Whether being set up by his teammates to break through and deliver a big hit on a ball carrier or following their blocks to break off a big touchdown run, Jackson Deitch enjoys doing a good bit of the heavy lifting for Silverdale Baptist Academy’s football program.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior has impressed as one of the Chattanooga area’s top two-way playmakers this season, when Jackson’s 118 total tackles in nine games rank him among the local leaders. He also has been a key fixture in the backfield for the Seahawks since he was a sophomore, having carried the ball 148 times for 1,241 yards (8.4 yards per carry) and 16 touchdowns dating to the start of the 2025 season.
As a freshman, Jackson took note of what his big brother was doing back then while wearing the No. 16 jersey for the Seahawks as Landon Deitch rushed for 1,306 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior in 2024 to help lead the program to a nine-win season.
“I learned so much from Landon,” said Jackson, whose twin brother Colton — who has averaged 7.5 yards per carry as a No. 3 option — is a part of a three-headed backfield this season that includes Keion Brooks. “He taught me how to take care of my body and remain injury-free. That has helped me a lot to be able to make plays on both sides of the ball.
“I feel like a lot of the guys on other teams start to wear down by the fourth quarter, but I am fresh. Each weekend I really take my recovery seriously and have found some routines and stretches that have really helped me.”