Anthony did plenty of both for the Tigers last season, despite splitting carries and playing time with fellow running back Jarmal Alexander. Both topped the 1,000-yard mark as juniors in 2007, with Anthony leading the Teche Area with 1,330 yards on the ground and scoring 14 touchdowns. Alexander ran for 1,124 yards and scored 16 TDs, earning both of the first-team Best of the Teche honors as chosen by The Daily Iberian sports staff.
But personal accolades like All-District honors and Best of the Teche honors take a back seat to the hard-running Anthony, who averaged 6.7 yards a carry last year. Anthony and Alexander were shut out of first-team All-District honors because of the depth at that position in District 7-2A, which featured playoff teams Donaldsonville, St. John of Plaquemine and Livonia, all with strong running backs.
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Anthony is not a shifty runner, says his coach, Trent Delahoussaye.
“He hits the hole hard,” said Delahoussaye, entering his second year as LHS head coach. “He’s a north-south runner, which I like. You’re not going to arm tackle him.”
In fact, the compact running back, listed generously at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds heading into his senior year, is as likely to deliver a blow to the defensive players coming at him as to take one.
“A couple of coaches told me last year they’ve never seen a kid who runs that hard,” said Delahoussaye. “Dillon has a very strong lower body. He’s not a very tall kid, so he has a low center of gravity. It’s hard to bring him down.”
Having another back the caliber of Alexander available only helped both players’ production. So should a change to a spread offense this year. The Tigers rushed for 2,345 yards but passed for only 455 last season, and getting more balance will help the Loreauville offense.
“I think it’s going to benefit Dillon,” said Delahoussaye. “I think once (opponents) realize we’re capable of throwing the football with (quarterback) Jonathan (Louviere), (split end) Eddie Gaddison and (receiver) Nevin Landry, they can’t put eight in the box to stop the run.”
That suits Anthony just fine. He expects to still split carries with Alexander, whom Delahoussaye said is a better lead blocker, but said that the spread offense makes it easier to run the ball, especially if the passing game is effective.
“The holes are different,” said Anthony. “It’s much easier. If I see a hole, I can take it. There’s not a specific hole I have to take.”
“We’re going to more of a zone type blocking,” said Delahoussaye. “They’re not told which hole to go to. You snap the ball and the line tells him which way to go (by how it is blocking). If he picks the right hole, the play’s going to work.”
And if the plays work, the Tigers should be able to achieve their main team goal, which is to make the playoffs. Anthony’s looking forward to one thing as the season approaches.
“Just playing,” he said.
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