ZEPHYR COVE - Opening day success stories have been few and far between over the years for Dayton High School football.
Things were different on Saturday afternoon, however, when Shane VanZant and Jim Kepler led an offense that scored 39 first-half points as the Dust Devils went on to a 53-16 non-conference victory against Whittell.
VanZant rushed for 198 yards and four touchdowns and Kepler, in his first start as a varsity quarterback, engineered an offense that scored on six of eight possessions in the first half against a Whittell team that only had 17 players suited up (10 sophomores and two freshmen are listed on the team's 22-player roster).
Regardless of Whittell's situation, and even if it was a non-conference game, Dayton coach Butch Cattanach was pleased to have the win.
"That might be the first time in a long time Dayton has won an opening game, and it's real important for us to start off this way," Cattanach said.
The good start was certainly welcomed by Kepler, a senior who earned the start at quarterback even though he missed most of his 1998 season because of a knee injury and didn't play at all last year.
"My sophomore year I blew out my knee and I didn't get to play last year, but I've worked hard; I'm real pleased and I'm going to do everything I can to help out this team," said Kepler, who threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Miller at the end of the first quarter, had a 32-yard run on the final play before halftime and also converted five of six PAT kick attempts.
"We were very pleased with our performance. We worked hard all through the summer and all week, and it showed here today."
VanZant scored on a 32-yard run to opening the scoring, then Dayton extended its lead to 18-0 on two touchdowns scored within a span of 10 seconds at the end of the first quarter. First, VanZant busted into the end zone on a five-yard run with 30.9 seconds left in the period. Then one play after Garrett Watkins recovered a fumble on Whittell's next play from scrimmage, Kepler threw a 19-yard touchdown strike to Miller with 20.6 seconds showing on the clock. VanZant scored his third touchdown of the half from seven yards out with 6:29 left in the second period.
"I thought we came out very strong," VanZant said. "Our team really pushed hard at the beginning because we just don't like to lose."
Matt Sumsion also scored two touchdowns, on a 7-yard run in the first half and a 27-yard run in the fourth period. The junior rushed for 72 yards on six carries on the day.
"I thought our kids played really well," Cattanach said. "I thought the contact was great, I thought we were smacking people from snap to whistle. I thought our kids up front on offense really did a great job; our cross-blocking schemes opened some huge holes."
On the other hand, Whittell was in trouble even before the opening kickoff because of injuries sustained by two-way starters Luke Forvilly and Joey Massa.
"A week ago week ago, I would have told you I think we have four quality running backs, unfortunately, by Thursday, we had lost two of them," said Whittell Athletic Director Larry Reilly, who only assumed the duties of head football coach on Aug. 12. "A lot of the things we do is geared toward Forvilly's speed, so when we lost him on Thursday, that was a hard adjustment."
Josh May had a quarterback sack and fumble recovery to lead Dayton's defensive charge.
Whittell got on scoreboard with a 96-yard drive at the end of the third quarter - aided by four penalties for 40 yards - capped by a 25-yard touchdown pass from Keith Truswell to Chauncy Lane. Joel Warnick also scored on a 3-yard run early in the fourth period for Whittell.
"We had our second defense in there most of the second half, but give Whittell credit. They did a good job; they didn't give up, they kept fighting."
Dayton returns to action next Saturday against Northern 3A game foe Passage in Yerington.
"ROP will be a much different game," Cattanach said. "They'll be very physical. They'll attack us, so we'd better be ready."
