Published: October 27, 2009 11:42 pm      

Night of challenges ahead

Delic, Dantzler, Fields take stage

When Northwest Whitfield and Dalton square off at 7 p.m. Friday in Tunnel Hill for the Sub-Region 7A-4A title, there will be several key matchups on which to focus — two of which involve one player.

Northwest two-way starter Nermin Delic will face off with two of Dalton’s best linemen. While playing tight end, the 6-foot-5-inch, 245-pound Maryland commitment will go against defensive end Jalen Fields (6-4, 240), the first Georgia commitment of the 2010 class. When Delic’s at defensive end, he’ll face Watts Dantzler, a 6-8, 300-pound junior offensive lineman currently being heavily recruited by several Southeastern Conference schools, including Georgia.

All three were starters last year, so Delic knows the task ahead.

“(Going up against) both of them is a challenge,” Delic said. “They’re both good players on an overall good team.”

It’s no secret the Bruins run the ball a lot from their spread formation. Delic’s job in the offense will be to clear a lane for running backs Lance Andrews and Jordan Darnell and quarterback Chad Keeter on option plays.

That means containing Fields to give his runners room to roam.

“Jalen is a rare combination of size, speed and strength,” Delic said. “I’m just going to have to do my job and block well.”

Fields sees the matchup as even and said both players have had success against each other in the past, but this year the success will tilt more in one player’s favor.

“I suppose he’s another obstacle,” said Fields, who has an interception and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown this season. “It’s a big challenge, but I’m looking forward to it. I know his weak points because I played him last year and he knows some of mine.

“But I’m going to take him a whole lot more than he’s going to take me on Friday night.”

If Fields’ prediction holds true, Delic will have little time to recover before taking on one of the largest linemen in the state — Dantzler — in his quest to slow the Catamounts’ punishing ground.

“He’s about 6-8 and 800 pounds,” Delic said. “So he’s going to be hard to go against. He moves his feet well for a big guy, but I’ve gotta be able to speed rush him, because it’s going to be hard to bull rush. I’ll have to use more finesse on the pass block, and in the run it’s going to be all about physicality.”

Dantzler has looked forward to the challenge of facing Delic all season.

“He’s a great player and there’s a reason he’s got a lot of Division I scholarship offers,” he said. “He’s big, strong, fast; he’s the best player I’m going to block all year and he’s definitely a great athlete.”

• SPECIAL PERFORMANCE: Friday’s game will be followed by a free concert from country music artist Mallary Hope, a Northwest alum. The concert will begin immediately after the game.

The Cohutta native was performing 150 shows annually by her sophomore year at Northwest, according to a release from the school. Last year at age 21, Hope signed a recording contract with MCA; her debut single, “Love Lives On,” is airing on radio stations across the nation.

More information on Hope is available online at mallaryhope.com or umgnashville.com.

• GOLDEN CELEBRATION: With Dalton’s 50th consecutive season with a winning record now clinched — secured by a 35-21 win against Rome last Thursday — the program will take a moment at its next home game to celebrate the feat and recognize those who were a part of making it happen.

All Dalton football players, coaches and administrators from the 50 winning seasons (1960-2009) are encouraged to attend the Cats’ Region 7-4A playoff game at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 against a yet to be determined opponent from Sub-region 7B-4A. They’ll be recognized at halftime of the game for their contributions to the streak.

For information, contact Dalton athletic director Ronnie McClurg at (706) 876-4872 or Diane Gregory at (706) 876-4804.