where starting guards Ryan Bump and Damon Marth, right tackle Mike Adams and center Eric Baines return. Baines is being challenged by junior Anthony Lafratte for the position. Juniors Jason Crispell and Sam Van Horn are battling for the final starting spot.
The backfield has a bit of experience with junior quarterback Adam Goeringer, who showed promise late in the 2008 season. Senior Andrew Ondish has also impressed in the preseason.
“He’s a big, strong, tough kid,” Jackson said of Goeringer. “He was fortunate to get some experience last year and played some good games the last half of the year for us when I thought our team played fairly well.”
The runners, though, are a question mark. Senior tailback Nick Lombard had 11 carries last season, junior tailback Jake Simon had 27 rushes and sophomore fullback Jim Roccograndi is new to the varsity.
“Our running game is going to be a question,” Jackson said. “We have some kids there, but there’s a sophomore fullback and a tailback that played very little last year.”
Wingback/tailback Paul Brace should be a significant contributor, having led the Mountaineers in receiving last year as a freshman. Split end Joe Murray and tight end Cody Plesnar each hauled in 10 passes last season. The Dunn brothers – Shane and Taylor – and Tyler Shutlock make the receiving corps deeper than last year.
ON DEFENSE
The run defense improved late last season, but Jackson still viewed it as a sore spot.
“We couldn’t run the ball and we couldn’t stop the run,” Jackson said. “That was our problem last year.”
Eight starters return, but as Jackson said, “You’re coming back to a team that won just two games, so maybe you’re not that good.”
The defense forced nine of its 13 turnovers in the final five games. Still, it will have plenty to prove.
Adams and Marth are back as tackles. Bump returns at one end and Taylor Dunn will man the other.
As for linebacking, Plesnar will anchor the inside and Goeringer the outside. Baines on the inside and Shutlock on the perimeter are new starters.
The entire secondary is back with Brace and Jim Brown on the corners and Lombard at safety.
OUTLOOK
A strong close to last season and a solid group of returning starters bode well for Dallas’ chances to improve significantly. The Mountaineers, though, probably won’t be able to squeeze into the four-team District 2 Class 3A playoffs