High school football: Dazzling football debut for Dalton

By Mike London [email protected] SALISBURY Bryce Daltons name is a combination of two Carolina Panthers quarterbacks, but the Salisbury Hornets wouldnt trade him for both of them right now.

Not even if you threw in Sir Purr, a Coke and a barbecue sandwich.

Dalton is playing high school football for the first time as a senior, but hes not looking much like a rookie.

Heading into Fridays Senior Night game with Lexington, the safety had scored touchdowns on a fumble recovery, a punt return and an interception.

Sometimes its not a bad thing that a guy hasnt played a lot of football, Salisbury head coach Clayton Trivett said.

Everything is new to him, so he does exactly what the coaches tell him to do.

He doesnt have any bad habits to unlearn.

The 5-foot-9 Dalton is the younger brother of Haley Dalton, who was a tall shot-blocker for championship Salisbury basketball teams.

She got the height, Dalton said with a smile, but I got the speed.

While hes new to Ludwig Stadium, Dalton is a well-known athlete at Salisbury.

Hes been an important part of basketball conference championships.

Hes a point guard, a distributor and press-breaker, but hes talented enough that he once scored 26 points in a game against North Rowan.

Good kid, really talented kid, said Salisbury DBs coach Kentavian Tay Little, who played college ball at Carson-Newman.

The first day of summer workouts, Bryce was out there, and it didnt take long to see he could make a difference for us.

Hes got really good speed and quickness.

Hes got the stuff you cant teach.

Sure, he had things to learn, but his football knowledge has grown every week.

Trivett had seen his speed in the gym and had been after Dalton to play football for a few years.

Theres an injury risk to football, and Salisburys basketball program certainly doesnt need anything to happen to Dalton, but Dalton decided that the rewards, the fun and the potential memories from football outweighed the risks.

I kept thinking that senior year was my last chance to play football, so why not? Dalton said.

Its been a good decision.

Ive been able to help the team.

Dalton has shown flashes of special athletic ability, especially in the East Davidson game.

On that night, he had a pick-six, plus a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown.

East Davidson got off a decent punt from around its 25-yard line, but Dalton came up to catch the ball on the Salisbury 45, with his momentum moving forward.

He got a block, ran through a would-be tackler and then ran by the rest.

East Davidsont didnt have anyone who was going to catch him.

Good blocks and then I found the sideline on the punt return, Dalton said.

It was pretty easy from there.

On the pick-six, I read a slant and made a good break on the ball.

As a deep defender in the middle of the field, Daltons first duty is pass coverage, but he has shown a willingness to help out against the run despite a lean, wiry frame that was made for basketball.

Walkertown probably was the best team Salisbury has played to this point, and Dalton made six tackles, two for loss.

That told the coaching staff a lot.

Hes coachable, Little said.

I told him from that first day to listen and learn, and he had a chance to be a really good football player.

Hes not a typical first-year guy because hes been in so many big basketball games.

Hes an athlete and hes comfortable playing with pressure.

Hes also getting more vocal on the field now.

Hes used to being a leader..

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