4 Downs: Dillon Spalding

1st Down

Chad Ricardo: My dude Dillon Spalding! Allow me to first say it’s been a pleasure to interview you a couple of times in the last few months. Always nice to get to know a young man beyond what it is they do on the football field.

That said, I’m going to start with football! You’re obviously very talented and highly skilled. You have great size—HUGE hands. Was this game your first love? Did you always know you wanted to play football or did you grow into the sport?

Dillon Spalding: When I first started playing I didn’t really like football to be honest. I loved lacrosse and I was set on playing college lacrosse I was recruited heavy in the 8th grade and just took one more try at football and fell in love with it and it’s been my main sport since .

2nd Down

Chad Ricardo: Really? See, I never knew that! Listen, there are guys ALL OVER the DMV wishing they had your kind of ability at one sport, let alone two. Speaking of college and other athletes, your recruitment is heating up and will only get hotter. On most boards you entered the season a 4-Star athlete and you’re climbing. Do you feel as though the recognition has placed a target on your back? How do you deal with teams game planning against you?

Dillon Spalding: I know teams game plan against me but with the team we have you cant try to shut down one guy because everyone can make plays but, I like dealing with double team and triple teams and schemes against me it makes me work harder all week in practice.

3rd Down

Chad Ricardo:You have an outstanding team and coaching staff. I love you all’s culture. And personally, your hard work is clearly paying dividends, my brother! You’re off to a great start thus far this season. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe you have

5 TD grabs—one of which was a game winner that you caught with one shoe on! Yourself and Jack McDaniels are crushing the competition. What is it about you alls 1-2 punch that makes you so much of a problem for defenses?

Dillon Spalding: Jack and I worked very hard in the off season to create more chemistry and he’s just been on point and playing great football he’s totally leading the team.

4th Down

Chad Ricardo: Absolutely. The two of you are on pace to be amongst the most prolific passer/receiver tandems in the area. That’s highly impressive to say the least.

You all are 3-1 thus far. I know you dont want to take your focus off of anyone in your path, but you’ve matched up with Westfield already and have W. Potomac and Braddock to close the regular season. Out of all the teams you’ve already played or will play in the future, what squad do you get for the most? Who do you circle on your calendar?

Dillon Spalding: I take every team the same, I do not over prepare for anyone, I  just treat every game the same

Extra Point

Chad Ricardo: Ya know, I asked Lamont Atkins of Lake Braddock that same question, and his response was very similar. YOU TWO may not say it, but I know MY TEAM very much looks forward to that Braddock/SoCo match up at year’s end!

One last thing: No one reaches this level of success and accomplishment on their own. What person or persons have had the greatest impact on your life thus far? Who has helped you get to where you are today and will continue pushing you to greater levels of accomplishment? And if they’re reading this right now, what would you like to say to them?

Dillon Spalding: My mom and dad have helped me so much even when I was at my lowest times they brought me back up. They mean the entire world to me and I wouldn’t be in the place I am today without them.

Chad Ricardo: You’re a good man Dillon Spalding! Thank you very much for taking time to speak with me. I wish you health, happiness and success!