Before we get started on Dickinson’s season, we must acknowledge, yet again, the best combination of video and sound from the 2016 season.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about a very successful 2016 season for the Dickinson Gators. This team was a dark horse from the beginning, and was seemingly on cruise control in the regular season, and not in a good way. The offense wasn’t exactly clicking the way the Gators would’ve liked, but a dominating defense was enough to keep them in games until a 23-7 loss to Clear Springs.
Dickinson got back on track after that, walloping every single team remaining on the regular season schedule. They beat a very good Alief Taylor team by two scores, and looked poised to continue their solid run. A date with North Shore spoiled all of that, and the Gators lost to the Mustangs, 17-7. It was the second year in a row that Dickinson fell to North Shore, and I think the playoff rivalry that comes with these two teams might be something special to watch over the next few years.
A relatively early exit doesn’t speak to the prowess of the Gators, it speaks to an impossibly difficult region that included North Shore, Atascocita, Lamar, Katy, and Alief Taylor. Anyone coming out of that region would be battle tested, and there’s no shame in not failing to reach the regional finals after lofty expectations.
Key Losses
CB DJ Small, DE Garrett Kettler, DE Tyrese Wydermyer, LB AJ Williams, WR Kaeleen Stelly
There isn’t a good way to say this: Dickinson is losing a lot on the defensive side of the ball. In these articles, we place limits on how many key losses we have, but this is one of the only one of these where I feel constrained by the limit. It’s impossible to fully demonstrate what Dickinson loses on defense through listing off names, so let’s just say this: it’s a lot. If you’re looking for a definite number, the Gators placed seven defenders on the first-team all-district list and one seniors on the second-team, and Garrett Kettler was the defensive MVP of the district. On offense the Gators will return a lot, but they’ll still miss Kaeleen Stelly’s ability to make plays.
Key Returners
WR Montel Parker, RB Myles Lewis, QB Cameron Collins, DT Keelan Oatis, OLB Malik Williams
Here’s the good news park for Dickinson: they may have struggled against good teams, but they were teams that most struggle against. Also, they bring back nearly all of their firepower from 2016.
Montel Parker and Myles Lewis are going to be a force to reckon with, not just in the area, but state-wide. Parker even played quarterback in a pinch, and Lewis’s tough running will be essential in 2017. When you combine that with Cameron Collins, the heir apparent at quarterback, Dickinson’s offense has a chance at being outstanding next season.
While there’s a huge chunk of that defense leaving, there are some crucial elements remaining. Big Keelan Oatis will be back locking down the A gaps, and explosive Malik Williams will make more highlight reel plays.
The Verdict
Dickinson is going to be good. Very good, in fact. There are two questions remaining: how good will they be, and can they cross that North Shore hurdle that will inevitably come up in the playoffs?
The Gators will improve on offense, and if they can rebuild that special defense, they should make yet another playoff run. If the Gators avoid injuries, it could turn out to be another special year.
Brought to you by:
Y’all never gave my son Marques Williams his props this year in Texas High School Football magazine he was one of the leaders on the Dickinson defense and we put nine players on the first-team all-district defensive team y’all need to look at my son’s highlight-reel from this year and give my son his props.