DALTON, Ga. – If the Dalton High School football coaching staff had any hope of keeping Brandon Dale a secret, a six-minute stretch of last week’s win over Ringgold took care of that.
The senior receiver, defensive back and kick returner was instrumental in two third-quarter touchdowns during the Catamounts’ 21-19 season-opening win – a portent of things to come, according to coach Matt Land.
Ahead 7-6, the Cats forced a quick three-and-out to start the second half, and Dale returned the Ringgold punt 55 yards to the 25. Three plays later, on third-and-9, he hauled in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Cole Calfee. Later in the quarter, the score still 14-6, he took a short Calfee pass and broke two tackles on his way to a 29-yard gain that keyed another touchdown drive.
“When you’ve got a playmaker like Brandon, you’re going to find as many ways to get him the ball, whether it’s on receptions or returns or, hopefully, interceptions,” Land said. “He showed the other night what he can do, and, frankly, we’re counting on him to affect games that way this season.”
It has been a crucial – and sometimes trying – year for Dale. Early last season he was caught in the midst of controversy when it was reported that Land had physically confronted him at halftime of a game. Though Dale and Land insist the incident was considerably overblown, it was the kind of moment that could have derailed Dale’s athletic career and at the very least hurt his confidence.