Jack Dawson

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Photo by: William D. Lewis

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South Range QB Jack Dawson

By Tom Williams

Jack Dawson has been South Range’s QB for last three years

Senior Jack Dawson is in his third season as the starting quarterback for the Valley’s most successful small school program.

“He’s a dual threat — he can throw the ball very well and he also can run it,” South Range coach Dan Yeagley said.

Dawson, a 6-foot-2, 190 pounder, also plays outside linebacker.

And he’s the punter.

When football is not in season (and it usually lasts here at least until mid-November), Dawson plays varsity basketball and baseball.

He also excels in the classroom — his 3.86 grade-point average has him ranked in the Top 10 for the Class of 2009.

With all those activities, Dawson must have some obvious flaw, say a messy room.

“No, I try to keep my room clean for my Mom,” Dawson laughed.

The senior quarterback says practice and schoolwork keep him busy.

“I go home and I eat dinner, do my homework and go to bed,” Dawson said.

And finds ways to win football games.

Since the creation of the Inter Tri-County League Tier One in 2006 (the season Dawson became the starting quarterback), the Raiders have not lost a league contest.

Their only regular-season loss since October 2004 came on Aug. 22 when Tuslaw rallied in the final minute for a 29-28 win by making a two-point conversion.

After unbeaten regular seasons in 2005, 2006 and 2007, what did the Raiders take away from that defeat?

“We learned that we never want to experience that feeling,” Dawson said. “Hopefully, that made us better in the long run. We know how to handle situations like that now.”

Dawson said Tuslaw showed the Raiders “how to face adversity because we were down 21-7 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

“We didn’t quit — we scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. We know where we needed to elevate our game.”

Three-year starting quarterbacks at South Range have been rare since Yeagley became head coach in 1996. This year, Dawson’s experience is not just a luxury because the program lost six starters on each side of the ball to graduation.

“The big thing is that it really helps because we are so inexperienced,” Yeagley said. “[When] he’s in the huddle, he’s another coach on the field. He knows what’s going on, he understands the emotions of [his teammates].”

At 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the ITCL Tier One, the Raiders have three challenging league opponents awaiting — Crestview, Columbiana and Mineral Ridge.

The first test will be taken Friday at Crestview (4-1, 1-1).

In 2005 and 2006, the Raiders defeated the Rebels in the regular season and Division V playoffs.

“Crestview is becoming a [big] rivalry,” Dawson said, “They are always a good team and very competitive.”

Two years ago, the Raiders won, 7-6, after Dawson connected with wideout David Rach for a touchdown. The Rebels failed to convert after their only score.

Dawson wasn’t always a quarterback. When he began playing pee-wee football as a sixth grader, he was a running back and tight end.

He moved behind center three years ago.

“As a freshman, Coach Yeagley asked me to go with the quarterbacks. I guess it took off from there,” Dawson said.

He didn’t protest.

“I was prepared to do whatever they wanted me to do, to try my best,” Dawson said.

Before sixth grade, baseball was his favorite sport.

“I enjoy playing football the best,” Dawson said. “My parents wouldn’t let me play football until sixth grade so I kind of liked baseball [best] up until then. Then I got a taste for football — it stuck.”

Dawson’s father, John, played high school basketball in Missouri. His mother, Carol, ran track and was a cheerleader for Mooney.

His older brother, Russell, played for Yeagley and is now a U.S. Marine. Sisters Kylee (a junior) and Geri (freshman) play soccer.

Dawson has attracted interest from college coaches, but he’s not ready to think about next fall.

“I have visited schools but I’ve put everything on hold to concentrate on my senior season,” said Dawson who is considering architecture or biology as a major.

Yeagley said, “He’s getting some looks here and there. He’s a busy young man. He’s a multi-sport athlete so he didn’t get a lot of time in the spring to look in at a lot of colleges.”

Asked if winning so often becomes routine, Dawson said, “You appreciate what has happened but you don’t rely on it. You’re grateful for what has happened but you [better] always prepare.”

williams@vindy.com