Field general: Dodson is QB of Goldsboro's defense

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on November 6, 2014 1:48 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

When Goldsboro middle linebacker Sterling Dodson injured his ankle two weeks ago against Ayden-Grifton, he knew probably should have sat out the rest of the game.

Dodson watched as the Chargers scored on the next possession.

He wanted to get back on the field.

"If we lose Sterling that would be like Florida State losing Jameis Winston," defensive coordinator Mike Harper said. "We would lose our signal caller. He's our quarterback on defense. Believe me, he's a quarterback.

"I need him."

There was no storybook ending against the defending Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference champions. Dodson racked up 10 tackles, including four for loss yardage in a 34-0 defeat.

Dodson didn't do any extensive damage to his ankle and is near 100 percent heading into Friday's crucial home game against Greene Central. The winner advances to the playoffs.

Harper places tremendous responsibility on Dodson.

The junior is responsible for every teammate on every play. He reads the opponent's offensive formation, gets the proper call from Harper and gets everyone lined up in the right spots -- including the secondary.

It all happens in 25 seconds.

Every play.

On each play Dodson sheds one more or tacklers to get to the ball carrier. He has a team-leading 116 stops -- 55 more than Kori Reid, who is second on the team.

Digesting all that information and communicating it to his teammates has quickly become second nature to him. Most of it comes from film study.

"I watch film probably 45-55 hours a week," Harper said. "I take this seriously. And he needs to be doing about the same to take the same ... film is everything. You pick up tendencies that way."

During the second half against North Lenoir last Friday, Harper talked to Dodson -- on the sideline -- about the Hawks' success running the ball. Dodson struggled to get the defensive line into position to make a stop.

"I didn't watch enough film for that game," Dodson said. "It was hurting my performance. I came to the conclusion that game that if you don't prepare well enough, you won't have the performance that you expect out of yourself."

Earlier this week, Dodson watched Greene Central's game against South Lenoir three or four times. He doesn't want a repeat of the North Lenoir game.

As a sophomore, Dodson had 127 tackles -- but not as much responsibility since there were nine seniors on defense. Only Dodson and outside linebacker Taylin Davis returned this season.

Harper doesn't accept that as an excuse.

"At first he felt like he had to do everything," Harper said. "He felt like he had to control gaps that weren't his. The best thing he's learned is to trust those young guys to play ball and now he's allowed to fill his gap."

Dodson has another year to develop and his responsibilities will increase. Harper has complete faith in Dodson's ability and how successful he can be.

"He can go as far as he wants," Harper said. "When college coaches come in here they don't ask what your 40 (yard dash) time is. The first thing they want is a firm handshake and for you to look them in the eye. They want someone who is coachable.

"He is all of those things you want in a player (at the next level)."

Dodson is very much a 'yes sir, no sir' kid -- a person who has never taken charge. Harper said he's turning into the kind of player who will step up and tell his teammates to get to where they need to be.

He credits his coordinator with teaching him and getting him to be the outspoken leader who also leads by example. Harper credits Dodson's coachability and that each is a football fanatic, which made it easy to mold Dodson.

"We're very similar, both of us are all about football," Harper said. "We have the same kind of personality. We're both alpha dogs. But I see him as more of a friend than anything else. (Football) helps that tremendously."