STAUNTON - Will Dod is not the same quarterback he was back in July.
And that's very good news for Robert E. Lee's football team.
From top left, Robert E. Lee’s Brendan Miller, Bam Dobbins and Zay Brown bring down a Harrisonburg ball carrier during the first half of the Leemen’s preseason scrimmage against Harrisonburg on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, at Winston-Wine Memorial Stadium in Staunton, Va. (Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader, )
The junior signal-caller ran the team's offense with confidence and poise in his first game-type situation, throwing for one touchdown Friday night in the Leemen's scrimmage with Harrisonburg at Winston-Wine Memorial Stadium.
"I've been waiting for this since the state championship game," said Dod, who was the backup for Jayden Williams in Lee's run to the VHSL Class 2 title game last season. "I knew I had to just use what I've learned and remember what I capable of doing."
Dod played the entire first half, which ended in a 10-10 tie with the Blue Streaks, then part of the third quarter. Harrisonburg eventually pulled ahead in the second half to finish on top 30-17.
Robert E. Lee’s Bam Dobbins fights for more yardage during the second half of the Leemen’s preseason scrimmage against Harrisonburg on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, at Winston-Wine Memorial Stadium in Staunton, Va. (Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader,)
Dod's touchdown pass came on Lee's second series of the game. He hit senior wideout Dylan Bowyer in stride going up the right sideline for a 60-yard scoring strike that put Lee on top 7-0.
"We were just on the same page with that play," Dod said. "I saw the coverage and so did he, and it worked."
Robert E. Lee’s Garrett Lawler fights for extra yardage during the first half of the Leemen’s scrimmage with Harrisonburg at Winston-Wine Memorial Stadium in Staunton Va., on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader, )
Later, after Harrisonburg had taken a 10-7 lead, Dod kept a drive going when he scrambled to the right and connected again with Bowyer for a 30-yard pass play that helped set up a short field goal by Marcos Sasia.
"I saw Dylan out of the corner of my eye," Dod said. "He looked pretty open, so I just got it to him."
Robert E. Lee’s Zyquon Veney fights off a tackle attempt during the second half of the Leemen’s preseason scrimmage against Harrisonburg on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, at Winston-Wine Memorial Stadium in Staunton, Va. (Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader, )
It was the kind of play that makes the hearts of coaches like Lee's Scott Girolmo skip a beat, but it also was the kind that puts a smile on their faces when it works.
"You can't teach competitiveness, and [Dod] has grit and competitiveness, and you can't teach that," Girolmo said. "His investment in improving himself as a leader and a quarterback is why you're seeing plays like that, and it also is because of the receiving corps [Bowyer, Aarian Brown, Zyquon Veney, Trevyn West] and their coaches [Justin Akers and Adam Tibbs] who work on those scramble drills."
From top left, Robert E. Lee’s Brendan Miller, Bam Dobbins and Zay Brown bring down a Harrisonburg ball carrier during the first half of the Leemen’s preseason scrimmage against Harrisonburg on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, at Winston-Wine Memorial Stadium in Staunton, Va. (Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader,)
Senior running backs Garrett Lawler and Dakota Madison gained good yardage for the Leemen, who got their second touchdown in the second half off a long run by junior Bam Dobbins.
Overall, Girolmo liked what he saw in the first half, including an aggressive effort by the defense that held the speedy Blue Streaks in check for the most part.
Robert E. Lee’s Bam Dobbins looks for running room during the second half of the Leemen’s scrimmage with Harrisonburg at Winston-Wine Memorial Stadium in Staunton Va., on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader, )
"I was really worried about Harrisonburg's speed on the first team," Girolmo said, "but I think our kids, for playing in a game situation with special teams for the first time, responded well."
"I saw some guys shine, especially on defense, and we had some plays on offense that could go on the highlight reels, but I also saw some 'space-cadet' kind of mistakes that we'll iron out. These guys have practiced hard and they're just going to get better and better."
Lee opens the regular season Aug. 24 at Turner Ashby.
And that's very good news for Robert E. Lee's football team.
From top left, Robert E. Lee’s Brendan Miller, Bam Dobbins and Zay Brown bring down a Harrisonburg ball carrier during the first half of the Leemen’s preseason scrimmage against Harrisonburg on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, at Winston-Wine Memorial Stadium in Staunton, Va. (Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader, )
The junior signal-caller ran the team's offense with confidence and poise in his first game-type situation, throwing for one touchdown Friday night in the Leemen's scrimmage with Harrisonburg at Winston-Wine Memorial Stadium.
"I've been waiting for this since the state championship game," said Dod, who was the backup for Jayden Williams in Lee's run to the VHSL Class 2 title game last season. "I knew I had to just use what I've learned and remember what I capable of doing."
Dod played the entire first half, which ended in a 10-10 tie with the Blue Streaks, then part of the third quarter. Harrisonburg eventually pulled ahead in the second half to finish on top 30-17.
Robert E. Lee’s Bam Dobbins fights for more yardage during the second half of the Leemen’s preseason scrimmage against Harrisonburg on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, at Winston-Wine Memorial Stadium in Staunton, Va. (Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader,)
Dod's touchdown pass came on Lee's second series of the game. He hit senior wideout Dylan Bowyer in stride going up the right sideline for a 60-yard scoring strike that put Lee on top 7-0.
"We were just on the same page with that play," Dod said. "I saw the coverage and so did he, and it worked."
Robert E. Lee’s Garrett Lawler fights for extra yardage during the first half of the Leemen’s scrimmage with Harrisonburg at Winston-Wine Memorial Stadium in Staunton Va., on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader, )
Later, after Harrisonburg had taken a 10-7 lead, Dod kept a drive going when he scrambled to the right and connected again with Bowyer for a 30-yard pass play that helped set up a short field goal by Marcos Sasia.
"I saw Dylan out of the corner of my eye," Dod said. "He looked pretty open, so I just got it to him."
Robert E. Lee’s Zyquon Veney fights off a tackle attempt during the second half of the Leemen’s preseason scrimmage against Harrisonburg on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, at Winston-Wine Memorial Stadium in Staunton, Va. (Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader, )
It was the kind of play that makes the hearts of coaches like Lee's Scott Girolmo skip a beat, but it also was the kind that puts a smile on their faces when it works.
"You can't teach competitiveness, and [Dod] has grit and competitiveness, and you can't teach that," Girolmo said. "His investment in improving himself as a leader and a quarterback is why you're seeing plays like that, and it also is because of the receiving corps [Bowyer, Aarian Brown, Zyquon Veney, Trevyn West] and their coaches [Justin Akers and Adam Tibbs] who work on those scramble drills."
From top left, Robert E. Lee’s Brendan Miller, Bam Dobbins and Zay Brown bring down a Harrisonburg ball carrier during the first half of the Leemen’s preseason scrimmage against Harrisonburg on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, at Winston-Wine Memorial Stadium in Staunton, Va. (Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader,)
Senior running backs Garrett Lawler and Dakota Madison gained good yardage for the Leemen, who got their second touchdown in the second half off a long run by junior Bam Dobbins.
Overall, Girolmo liked what he saw in the first half, including an aggressive effort by the defense that held the speedy Blue Streaks in check for the most part.
Robert E. Lee’s Bam Dobbins looks for running room during the second half of the Leemen’s scrimmage with Harrisonburg at Winston-Wine Memorial Stadium in Staunton Va., on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader, )
"I was really worried about Harrisonburg's speed on the first team," Girolmo said, "but I think our kids, for playing in a game situation with special teams for the first time, responded well."
"I saw some guys shine, especially on defense, and we had some plays on offense that could go on the highlight reels, but I also saw some 'space-cadet' kind of mistakes that we'll iron out. These guys have practiced hard and they're just going to get better and better."
Lee opens the regular season Aug. 24 at Turner Ashby.
