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Mingo Central’s Dillon MetroNews HS Football Player of the Year

MATEWAN, W.Va. — Mingo Central junior quarterback Jeremy Dillon has been named the 2016 MetroNews High School Football Player of the Year.

The 6-foot-5, 195 pound standout accounted for 4,057 total offensive yards and 61 touchdowns, throwing just three interceptions, while leading the Miners to a perfect 14-0 season and Class AA state championship.

“I feel very blessed,” Dillon said. “I know that I couldn’t have done it without God and I want to thank my parents and all of my coaches. I’m thankful to represent our team, our school and our community.”

Dillon completed 63.2 percent of his passes on the season, throwing for 2,852 yards, 37 touchdowns and just those three interceptions. On the ground, he added 1,205 yards and 24 more scores, averaging 8.4 yards per carry.

“Jeremy is the type of kid who just comes around every once in a while,” said Mingo Central coach Yogi Kinder. “He’s a good team leader and he has become a better team leader – he just got better every game.

“He made everyone around him better,” Kinder continued. “I just appreciate what type of a person that he is – he’s one that everybody wants.”

The MetroNews Player of the Year award was voted on by a panel of 25 radio broadcasters and sportswriters across the state. The voting scale awarded three points for a first place vote, two for a second place vote and one point for a third place vote.

Overall, Dillon received 19 of the possible 25 first-place votes — and 64 of the overall maximum 75 points — finishing ahead of Martinsburg quarterback Tyson Bagent and St. Marys running back Jaiden Smith. Bagent received four first place votes and was picked second on 13 of the other remaining ballots.

Behind Smith, East Hardy quarterback Corey McDonald, Spring Valley quarterback Derek Johnson, Fairmont Senior quarterback Jake Abbott, Spring Valley offensive lineman Riley Locklear and South Charleston standout Derrek Pitts all were bunched together, with Locklear and Johnson receiving a first-place vote apiece.

George Washington quarterback Grant Wells, Fayetteville quarterback Will Fenton, Mingo Central running back Joe Hunt, Martinsburg receiver Isaac Brown and Musselman standout Latrell Warr all received votes of some kind as well.

Dillon made his name in the state as a freshman and sophomore at Tug Valley where he had roles at receiver and in the backfield, finishing as a first team all-state selection in both 2014 and 2015. But after a transfer back to Mingo Central prior to the 2016 season — he played in junior high at a Mingo Central feeder school — it was a move to quarterback as well.

“I had a lot of help along the way from our coaches, being taught how to play quarterback,” Dillon said. “Coach (Joey) Fields has helped me along the way with my footwork. When my footwork is good, my ball is good.”

Ultimately, the quarterback role that was a perfect fit for Dillon, a position he had envisioned for himself in the past.

Mingo Central quarterback Jeremy Dillon threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns, along with 64 rushing yards and another score for the Miners in the Class AA state title win.
Mingo Central quarterback Jeremy Dillon threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns, along with 64 rushing yards and another score for the Miners in the Class AA state title win.

“He’s 6-foot-5 and 195 – to spin that football and run with it, he’s just a modern day quarterback,” Kinder said. “That’s what everyone wants. He made us a better football team. We had a lot of really good players back (from 2015), but he was the one that put us over the top.”

Dillon was also the first to give credit to the players around him as the Miners had a play-maker in seemingly every position with so much balance overall.

At receiver, Drew Hatfield, Tyler Grimmette, DJ Sheppard and Thomas Harmon all had big years for the Miners, while running back Joe Hunt totaled 1,506 rushing yards and scored 25 touchdowns on the season.

It was a stout offensive line that helped pave the way for that Miners’ rushing attack and kept Dillon well-protected in the pocket all year.

“They’re hard workers and since August they have been putting in the work we needed to win a state championship,” Dillon said of his line. “It’s paid off for them. Isaac Fox moved into our right tackle spot in Week 8 or 9 and he really completed our line for us.

“Dalton (Fields) is the leader of our line and helped bring Isaac along,” Dillon continued. “Rob (Daniels) is our center and he’s the best center I’ve ever played for. Kaleb (Hurley) and Mikey (Hall) have done a tremendous side on the left side at tackle and guard.”

Dillon, meanwhile, is committed to play basketball at Marshall, but his success at quarterback could present other options that he would have to consider.

“I was excited to just get an offer in basketball and I really got to know the (Marshall) coaches really well,” Dillon said. “I got comfortable (at Marshall) and had the full ride, so I committed. I love football just as much as basketball, if not probably more. I honestly didn’t know that I could do the things that I did this year (on the football field) until the season was over.

“It has kind of opened my eyes – I would really like to play college football,” he continued. “But it’s something that I will have to decide down the road, to see what options open up. I wouldn’t go play football just anywhere, because Marshall is a great place and I feel comfortable there. But there are a lot of places where I would go play football over basketball.”

Dillon follows 2015 MetroNews Player of the Year Cody Mitchell of Point Pleasant. South Charleston quarterback Kentre Grier won the award in 2014, while Madonna’s Ross Comis took the honor in 2013.

“All-in-all, Jeremy has done just a great job for us,” Kinder said. “Attitude is how a football player is made. If you have a good attitude, you’re going to be a pretty good person – that goes a long way and it always has.

“Jeremy’s attitude is off the charts,” he continued. “He never gets in trouble, he’s a great kid and does the right things. You just couldn’t ask for a better kid – and that goes back to his parents, you have good parents and all of that kind of stuff will rub off on you. He’s soaked it in well.”

Personal accolades aside – and many more will come for Dillon in not just football – the ultimate team goal of a state championship is what drove him in 2016.

“I know we won, but it’s crazy to really think about it and let it set in,” Dillon said. “I don’t know if it really has set in yet, to call ourselves state champs. Just as hard as we’ve worked this year with these guys, we’ve all bonded and I’m kind of sad that it’s over, to be honest.”





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